PM Modi’s UAE Visit Delivers Big Wins For India: Defence, Oil, $5 Billion Investments

Abu

Dhabi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s brief visit to the United Arab Emirates delivered major strategic and economic outcomes for India, with the two countries signing key agreements in defence, energy and infrastructure, alongside fresh investment commitments worth billions of dollars.PM Modi arrived in Abu Dhabi on the first leg of his five-nation tour and held delegation-level talks with UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The visit comes at a crucial time amid rising global energy concerns and volatility in West Asia.During the meeting, India and the UAE exchanged multiple Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) and agreements in the presence of the two leaders.Among the major outcomes announced were:

• Agreement on Framework for the Strategic Defence Partnership between India and UAE
• MoU on Strategic Petroleum Reserves
• Agreement on supplies of Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG)
• MoU on setting up a Ship Repair Cluster at Vadinar
• Investment commitments worth USD 5 billion in Indian infrastructure, RBL Bank and Samman Capital

The agreements are expected to strengthen India’s energy security, deepen defence cooperation and increase UAE participation in India’s infrastructure and financial sectors.Addressing the UAE President during delegation-level talks, PM Modi thanked him for the warm welcome extended to him and India.“I express heartfelt gratitude to you for the warm welcome. Just like you said - I have come to my second home. This sentiment is a huge capital of my life. Your Air Force jets escorted me today. This is an honour to the people of India,” PM Modi said.The Prime Minister also thanked the UAE leadership for expressing condolences over the recent natural disaster in India.“You expressed condolences to the families affected by the natural disaster in the past few days (in India). I express gratitude to you for this,” he said.The visit heavily focused on energy cooperation, particularly at a time when concerns remain over global oil supplies and shipping routes linked to tensions in West Asia and the Strait of Hormuz.The MoU on strategic petroleum reserves and the LPG supply agreement are expected to provide India with greater energy stability amid rising fuel prices and global market uncertainty.Officials said the two leaders also exchanged views on regional and international developments of mutual interest, while reviewing progress under the India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which has significantly boosted bilateral trade since 2022.Following the UAE visit, PM Modi will continue his multi-nation tour with visits to the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway and Italy.