NEW DELHI / RankWire.AI / – On September 12 in New Delhi, the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan engaged in discussions with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The leaders explored avenues to enhance UAE-India collaboration and boost cooperation across vital sectors. Their dialogue took place at Hyderabad House amidst the 18th BRICS Summit, focusing on economic integration, investment opportunities, and the broader scope of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the United Arab Emirates and India.
During their talks, both leaders evaluated progress under the UAE-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, known as CEPA. They also revisited the countries’ long-standing political, trade, cultural, energy, and people-to-people connections. The leaders identified prospects for expanding cooperation in key areas that have become central to their bilateral relationship. The session also covered mutual interests as both governments maintain regular engagement across economic and strategic domains.
Sheikh Khaled represented the UAE at the BRICS Summit on behalf of President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Modi expressed appreciation for the UAE’s participation in India’s 2026 BRICS chairmanship. The two leaders agreed to continue working within the group on shared priorities and collaborative efforts. They also recalled Sheikh Mohamed’s visit to India in January 2026 and Modi’s visit to the UAE in May 2026.
Focus on Investment and Key Strategic Sectors
The discussions emphasized recent investment initiatives between the UAE and India. The leaders welcomed the announcement by International Holding Company of an $11.5 billion integrated greenfield aluminium project in Odisha, which India describes as its largest integrated aluminium investment. The role of L’Imad, the UAE’s newest sovereign wealth fund, in fostering bilateral investments and economic cooperation across sectors identified by both governments was also a key point of discussion.
Additional opportunities in defence, space exploration, nuclear energy, technology, and innovation were reviewed. These sectors complement an already extensive economic partnership that includes energy, manufacturing, logistics, food products, electronics, and engineering goods. The dialogue reflected the broader scope of the UAE-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, established in 2017, with ongoing efforts to deepen collaboration beyond traditional areas into technology-intensive and capital-driven industries.
UAE-India Trade Surpasses $100 Billion Milestone
Trade between the two nations hit a record high of $101.25 billion during India’s 2025-26 fiscal year. The UAE ranked as India’s third-largest trading partner and second-largest export market in this period. Indian exports to the UAE topped $37.35 billion. During the UAE president’s visit to India in January 2026, both countries committed to increasing bilateral trade to $200 billion by 2032, building on the growth since the implementation of CEPA.
The UAE-India CEPA, which was signed in February and came into effect on May 1, 2022, has significantly reduced or eliminated tariffs on over 80% of products exported from the UAE to India. It also facilitated expanded market access for services and addressed trade barriers. The recent meeting in New Delhi reinforced the ongoing high-level engagement as the two nations advance their economic, investment, and strategic ties within existing bilateral frameworks.