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India-UAE Political Relations
India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) established diplomatic relations in 1972. While the UAE opened its Embassy in India in 1972, Indian Embassy in UAE was opened in 1973.

Political Relations

  • The traditionally strong bilateral relations enjoyed by India-UAE have received impetus with exchange of high-level bilateral visits from time to time. The visit of Prime Minister of India to UAE on 16-17 August 2015 marked the beginning of a new Comprehensive and Strategic partnership between the two countries. HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (MBZ) visited India twice as Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi in February 2016 and January 2017 and twice as the President of the UAE in September 2023 and January 2024 as the Chief Guest of Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit.
  • PM Shri Narendra Modi visited UAE for the second time in February 2018 for the 6th World Government Summit (WGS) in Dubai, where India was the Guest of Honour. He delivered the key note address at WGS and met HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (MBR), Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE & Ruler of Dubai. The third visit by PM to the UAE was in August 2019 during which he received the UAE’s highest award, ‘Order of Zayed’ conferred upon him by the UAE President in April 2019. The visit also witnessed official launch of ‘RuPay Card’ in UAE and release of a set of stamps commemorating the 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
  • In February 2022, a virtual summit took place between UAE President HH MBZ and PM Shri Narendra Modi during which the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and several other MoUs/Agreements were signed. During the virtual summit, both leaders also issued a Joint Vision document that will guide India-UAE strategic partnership in times to come. Both leaders also launched an India-UAE Joint Commemorative Stamp to mark 75 years of India’s Independence (Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav), 50 years of the formation of the UAE and 50 years of the India-UAE diplomatic relations.
  • The fourth visit by PM to the UAE took place in June 2022 when PM stopped over by Abu Dhabi while returning from Munich, Germany after attending the G-7 summit. During this visit, PM was received by UAE President HH MBZ at the airport where PM conveyed his condolences on the demise of former President of the UAE Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and he also congratulated HH MBZ on succeeding Sheikh Khalifa as the third President of the UAE.
  • The fifth visit by PM to the UAE was in July 2023 when PM stopped over by Abu Dhabi while returning from France. At Abu Dhabi Airport, he was received by the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. PM met with MBZ in Abu Dhabi. During the meeting, three key MoUs- to set up IIT Delhi-Abu Dhabi, settlement of cross border transactions in local currencies and integration of national payment and messaging systems, were signed. PM also met with COP28 President Designate Dr Sultan Al Jaber and extended India’s full support for the success of COP28. P MBZ hosted a banquet lunch for PM at the Presidential Palace.
  • PM Shri Narendra Modi visited UAE for the sixth time in Nov-Dec 2023 for the COP28 World Climate Action Summit in Dubai. During the summit, PM met with President MBZ and several leaders. PM also launched the Global Green Credit Initiative in presence of MBZ.
  • PM visited UAE for the seventh time in February 2024 and met His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (MBZ), President of UAE & Ruler of Abu Dhabi. During the visit, several MoUs were signed in the field of energy, financial, digital infrastructure, investments, archive management and regional connectivity. He also participated in the 12th World Government Summit (WGS) in Dubai, where India was the Guest of Honour.
