The agreements were inked during UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s one-day state visit to New Delhi.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, briefing the media after talks between President Mahyan and PM Narendra Modi, said the trade target reflects the growing depth of the India-UAE economic partnership, which has expanded rapidly since the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) came into force. The UAE has now emerged as India’s second-largest supplier of liquefied natural gas (LNG), he said.
A key outcome on the energy front was the signing of a Sales and Purchase Agreement between Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) and ADNOC Gas.
Under the agreement, India will receive LNG supplies for a period of 10 years beginning 2028, strengthening long-term energy security amid volatile global gas markets.
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Defence, space and high-tech cooperation
New Delhi and Abu Dhabi also signed a Letter of Intent on a Strategic Defence Partnership, signalling closer collaboration in defence manufacturing, technology and capability development.In another significant move, the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) and the UAE Space Agency signed a Letter of Intent to enable space industry development and commercial collaboration. The initiative aims to support private sector participation and joint ventures in space infrastructure and downstream applications.
The two sides also agreed to establish a supercomputing cluster in India, underlining growing cooperation in advanced digital and computing capabilities.
Trade, investment and export push
Investment cooperation featured prominently in the outcomes. A Letter of Intent was signed between the Government of Gujarat and the UAE Ministry of Investment for the development of the Dholera Special Investment Region, a flagship industrial and infrastructure hub.
To further integrate financial and logistics ecosystems, the UAE’s First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) and global port operator DP World will set up offices and operations in GIFT City, Gujarat, strengthening India’s position as a regional financial and trade services hub.
In the agri-export space, a memorandum of understanding was signed between India’s Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) and the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment. The MoU focuses on food safety and technical requirements, a move expected to ease market access for Indian agricultural and processed food exports to the Gulf.
India and the UAE also agreed to promote bilateral civil nuclear cooperation and explore the establishment of “digital/data embassies”, reflecting deeper trust in sensitive and future-facing sectors.
People-to-people and cultural initiatives
Beyond trade and strategic cooperation, the two sides announced plans to establish a ‘House of India’ in Abu Dhabi, a cultural space showcasing Indian art, heritage and archaeology, and to promote youth exchanges, adding a soft-power dimension to the partnership.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi later received His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, in New Delhi. In a post on X, Modi said the visit underscored the importance the UAE leadership attaches to ties with India and said he looked forward to discussions.
Taken together, the outcomes point to an expanding India-UAE partnership that goes well beyond hydrocarbons, with a clear push towards trade expansion, long-term investment, and collaboration in strategic and high-technology sectors over the coming decade.