India and the United Arab Emirates have taken their strategic partnership to a new level following the visit of Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to India. The visit resulted in multiple agreements and announcements covering investment, defence, space, energy, trade, technology and people-to-people ties, reflecting growing trust and long-term cooperation between the two countries.
Why in News?
The President of the UAE visited India in January 2026. Several MoUs, Letters of Intent and major announcements were signed to expand India-UAE strategic cooperation.
List of Agreements / MoUs / Letters of Intent
| S. No. | Agreement/MoU/LoI | Objective |
| 1 | LoI on Investment Cooperation for Dholera Special Investment Region between Government of Gujarat (India) and Ministry of Investment (UAE) | UAE partnership in development of Dholera SIR including international airport, pilot training school, MRO facility, greenfield port, smart urban township, railway connectivity and energy infrastructure |
| 2 | LoI between IN-SPACe (India) and UAE Space Agency | Joint infrastructure for space industry development and commercialization including launch complexes, manufacturing zones, incubation centres, training institutes and exchange programmes |
| 3 | LoI on Strategic Defence Partnership between India and UAE | Establish a Strategic Defence Partnership Framework and expand cooperation in defence industry, innovation, advanced technology, training, special operations, cyber security and counter-terrorism |
| 4 | Sales & Purchase Agreement (SPA) between HPCL and ADNOC Gas | Long-term purchase of 0.5 MMPTA LNG by HPCL from ADNOC Gas for 10 years starting from 2028 |
| 5 | MoU on Food Safety and Technical Requirements between APEDA (India) and Ministry of Climate Change & Environment (UAE) | Facilitate trade in food and agricultural products, promote Indian exports (especially rice), benefit Indian farmers and enhance UAE food security |
Announcements
| S. No. | Announcement | Objective |
| 6 | Establishment of a Supercomputing Cluster in India | Collaboration between C-DAC (India) and G-42 (UAE) under the AI India Mission; facility to support research, application development and commercial use |
| 7 | Doubling Bilateral Trade to US$ 200 Billion by 2032 | Expand trade, link MSMEs, promote new markets through initiatives such as Bharat Mart, Virtual Trade Corridor and Bharat-Africa Setu |
| 8 | Promotion of Bilateral Civil Nuclear Cooperation | Cooperation in advanced nuclear technologies, large reactors, SMRs, reactor systems, nuclear power plant operations, maintenance and nuclear safety under SHANTI Act 2025 |
| 9 | UAE Companies in GIFT City (Gujarat) – FAB & DP World | FAB to open a branch to promote trade and investment; DP World to operate ship leasing for global operations |
| 10 | Exploration of Digital / Data Embassies | Explore establishment of Digital Embassies under mutually recognized sovereignty arrangements |
| 11 | Establishment of ‘House of India’ in Abu Dhabi | Creation of a cultural space including a museum of Indian art, heritage and archaeology |
| 12 | Promotion of Youth Exchanges | Foster youth engagement, academic and research collaboration, and strengthen cultural ties between future generations |
About India-UAE Relations
- India and the UAE share a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership spanning trade, energy, defense, diaspora ties and technology.
- The UAE is one of India’s largest trading partners and a key investor.
- These outcomes further institutionalize cooperation across traditional and emerging sectors.
Question
Q. Which investment region is being developed with UAE cooperation in Gujarat?
A. GIFT City
B. Sanand Industrial Area
C. Dholera Special Investment Region
D. Dahej PCPIR
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