  • External Affairs Minister, Dr. S Jaishankar visited the UAE nine times since May 2019. most recently in June 2024 following his re-appointment as EAM and met FM ABZ.In November 2019, EAM visited UAE for the first time to attend the 10th Sir Bani Yas Forum. During the visit, he met with UAE Foreign Minister HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan (ABZ) as well as HH President MBZ on the margins of the Forum. In November 2020, he came to the UAE on his first official visit when he met with the UAE Foreign Minister HH ABZ and had courtesy meetings with HH MBZ in Abu Dhabi and HH MBR in Dubai. In 2021, EAM first visited the UAE in April on a day long trip when he met HH ABZ where they reviewed the COVID-19 pandemic and cooperation between India and the UAE in this regard. In November 2021, he visited the UAE to attend Sir Bani Yas Forum in Dubai. During the visit, he also had meetings with HH ABZ and HH MBZ. In December 2021, he visited Abu Dhabi to attend the 5th Indian Ocean Conference and on the sidelines, he met with HH MBZ and HH ABZIn September 2022, EAM visited the UAE on a 3-day long trip during which he co-chaired the 14th Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) and the third Strategic Dialogue with HH ABZ. During the visit, he also met UAE President HH MBZ, interacted with the press and had a discussion on foreign policy with the Director General of Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy in Abu Dhabi.
  • In the last seven years, the UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah also visited India six times in June 2018, July 2019, February 2021, November 2022, March 2023 and in September 2023. In addition, Dr. Anwar Gargash, Advisor to the President of UAE visited India in January 2024. In October 2022, MoS (International Cooperation) Ms. Reem Al Hashimy led a delegation to participate in the Special meeting of the UNSC Counter Terror Committee in Mumbai and Delhi. During the meeting, she also met EAM.
  • Minister of Commerce and Industry (CIM) and Minister for Railways, Shri Piyush Goyal visited UAE in October, 2021 for the 9th meeting of the UAE-India High Level Joint Task Force on Investments (HLTFI). In October 2022, HH Sheikh Hamid bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Managing Director of Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) visited Mumbai to attend the 10th meeting of HLTFI, co-chaired with CIM. In October 2023, CIM Shri Piyush Goyal visited the UAE to co-chair the 11th High Lvel Task Force on Investment (HLTFI) with Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. In Feb-March 2024, CIM Shri Piyush Goyal led the delegation to the WTO’s 13th Ministerial Conference hekld in Abu Dhabi.
  • In November 2022, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) and Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs Shri Hardeep Singh Puri visited UAE to attend the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC) 2022. During the visit, he had bilateral meetings with UAE Energy Minister Suhail Al Mazroui, ADNOC CEO & UAE Climate Envoy Sultan Al Jaber and interacted with media channels besides inaugurating the India Pavilion at ADIPEC. In October 2023, MoP&G Shri Hardeep Singh Puri took part in the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC) and met with his counterparts from several countries including UAE’s Energy Minister HE Sohail Al Mazroui, and Group CEO of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) Dr Sultan Al Jaber, and others.
  • In Nov 2023, Hon’ble Minister of Education, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Shri Dharmendra Pradhan visited UAE and met with his UAE counterpart Ahamad Belhoul Al Falasi, Foreign Minister ABZ, Minister of Cabinet Affairs Mohammed Al Gergawi and Chairperson of Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge. Several MoUs, including one for cooperation in the field of education, were signed.
  • In December 2021, Health Minister Shri Mansukh Mandaviya visited the UAE and met with the UAE Minister of Health and Prevention Abdul Rahman Al Owais, Minister of State in MOFAIC Sheikh Shakbout Nahyan Al Nahyan and the CEO of Mubadala Health H J Al Nowais.
  • Parliamentary Cooperation: An Indian Parliamentary delegation led by Hon’ble Member of Parliament Shri Bhartruhari Mehtab for the Asian Parliamentary Assembly Standing Committee Meeting in Abu Dhabi in May 2017 met Dr. Amal Abdullah Al Qubaisi, Speaker of Federal National Council (FNC). During the meeting, Indian delegation invited the Speaker of FNC to visit India. A Parliamentary delegation by Speaker of Lok Sabha Shri Om Birla met with Saqr Ghobash, Speaker of the Federal National Council (FNC) on 9 September 2021 in Vienna on the sidelines of the Fifth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament. On invitation of Saqr Ghobash, Hon’ble Speaker visited UAE on 21-25 Feb 2022 with a delegation comprising six MPs - four from Lok Sabha and two from Rajya Sabha. During the visit, he met Saqr Ghobash, addressed an extraordinary session of FNC and had a courtesy meeting with President HH MBZ. An UAE Parliamentary Delegation led by H.E. Dr. Ali Rashid AlNuami, Head of the Committee for Defense Interior and Foreign Affairs of the Federal National Council (Parliament of UAE) visited India from 04-08 September 2024.

