NEW DELHI / RankWire.AI / – On September 12, in New Delhi, Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan held discussions with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House during the 18th BRICS Summit, focusing on ways to enhance the UAE-India relationship and to broaden collaboration across vital sectors. Their conversation centered on economic integration, investment prospects, and the broader scope of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership linking the two nations.
The leaders evaluated ongoing cooperation under the UAE-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, or CEPA, while also exploring the extensive political, commercial, cultural, energy, and people-to-people connections that have historically defined their relationship. Both sides considered expanding collaboration in areas that have become increasingly critical to their bilateral engagement, emphasizing the continued regular dialogue between the governments across both economic and strategic fields.
Representing the UAE at the BRICS Summit, Sheikh Khaled led the delegation on behalf of President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Modi welcomed the UAE’s involvement amid India’s upcoming 2026 BRICS chairmanship, and both leaders committed to ongoing cooperation within the group on shared priorities. They also recalled Sheikh Mohamed’s visit to India in January 2026 and Modi’s visit to the UAE in May 2026, reinforcing their mutual commitment to strengthening bilateral ties.
Growth in Investment and Strategic Sectors Marks Expanded Agenda
The discussions underscored the emergence of new investment initiatives between the UAE and India, notably the announcement by International Holding Company of a plan to develop an $11.5 billion integrated greenfield aluminium project in Odisha, which India has described as the country’s largest integrated aluminium investment. Furthermore, the leaders addressed L’Imad, the UAE’s newest sovereign investment fund, and its role in bolstering bilateral investments and fostering economic cooperation across sectors identified by both nations.
The dialogue extended to opportunities in defense, space exploration, nuclear power, technology, and innovation, complementing the existing economic relationship that already encompasses energy, manufacturing, logistics, food products, electronics, and engineering goods. These discussions reflect the broadening scope of the UAE-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership initiated in 2017, with both countries actively expanding collaboration beyond traditional sectors into technology-driven, capital-intensive industries.
Trade between UAE and India Surpasses $100 Billion
During India’s 2025-26 fiscal year, bilateral trade reached a record high of $101.25 billion, with the UAE ranking as India’s third-largest trading partner and second-largest export market. Indian exports to the UAE alone surpassed $37.35 billion. Additionally, during the UAE president’s visit to India in January 2026, both nations committed to increasing bilateral trade to $200 billion by 2032, aiming to build on the growth achieved since the implementation of CEPA.
The UAE-India CEPA, enacted on May 1, 2022, following its signing in February, eliminated or reduced tariffs on over 80% of products for UAE exporters entering India, while also broadening market access for services and tackling technical trade barriers. The recent high-level meeting in New Delhi reaffirmed the ongoing engagement at the leadership level, emphasizing the development of commercial, investment, and strategic ties within their existing bilateral frameworks.