External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met UAE Ambassador Abdulnasser Alshaali on Wednesday for a farewell call, expressing gratitude for the envoy's contributions to strengthening bilateral ties. Jaishankar posted on X: "Pleased to receive the UAE Ambassador Dr. Abdulnasser Alshaali today on a farewell call. Thanked him for his efforts towards deepening the India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Also wished him all the best in his future endeavours."
Strong Historical Ties
India and the UAE share traditionally strong, longstanding bilateral relations that gained new momentum when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited in 2015—the first Indian PM to do so in 34 years—marking the beginning of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, according to the Ministry of External Affairs. The two nations have one of the oldest and most enduring commercial partnerships globally.
Transformational Shift in Partnership
Over the past decade, the relationship has undergone a transformational shift from a traditional trade partnership into a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership covering trade, investment, energy, technology, and deep people-to-people bonds. Today, India and the UAE stand as each other's most valued economic partners in their respective regions, turning their relationship into a model for bilateral cooperation in the 21st century, as noted by the Embassy of India in the UAE.
Trade Milestones
Bilateral trade cooperation was strengthened through the signing of a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in February 2022. From USD 180 million annually in the 1970s, bilateral trade reached its highest level of USD 101.25 billion in FY 2025-26. The UAE now ranks as India's third-largest trading partner and second-largest export destination, with exports exceeding USD 37.35 billion in FY 2025-26. India ranks as the UAE's second-largest trading partner.
Future Trade Targets
During the official visit of UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to India in January 2026, both sides agreed to double bilateral trade to USD 200 billion by 2032. The visit yielded landmark agreements, including a long-term LNG supply deal between HPCL and ADNOC Gas, a Letter of Intent on investment cooperation for the Dholera Special Investment Region, and an MoU on food safety to facilitate agri-trade.
Defence Cooperation
Bilateral defence cooperation has been steadily growing, steered through a Joint Defence Co-operation Committee (JDCC) at the ministry level, following the signing of an MoU on Defence Cooperation in June 2003. At service headquarters level, Army, Naval, and Air Staff Talks are held annually to discuss security and defence cooperation avenues.
