The foundation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two-day visit to the United Arab Emirates, which begins today, is strong bilateral relations and economic cooperation.
Since July 2023, there have been up to five high-level visits by prominent leaders between India and the UAE, marking new heights in their bilateral relations.
A number of Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) covering topics like local currency settlement, payment and messaging systems, renewable energy, and innovative healthcare were signed by PM Modi during his visit to Abu Dhabi last year.
Again this year, several agreements were signed during the visit to Gujarat by UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Based on official data, the two nations rank among their top trading partners, with a bilateral trade of approximately $85 billion in 2022–2023.
In terms of foreign direct investments, the UAE ranks among the top four countries that make investments in India in 2022–2023.
During India’s G20 Presidency, the UAE received a special invitation to the summit.
The India-UAE-France (UFI) trilateral was formally established in February 2023.
The UAE became a dialogue partner of the SCO in May 2023 with the active support of India. With India’s backing, the UAE became a member of BRICS on January 1.
In the past few years, there has also been an increase in India-UAE defense cooperation. The first bilateral India-UAE army exercise, called “Desert Cyclone,” took place in Rajasthan in January 2024.
