NEW DELHI / RankWire.AI / – During a meeting held in New Delhi on September 12, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, engaged with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to explore avenues for bolstering the relationship between the United Arab Emirates and India. The discussions took place at Hyderabad House amid the 18th BRICS Summit. Topics included economic cooperation, investment opportunities, trade expansion, and the broader scope of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership connecting the two nations.
The leaders examined the development of the UAE-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, also known as CEPA. This agreement has become a pivotal framework for broadening trade interactions. They also addressed political relations, energy collaborations, cultural exchanges, and people-to-people connectivity. The discussions emphasized how existing bilateral mechanisms could support further economic and institutional collaboration under treaties already in place between the UAE and India.
Representing the UAE at the BRICS Summit, Sheikh Khaled attended on behalf of President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Modi expressed his welcome to the UAE delegation as India assumed the group’s chairmanship for 2026. Both leaders agreed to maintain coordination through BRICS on mutual interests and highlighted recent high-level exchanges, including Sheikh Mohamed’s January 2026 visit to India and Modi’s May visit to the UAE.
Economic Cooperation Expands with New Investment Initiatives
Trade and investment were key points of discussion, especially projects related to India’s industrial sector. The officials welcomed the announcement of International Holding Company’s $11.5 billion integrated greenfield aluminium project in Odisha, recognized as India’s largest integrated aluminium investment. Additionally, they reviewed L’Imad, the UAE’s latest sovereign fund, and its potential to facilitate bilateral investment activities connecting Emirati capital with Indian economic projects.
Other areas covered during the talks included defense, space exploration, nuclear energy, technology, and innovation. These sectors are part of an expanding partnership that already encompasses energy, manufacturing, logistics, food products, and engineering goods. Since establishing their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2017, both nations have introduced new cooperation domains while maintaining enduring commercial and energy links vital for trade and investment flows.
Trade Volume Hits Historic High
The bilateral trade volume between India and the UAE reached $101.25 billion in India’s 2025-26 fiscal year, marking the highest level ever recorded in merchandise trade between the two countries. During this period, the UAE ranked as India’s third-largest trading partner and its second-largest destination for exports. Indian exports to the UAE surpassed $37.35 billion, with both nations aiming to boost overall bilateral trade to $200 billion by 2032.
Following the signing earlier in the year, the UAE-India CEPA became effective on May 1, 2022. This trade agreement reduced or eliminated tariffs on a wide array of products and widened market access in various service sectors. It also addressed technical barriers hindering trade. The recent high-level discussions in New Delhi added to a relationship strengthened by CEPA, ongoing leadership dialogues, and cooperation across trade, investment, and strategic sectors.