Abu Dhabi Crown Prince's inaugural India visit paves way for enhanced bilateral ties

New Delhi, Sep 09: Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled Bin Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on Monday.

The two leaders warmly embraced before engaging in talks focused on enhancing the strategic partnership between India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

This visit marks Sheikh Khaled’s first official trip to India, representing the next generation of UAE rulers. During their meeting, PM Modi warmly greeted the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince.

Both leaders expressed satisfaction with the progress made in the India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and discussed opportunities to further expand cooperation in various areas, including nuclear energy, critical minerals, green hydrogen, artificial intelligence, and cutting-edge technologies.

Key agreements signed during the meeting

Some key agreements signed during the meeting included the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Nuclear Cooperation between Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) and Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC), aimed at enhancing cooperation in nuclear power plant operations, sourcing nuclear goods from India, and exploring mutual investment opportunities.

The agreement for long-term LNG supply between Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and Indian Oil Corporation Limited, securing 1 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA) of LNG for India, further strengthening India's energy security, was also reached.

MoU was also signed between ADNOC and India Strategic Petroleum Reserve Limited (ISPRL) to explore additional opportunities for crude storage in India, building on ADNOC's existing involvement in crude storage at the Mangalore Cavern since 2018.

A Production Concession Agreement was also reached at for Abu Dhabi Onshore Block 1 between Urja Bharat and ADNOC, marking the first such agreement for an Indian company operating in the UAE.

MoU was also signed on Food Parks between the Government of Gujarat and Abu Dhabi Developmental Holding Company PJSC (ADQ), with plans to develop a food park in Gujarat by Q2 2025.

Crown Prince Meets President Droupadi Murmu

Sheikh Khaled also met with President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan, where they discussed the warm and historic ties between the two countries.

The President of India tweeted, “Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan of Abu Dhabi called on President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The President expressed satisfaction that during the Crown Prince’s visit, India and UAE have further expanded the historic yet forward-looking.”

Significant Milestone

The Crown Prince’s visit is seen as a significant milestone in the growing relationship between India and the UAE.

The Ministry of External Affairs highlighted the deepening ties across various sectors, including trade, investment, energy, and technology.

“The Crown Prince’s visit will further reinforce strong India-UAE bilateral relations and open avenues for partnership in new and emerging areas,” the MEA said.

The Crown Prince is also scheduled to visit Mumbai to participate in an India-UAE Business Forum, where a soft launch of the India-UAE virtual trade corridor (VTC) and MAITRI interface will take place, further strengthening trade ties between the two nations.

Bilateral Trade

Earlier this year, PM Modi visited the UAE and discussed the bilateral relationship with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, leading to the exchange of key agreements, including an MoU for the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC).

Since PM Modi visited the UAE in 2015, bilateral relations have grown significantly, with India becoming the UAE's second-largest trading partner.

The total bilateral trade between the two countries in 2022-23 was about USD 85 billion, with projections to reach USD 100 billion by the end of the decade.