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 leaders focused on enhancing the bilateral relationship between the United Arab Emirates and India. The discussions took place at Hyderabad House amid the 18th BRICS Summit. Topics included economic cooperation, investment opportunities, trade expansion, and the broader Comprehensive Strategic Partnership linking both nations.
The UAE-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, known as CEPA, was a key point of review by Sheikh Khaled and Modi. This agreement has become the main foundation for growing trade relations between the two economies. Their conversations also encompassed political connections, energy collaboration, cultural exchanges, and mutual people-to-people programs. Both leaders explored how current bilateral mechanisms might be leveraged to promote further commercial and institutional cooperation, building on existing agreements between the UAE and India.
Representing the UAE, the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince attended the BRICS Summit as a delegate of President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. During India’s presidency of BRICS in 2026, Modi expressed his welcome to the UAE delegation. Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to ongoing cooperation within BRICS on shared interests. Notably, they highlighted recent high-level visits, including Sheikh Mohamed’s trip to India in January 2026 and Modi’s visit to the UAE in May.
Expansion of economic cooperation through investment initiatives
Investment opportunities played a vital role in the discussions, especially those tied to India’s industrial sector. The leaders lauded the International Holding Company’s proposed $11.5 billion integrated greenfield aluminium project in Odisha, which is recognized as India’s largest integrated aluminium investment. The conversation also covered L’Imad, the UAE’s latest sovereign wealth fund, and its potential to facilitate existing bilateral investment channels, connecting Emirati funds with projects and economic activity in India.
Defense, space exploration, nuclear energy, technology, and innovation also featured prominently in the talks. These sectors are part of an already broad relationship that also includes energy, manufacturing, logistics, food products, and engineering goods. Since establishing their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2017, the UAE and India have expanded cooperation into new areas, while maintaining their longstanding commercial and energy ties that are vital for trade and investment flows between the nations.
Record-breaking bilateral trade figures
During India’s 2025-26 fiscal year, trade between India and the UAE hit a record total of $101.25 billion. This marked the highest level of bilateral merchandise trade to date. The UAE ranked as India’s third-largest trading partner and its second-largest export destination during this period. Indian exports to the UAE surpassed $37.35 billion, with both governments aiming to boost overall bilateral trade to $200 billion by 2032.
The UAE-India CEPA, which came into effect on May 1, 2022, followed the signing of the agreement earlier that year. The pact reduced or eliminated tariffs on a wide range of products and broadened access in numerous service sectors. It also tackled technical barriers that hindered trade between the two markets. The high-level discussions in New Delhi reinforced an already strong relationship supported by CEPA, ongoing leadership engagement, and deep cooperation across trade, investment, and strategic fields.