PM Modi’s UAE Visit Strengthens Defence, Energy and Investment Cooperation

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as the first leg of his five-nation diplomatic tour. During the visit, India and the UAE signed seven major agreements covering defence cooperation, energy security, infrastructure development, maritime collaboration and investments. The visit highlighted the growing Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries.

Key Agreements Signed Between India and UAE

Strategic Defence Partnership Agreement

India and the UAE signed an agreement on the framework for a Strategic Defence Partnership to strengthen:

Defence industrial cooperation

Maritime security

Cyber security

Joint military training

Advanced defence technology collaboration.

Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) Agreement

Both countries signed an MoU on strategic petroleum reserves to enhance India’s energy security during global supply disruptions.

LPG Supply Agreement

An agreement was signed for long-term Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) supplies to India, ensuring stable fuel availability and strengthening energy cooperation.

Ship Repair Cluster at Vadinar

India and the UAE agreed to establish a ship repair and maritime infrastructure cluster at Vadinar in Gujarat to boost:

Maritime logistics

Port infrastructure

Blue economy cooperation

Investment Commitments

The UAE announced investments worth nearly USD 5 billion in:

Indian infrastructure projects

Financial institutions including RBL Bank and Samman Capital

Artificial Intelligence and Technology Cooperation

The two countries discussed cooperation in advanced technologies, including AI supercomputing and digital innovation initiatives.

Regional Security and Strategic Cooperation

The leaders discussed:

Stability in West Asia

Freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz

Global energy supply chains

Regional geopolitical tensions

Significance of the Visit

The agreements are important because:

India imports nearly 85–90% of its crude oil requirements.

West Asia remains a crucial region for India’s energy security.

The UAE is among India’s top trading partners and a major source of foreign investment.

The visit strengthens India’s strategic presence in the Gulf region amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.

Additional Key Facts

India–UAE Relations

India and UAE established diplomatic relations in 1972.

Bilateral relations were elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2017.

UAE is India’s third-largest trading partner.

UAE hosts one of the largest Indian diaspora communities globally.

Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA)

India-UAE CEPA came into force in May 2022.

It aims to increase bilateral trade to USD 100 billion.

CEPA promotes trade liberalisation, investment and services cooperation.

Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPR)

India maintains underground crude oil reserves at:

Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh)

Mangalur(Karnataka)

Padur (Karnataka)

These reserves are managed by Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Limited (ISPRL).

Strait of Hormuz

Located between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.

One of the world’s most important oil transit chokepoints.

A significant portion of India’s oil imports passes through this route.

United Arab Emirates

Capital: AbDhabi

Currency: UAE Dirham

President: Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan

Major Indian export sectors: Gems and jewellery, petroleum products, food products and engineering goods.