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 discussion focused on bolstering bilateral ties between the United Arab Emirates and India, taking place at Hyderabad House during the 18th BRICS Summit. Topics ranged from economic collaboration and investments to trade and the broader framework of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership connecting the two nations.
Sheikh Khaled and Modi examined progress made under the UAE-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, known as CEPA. This agreement now serves as a key foundation for expanding commerce between the two economies. Their talks also covered political relations, energy collaboration, cultural exchanges, and people-to-people interactions. Both leaders explored how existing bilateral frameworks could facilitate further business and institutional cooperation based on agreements already in place between the UAE and India.
Representing the UAE at the BRICS Summit, the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince attended on behalf of President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Modi welcomed the UAE delegation during India’s 2026 BRICS chairmanship. The leaders agreed to sustain coordination within BRICS on shared interests, noting recent high-level interactions, including Sheikh Mohamed’s visit to India in January 2026 and Modi’s trip to the UAE in May.
Broader economic cooperation driven by new investment projects
Investment was a key focus during the discussions, especially concerning India’s industrial sector. The leaders expressed enthusiasm for International Holding Company’s announced $11.5 billion integrated greenfield aluminium project in Odisha, which India has designated as the nation’s largest integrated aluminium investment. They also discussed L’Imad, the UAE’s latest sovereign wealth fund, and its potential to support existing bilateral investment channels that connect Emirati capital with projects and economic activities in India.
Additional topics included defence, space, nuclear energy, technology, and innovation, reflecting the expanding scope of their partnership. This expansion builds on existing collaborations in energy, manufacturing, logistics, food products, and engineering goods. Since establishing their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2017, both nations have continually added new areas of cooperation while maintaining longstanding commercial and energy links vital to trade and investments between them.
Record-breaking bilateral trade figures
In the 2025-26 fiscal year, trade between India and the UAE reached $101.25 billion, marking the highest level ever recorded in bilateral merchandise trade. During this period, the UAE ranked as India’s third-largest trading partner and its second-largest export market. Indian exports to the UAE surpassed $37.35 billion, with both governments aiming to increase total bilateral trade to $200 billion by 2032.
The UAE-India CEPA, effective since May 1, 2022, was signed earlier that year and has significantly reduced or eliminated tariffs on numerous products, expanding access across various service sectors. The agreement also addresses technical trade barriers. The recent high-level discussions in New Delhi add to a relationship strengthened by CEPA, ongoing leadership exchanges, and cooperation across trade, investment, and strategic sectors.