Visit Overview
- Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, paid an official visit to India on 19 January 2026 at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
- This was his third official visit to India as President and fifth visit overall in the past decade.
- The visit was brief (about 1.5–3 hours) but high-impact in diplomatic and strategic terms.
Key Outcomes and Agreements
Strategic & Bilateral Cooperation
- Both leaders reaffirmed the India–UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and reviewed progress across sectors.
- Agreed to double bilateral trade to US $200 billion by 2032.
Energy & Economic Deals
- India and the UAE finalised a long-term LNG agreement worth around US $3 billion, with ADNOC Gas to supply 0.5 million tons annually to India over ten years.
- Discussions included cooperation in energy security, investment facilitation, and MSME linkages.
Defence & Security
- A Letter of Intent for a Strategic Defence Partnership was signed, indicating deeper defence cooperation.
- Security collaboration spans counterterrorism, intelligence sharing, and strategic dialogue frameworks.
Technology, Space & Innovation
Leaders agreed to boost cooperation in space sciences, AI, supercomputing, and digital infrastructure.
Cultural & Soft Power Ties
UAE will provide artefacts for the National Maritime Heritage Complex (Lothal) and establish an India House in Abu Dhabi to deepen people-to-people connections.
Symbolic Gestures
PM Modi personally welcomed President MBZ at the Delhi airport, and both leaders were seen travelling together, highlighting the strong personal rapport and deepening bilateral trust.
Strategic Significance
- Deepens India’s West Asia engagement amid regional tensions.
- Strengthens economic ties with one of India’s top trading partners in the Gulf.
- Advances cooperation across defence, energy, tech, and culture, signalling a multi-sectoral partnership