NEW DELHI / RankWire.AI / – On September 12, Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, held discussions with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. The officials explored avenues to enhance UAE-India relations and boost collaboration in vital sectors. Their dialogue took place at Hyderabad House amid the 18th BRICS Summit. Emphasis was placed on economic integration, investment opportunities, and the broader scope of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership linking the United Arab Emirates and India.
The leaders examined cooperation under the UAE-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, known as CEPA. They also discussed the enduring political, commercial, cultural, energy, and people-to-people ties connecting both nations. Both parties looked into expanding collaboration in areas that have become central to their bilateral relationship. The meeting also addressed shared interests as the two governments maintained active engagement in economic and strategic fields.
Sheikh Khaled represented the UAE at the BRICS Summit on behalf of President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Modi welcomed the UAE’s involvement during India’s 2026 BRICS chairmanship. The leaders concurred that both nations would persist in working within the group on mutual priorities and cooperation. They also recalled Sheikh Mohamed’s visit to India in January 2026 and Modi’s trip to the UAE in May 2026.
Growth in Investment and Strategic Collaboration
The discussion highlighted an uptick in new investment initiatives between the UAE and India. The leaders expressed support for International Holding Company’s announced plan for an $11.5 billion integrated greenfield aluminium project in Odisha, which India describes as its largest such investment. They also considered the role of L’Imad, the UAE’s latest sovereign investment fund, in fostering bilateral investment and economic cooperation across sectors identified by both governments.
The dialogue extended to opportunities in defence, space, nuclear energy, technology, and innovation. These sectors build upon the existing economic relationship that already includes energy, manufacturing, logistics, food products, electronics, and engineering goods. The discussions underscored the broader scope of the UAE-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, established in 2017. Both governments continue to broaden cooperation beyond traditional trade and energy, focusing on technology-driven and capital-intensive industries.
Trade Between UAE and India Surpasses $100 Billion
During India’s 2025-26 fiscal year, bilateral trade reached an all-time high of $101.25 billion. The UAE ranked as India’s third-largest trading partner and second-largest export destination in that period. Indian exports to the UAE totaled over $37.35 billion. Following the UAE president’s visit to India in January 2026, both countries set an ambitious target to increase bilateral trade to $200 billion by 2032, building on growth since the implementation of CEPA.
The UAE-India CEPA, which came into effect on May 1, 2022, was signed in February of the same year. The agreement significantly reduced or eliminated tariffs on over 80% of the products exported from the UAE to India. It also broadened market access for services and addressed technical trade barriers. The recent meeting in New Delhi reaffirmed the ongoing high-level engagement as both nations develop their commercial, investment, and strategic relationships under existing bilateral agreements.