The UAE ruler posted on X that he was “pleased” to meet with Modi to “discuss opportunities to further strengthen the deep-rooted and historical ties of cooperation”. “Committed to fostering sustainable development and economic growth, the UAE and India will continue working together to drive progress in future-focused sectors…,” he wrote.

In all, the two leaders firmed up five agreements and seven outcomes, including a framework pact on defence, a joint initiative on space, a $200-billion trade target, cooperation on AI, partnership on small nuclear reactors, a super-computing cluster in India, and a 10-year LNG pact, among others.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri described the UAE ruler’s visit as “extremely substantive” but ruled out any entanglement in a potential conflict between UAE and Saudi Arabia in the region.

“Our involvement on the defence and security front with a country from the region does not then necessarily lead to the conclusion that we will get involved in particular ways in the conflicts of the region,” Misri said, adding that there is already significant cooperation and engagement in defence between India and UAE.

Later, a joint statement said both leaders highlighted “deep respect for each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and the importance of strategic autonomy”.

“They acknowledged steady and strong bilateral defence and security cooperation as a core pillar of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. They welcomed the momentum generated by the recent exchange of visits by the respective Service Chiefs and Commanders of the Army, Navy and Air Force of both countries, and the successful conduct of bilateral military exercises. They welcomed the signing of Letter of Intent towards the conclusion of a Strategic Defence Partnership,” it said.

Mohamed bin Zayed’s visit and the expansive set of outcomes come months after Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed a bilateral defence pact.

According to Misri, the two leaders also discussed the situation in Yemen and Iran, and the Gaza peace plan, and expressed support for efforts to “promote peace, security and stability” in the region.

On the economic front, the joint statement welcomed the signing of “a 10-year LNG Supply Agreement between Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) and ADNOC Gas for the delivery of 0.5 million tonnes per year of liquefied natural gas, beginning in 2028”. The agreement makes the UAE India’s second-largest LNG supplier.

The leaders also decided to explore cooperation in advanced nuclear technologies, welcoming “the enactment of the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) law, noting that it creates new opportunities for enhanced civil nuclear cooperation”.

“The two sides agreed to explore partnership in advanced nuclear technologies, including development and deployment of large nuclear reactors and Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), as well as cooperation in advanced reactor systems, nuclear power plant operations and maintenance and nuclear safety,” the statement said.

They further agreed to examine the possibility of setting up a digital or data embassy, work towards doubling bilateral trade to $200 billion by 2032, and explore interlinking national payments platforms to promote trade.

“The two leaders welcomed the robust growth in trade and economic cooperation since the signing of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in 2022 and noted the rapid growth of bilateral trade, which reached US$ 100 billion in FY 2024-25. Buoyed by the enthusiasm of the business communities on both sides, they decided to double bilateral trade to target US$ 200 billion by 2032,” it said.

Besides, the leaders called for perpetrators, supporters and financiers of terrorism to be brought to justice, Misri said.

“The two leaders reiterated their unequivocal condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including cross-border terrorism, and emphasised that no country should provide safe haven to those who finance, plan, support or commit terrorist acts. They agreed to continue cooperation within the framework of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to counter terror financing and strengthen anti-money laundering efforts,” the statement said.

They also announced the establishment of a ‘House of India’ in Abu Dhabi; setting up of offices and operations of UAE companies First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) and DP World at GIFT City in Gujarat; and, signing of a letter of Intent on Investment Cooperation between Gujarat and UAE for developing the Dholera Special Investment region.

Modi and Mohamed bin Zayed directed their teams to work towards interlinking their national payment platforms to enable efficient, fast and cost-effective cross-border payments. They called for the expeditious implementation of key initiatives, such as ‘Bharat Mart’, the ‘Virtual Trade Corridor’ and the ‘Bharat-Africa Setu’ to promote MSME products across the Middle East, West Asia, Africa and the Eurasia region.

Mohamed bin Zayed, or MBZ as he is popularly known, was received by Modi at the airport, signalling the importance New Delhi attached to the visit. The brief visit was originally planned for late last week, sources said. This is the second time Modi has personally received MBZ on arrival, after December 2024. Modi has departed from protocol to receive visiting leaders at the airport eight times in the past 11-and-a-half years.

Later, External Affairs minister S Jaishankar went to the airport to see off the UAE President – again, an honour accorded to very few visiting leaders.

The backdrop to Monday’s meeting was also the sharp escalation in tensions between Saudi Arabia and the UAE over Yemen. While Abu Dhabi is backing the Southern Transitional Council, a separatist group formed in 2017, which controls parts of southern Yemen, Saudi Arabia supports the internationally recognised Presidential Leadership Council. For India, UAE’s outreach is significant at a time when Delhi is talking to the Emirati leadership to get a better sense of the state of play in Gaza as well as the rivalry with the Saudis.-Agencies