  • Institutional Mechanism: India and UAE have following institutional mechanisms in place for addressing sector-specific issues.
    • Joint Commission Meeting (JCM): JCM deals with issues related to trade and commerce. EAM Dr. S Jaishankaer led Indian delegation to virtually participate in the 13th session of the India-UAE Joint Commission Meeting for Technical and Economic Cooperation. The 14th JCM between the two sides was held in Abu Dhabi on 01 Sep 2022 and the sub-committees of the JCM were held virtually on 24-25 Aug 2022.
    • Joint Defence Coordination Committee: With signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on Defence Cooperation in 2003, a Joint Defence Cooperation Committee (JDCC) was established. JDCC provides a platform for a regular exchange of dialogue in defence sector. The latest (10th) round of JDCC was held in Abu Dhabi on 16-17 December 2019. The last and 11th JDCC was held in India in May 2022.
    • India-UAE High-level Task Force on Investment (HLTFI): A High Level Task Force on Investment was established in May 2012. The 10th HLFTI took place in October 2022 in Mumbai and it was co-chaired by Minister of Textiles, Minister of Commerce and Industry and Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Shri Piyush Goyal and MD of ADIA, HH Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
    • Joint Committee for Consular Affairs (JCCA): The MoU for establishing a Joint Committee on Consular Affairs was signed on April 16, 2012. The fourth round of JCCA was held in Abu Dhabi in October 2022. The meeting was co-chaired by Director on Consular Affairs, MoFAIC from UAE and Joint Secretary (CPV), MEA from India.
    • Joint Security Committee (JSC): In 10 May 2012, both sides agreed to form a Joint Security Committee (JSC) to follow up on the implementation of agreements signed between the two countries on related issues. The 3rd JSC was held virtually on 18 February 2021 and co-chaired by Under Secretary, Ministry of Interior Staff Major General Khalifa Hareb Al Khaili (KHK) from UAE and AS (MHA) Govind Mohan. The latest (4th) round was held on May 7 2024, and was co-chaired by KHK and AS(MHA)
    • Joint Committee on Manpower: The first Joint Commission on Manpower was held in Oct 2022 in Dubai. Under Secretary for Human Resources Affairs at the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) led the UAE delegation and Joint Secretary (OIA) led the delegation from India. Both sides discussed issues related to manpower, underscored the need of explore areas of collaboration in this area.
    • Joint Working Group on Skill Development: The 1st JWG was held in New Delhi on 29 April 2016 and co-chaired by Secretary, MSDE and DG of National Qualifications Authority, UAE. In September 2018, a delegation from the UAE Ministry of Human Resource & Emiratisation visited India to collaborate for various skill development initiatives.
    • India-UAE Strategic Dialogue: In pursuant to the Joint Statement issued during the visit of then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi to India in February 2016, this dialogue at the level of MoS was institutionalized. So far, first and second Strategic Dialogue have taken place in Jan and Oct 2017. On 02 Sep 2022, the 3rd Strategic Dialogue was held between two sides in Abu Dhabi, headed by EAM and his UAE counterpart Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed. Other attendees were FS, Ambassador and others from Indian side while MoS Reem Al Hashimy, MoS Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh and UAE President’s Diplomatic Advisor from the UAE side.
    • Joint Working Group on Human Trafficking: The first meeting of the Joint Working Group on Human Trafficking was held in Abu Dhabi on 4-5 August 2019. 2nd India- UAE Joint Task Force meeting on combating human trafficking for implementation of the MoU on cooperation in preventing and combating Trafficking in Persons was held virtually on 09 December 2020.
India-UAE Discussion on FATF/Anti-Money Laundering: A virtual meeting was held between the experts of both sides on 1 Sep 2021. The Indian delegation was headed by Director, FIU-IND. The discussions covered issues related to bilateral cooperation on FATF and AML related matters. The 2nd Expert Group meeting was held on Feb 17, 2022 and the 3rd meeting on 12 Apr 2023, both virtually.

 

Last updated in September 2024

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The Embassy