New Delhi – Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan unveiled ambitious plans to deepen the India UAE defence partnership during a focused three-hour visit to New Delhi on January 19, 2026. The meeting, characterized by warmth and strategic purpose, saw both leaders commit to finalizing a comprehensive strategic defence framework while announcing a significant 10-year LNG supply agreement and setting an ambitious bilateral trade target of $200 billion by 2032.
The personal rapport between the two leaders was evident as Modi personally received MBZ at his arrival, greeting him with a hug and sharing the same vehicle to the Prime Minister’s residence. This gesture underscored the significance India attaches to its relationship with the UAE, home to nearly 4.5 million Indians and a crucial energy supplier.
Strategic Defence Framework Strengthens India UAE Defence Partnership
The cornerstone of the visit was the signing of a letter of intent toward establishing a strategic defence partnership framework agreement. This India UAE defence partnership will significantly expand collaboration across multiple domains including defence industrial cooperation, defence innovation, training protocols, doctrines, special operations, interoperability, cyber-security, and counter-terrorism initiatives.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri clarified that the India UAE defence partnership represents a natural evolution of existing cooperation rather than a response to regional security developments. He emphasized that the agreement would not draw India into West Asian conflicts. The framework builds upon ongoing defence cooperation between the two nations, which already includes joint military exercises and high-level consultations.
The proposed India UAE defence partnership will focus on advanced technology partnerships, defence industrial cooperation, and enhanced linkages in training and education, particularly between special forces of both countries. Both sides characterized defence and security cooperation as a core pillar of their comprehensive strategic partnership while condemning all forms of terrorism, including cross-border terror.
Energy Security and Economic Cooperation
Beyond the India UAE defence partnership, the visit produced concrete outcomes in energy cooperation. Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company Gas signed an agreement for purchasing 0.5 million tonnes of LNG annually over ten years, beginning in 2028. This agreement strengthens India’s energy security, with the UAE already serving as India’s fourth-largest oil source and second-largest LNG and LPG supplier.
The two leaders celebrated robust trade growth since the 2022 Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, with bilateral trade reaching $100 billion in 2024-25. Modi and MBZ set an ambitious target to double this figure to $200 billion by 2032, reflecting confidence in expanding business collaboration between both nations.
Innovation and Technology Collaboration
The India UAE defence partnership extends into emerging technology sectors. Both leaders identified innovation, space, and civil nuclear energy, including small modular reactors, as priority areas for future cooperation. Following India’s enactment of the SHANTI law, the two sides will explore partnerships in advanced nuclear technologies and nuclear power plant operations.
Also Read: Global Peace Push: Trump Invites PM Modi to Join Gaza ‘Board of Peace’, 2026
In the technology sector, leaders decided to strengthen collaboration in artificial intelligence and emerging technologies. Plans include establishing a supercomputing cluster and data centers in India. Significantly, they directed teams to explore establishing “digital embassies” under mutually recognized sovereignty arrangements, enabling sovereign data storage in each other’s territories.
Space and Investment Initiatives
The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre and the UAE Space Agency signed a letter of intent for joint space industry development, including launch complexes and an accelerator for space startups. This collaboration complements the broader India UAE defence partnership by extending cooperation into strategic sectors.
Investment cooperation received a boost with agreements involving Gujarat’s Dholera special investment region. The project envisages developing strategic infrastructure including an international airport, pilot training school, maintenance facilities, greenfield port, smart township, and energy infrastructure.
Regional Cooperation and Payment Systems
Both leaders reaffirmed commitment to the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor initiative and exchanged views on regional stability. They directed teams to interlink national payment platforms, enabling efficient cross-border payments and facilitating trade and investment flows.
An agreement on food safety and technical requirements aims to encourage exports of rice, food, and agricultural products from India to the UAE, diversifying economic cooperation beyond energy and defence sectors.
Conclusion
The Delhi visit reinforced the India UAE defence partnership as a comprehensive strategic relationship spanning defence, energy, technology, space, and economic cooperation. With petroleum products accounting for significant bilateral trade and the UAE ranking as India’s third-largest trade partner, this multifaceted partnership positions both nations for deeper collaboration addressing shared interests in regional stability, technological advancement, and economic prosperity through 2032 and beyond.
