NEW DELHI / RankWire.AI / – On September 12, in New Delhi, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The officials focused on strengthening the bilateral ties between the United Arab Emirates and India. Their discussions occurred at Hyderabad House during the 18th BRICS Summit, covering economic collaboration, investments, trade, and the broader Comprehensive Strategic Partnership linking both nations.
The leaders examined progress under the UAE-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, known as CEPA, which has become a key structure for boosting trade relations. Topics also included political relations, energy collaborations, cultural exchanges, and people-to-people connections. They explored how current bilateral mechanisms could facilitate further cooperation in commerce and institutions based on existing agreements between the UAE and India.
Representing the UAE, Sheikh Khaled attended the BRICS Summit on behalf of President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Modi welcomed the UAE delegation during India’s 2026 BRICS chairmanship. Both parties committed to ongoing collaboration within BRICS on shared interests. They also acknowledged recent high-level visits, including Sheikh Mohamed’s trip to India in January 2026 and Modi’s visit to the UAE in May.
Economic expansion through new investment initiatives
Investment was a key topic, especially concerning India’s industrial sector. The leaders expressed approval of International Holding Company’s announced $11.5 billion integrated greenfield aluminium project in Odisha, which India regards as its largest integrated aluminium investment. They also discussed L’Imad, the UAE’s latest sovereign fund, and its potential to support existing bilateral investment channels connecting Emirati capital with Indian projects and economic activities.
The conversation extended to defence, space, nuclear energy, technology, and innovation, highlighting the broadening scope of their partnership, which already includes energy, manufacturing, logistics, food products, and engineering goods. The UAE and India formalized their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2017, continuously expanding cooperation areas while preserving longstanding commercial and energy links vital to their trade and investments.
Trade volume hits record high
During India’s 2025-26 fiscal year, bilateral trade reached $101.25 billion, marking an all-time high. The UAE became India’s third-largest trading partner and second-largest export market in this period. Indian exports to the UAE surpassed $37.35 billion, with both nations aiming to raise bilateral trade to $200 billion by 2032.
The UAE-India CEPA, effective from May 1, 2022, following its signing earlier that year, lowered or eliminated tariffs on many products and broadened market access across service sectors. It also tackled technical barriers to trade. The recent high-level meetings in New Delhi reinforce their relationship, supported by CEPA, regular leadership interactions, and cooperation across trade, investment, and strategic sectors.