UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed to Visit India, Boosting Strategic Partnership

UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed to Visit India, Reinforcing Comprehensive Strategic Partnership

At the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi , Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan , President of the United Arab Emirates , will undertake an official visit to India on January 19 . The visit highlights the sustained momentum in bilateral engagement and reflects the deepening Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries.

High-Level Diplomatic Engagements

This will be President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s third official visit to India since assuming office and his fifth visit in the past decade , underlining the frequency and intensity of high-level political exchanges. The visit follows earlier engagements, including the September 2024 visit of the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and the April 2025 visit of the Crown Prince of Dubai , signalling continuity and institutional depth in India–UAE relations.

Expanding Strategic and Economic Ties

India and the UAE enjoy warm, multi-dimensional relations anchored in political trust, cultural and people-to-people ties, and expanding economic cooperation. Both countries are among each other’s top trading and investment partners .

Key institutional enablers of this growth include the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), the Local Currency Settlement system , and the Bilateral Investment Treaty , which together have supported trade diversification, investment inflows, and financial integration.

Energy Cooperation and Global Coordination

Energy cooperation remains a central pillar of the partnership, with long-term supply arrangements contributing significantly to India’s energy security . During the visit, the two leaders are expected to exchange views on regional and global developments , reflecting a high degree of convergence on strategic, economic, and geopolitical issues.

India and the UAE also coordinate closely at multilateral forums , enhancing their collective voice on global governance, development, and stability.

Role in Plurilateral Platforms

Beyond bilateral engagement, India and the UAE collaborate across several plurilateral frameworks , including BRICS , I2U2 , and the UAE–France–India trilateral . Notably, the UAE was a Guest Country at the G20 Summit under India’s Presidency , reflecting its growing role in India’s extended strategic partnerships.

The upcoming visit is expected to help identify new areas of cooperation and further consolidate the partnership across trade, investment, energy, and strategic coordination .

Exam-Focused Points

• India–UAE diplomatic relations were established in 1972 .

• CEPA underpins the rapid expansion of bilateral trade.

• Energy cooperation is a key pillar of the partnership.

• India and the UAE cooperate at the UN and plurilateral forums .

• The UAE was a Guest Country at the G20 Summit during India’s Presidency.