India-UAE Strengthen To Enhance Strategic Partnership

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum held high-level discussions in New Delhi on April 8, 2025, aimed at enhancing the India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Their talks focused on strengthening cooperation in defence, coast guard operations, trade, technology, space, and people-to-people ties. Sheikh Hamdan’s first official visit to India as crown prince marked a significant milestone in bilateral relations, underscoring shared strategic priorities and mutual economic interests.

Key Highlights

Defence and Security Cooperation

• India and UAE agreed to deepen defence and Coast Guard cooperation.
• A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed to formalise Coast Guard collaboration.
• Talks between Sheikh Hamdan and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh emphasised scaling defence ties to match trade growth.

Key focus areas include

• Joint training exchanges
• Co-production and co-development projects
• Defence manufacturing collaborations
• Both sides welcomed the India-UAE Defence Partnership Forum.
• Complementarity between Make-in-India and Make-in-Emirates initiatives was discussed.

High-Level Diplomatic Engagements

• PM Modi described Sheikh Hamdan’s visit as a reaffirmation of the “deep-rooted friendship”.
• External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar also met with Sheikh Hamdan, expressing appreciation for the strong ties.
• Sheikh Hamdan described India-UAE relations as being “built on trust, shaped by history.”

Trade and Economic Cooperation

• Dubai Chamber hosted the Dubai-India Business Forum in Mumbai with 200 Indian business leaders.

Key trade stats,

• India-UAE non-oil trade in 2023: $54.2 billion
• Dubai-India bilateral trade: $45.4 billion
• Dubai’s investment in India: $4.68 billion

In 2024

• 16,623 Indian companies joined the Dubai Chamber of Commerce.
• Indian companies in Dubai now total over 70,000.

Connectivity and People-to-People Ties

• Dubai welcomed 3.14 million South Asian visitors in 2024, with India as the largest source.
• Leaders emphasized the role of connectivity, culture, and historical links in bolstering bilateral ties.

Summary/Static	Details
Why in the news?	India-UAE Strengthen To Enhance Strategic Partnership
Defence Cooperation	MoU on Coast Guard collaboration; focus on training, co-production, and innovation
Diplomatic Engagement	PM Modi & Sheikh Hamdan discussed strategic cooperation; met Rajnath Singh & Jaishankar
Economic & Trade Relations	$54.2B non-oil trade; 70K+ Indian companies in Dubai; growing UAE investment in India
Business Forum	Dubai-India Business Forum held in Mumbai with 200 business leaders
Tourism & People Exchange	Dubai received 3.14M South Asian visitors in 2024, India being the top contributor
Industrial Collaboration	Emphasis on Make-in-India and Make-in-Emirates synergy