HHS Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan visit To India | Beyond Borders

New Delhi |Jan 19, 2026 | BeyondborBersbyJwala

In a landmark visit that underscores the deepening strategic convergence between New Delhi and Abu Dhabi, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, concluded a significant state visit to India today. The visit, characterized by a flurry of high-level agreements and forward-looking announcements, has set an ambitious roadmap for the future of the bilateral partnership, expanding beyond traditional trade and energy into cutting-edge domains like space, artificial intelligence, and civil nuclear cooperation.

The leaders of both nations witnessed the exchange of pivotal agreements that promise to transform the economic and strategic landscape of the region.

Dholera and GIFT City: Magnets for UAE Investment A centerpiece of the economic outcomes is the major push for investment in Gujarat. A Letter of Intent (LoI) was signed between the Government of Gujarat and the UAE Ministry of Investment to develop the Dholera Special Investment Region (DSIR). This ambitious partnership envisions the UAE’s involvement in constructing critical infrastructure including an international airport, a greenfield port, a smart urban township, and a dedicated maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facility for aviation.

Further strengthening financial ties, it was announced that the First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) will set up a branch in GIFT City, Gujarat, to facilitate trade and investment. Additionally, global logistics giant DP World will commence operations from GIFT City, focusing on ship leasing for its worldwide operations.

Strategic Defence and Space Collaboration Moving to secure their mutual security interests, India and the UAE signed an LoI on a Strategic Defence Partnership. This framework aims to significantly expand defence cooperation, covering industrial collaboration, advanced technology, cyber space, and counter-terrorism.

In the space sector, the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) and the UAE Space Agency inked an LoI to jointly develop space infrastructure. This initiative will focus on launch complexes, manufacturing zones, and an accelerator for space start-ups, signaling a robust commercial partnership in the final frontier.

Energy Security: From LNG to Nuclear Power Energy security remains a cornerstone of the relationship, but with a renewed focus on sustainability and diversification. Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) signed a long-term Sales & Purchase Agreement with ADNOC Gas for the supply of 0.5 MMPTA of LNG for 10 years, starting in 2028.

In a significant policy shift, both nations agreed to promote Civil Nuclear Cooperation. Capitalizing on India's recently enacted SHANTI Act 2025 (Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India), the two sides will collaborate on advanced nuclear technologies, including Large Nuclear Reactors and Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), as well as nuclear safety and maintenance.

Future-Ready Initiatives: AI, Digital Embassies, and Trade Targets Reflecting a shared vision for a digital future, an announcement was made regarding the establishment of a supercomputing cluster in India. This facility, a collaboration between India's C-DAC and the UAE's AI giant G-42, will be part of the AI India Mission, serving both public and private sectors for research and commercial use.

Breaking new ground in diplomatic protocols, India and the UAE agreed to explore the establishment of ‘Digital/Data Embassies’ under mutually recognized sovereignty arrangements, a move that could redefine digital diplomacy.

On the trade front, an ambitious target has been set to double bilateral trade to over US$ 200 billion by 2032. New initiatives like Bharat Mart, the Virtual Trade Corridor, and Bharat-Africa Setu will be leveraged to link MSMEs and explore new markets.

Cultural and People-to-People Connect To cement the cultural bond, the leaders agreed in principle to establish a ‘House of India’ in Abu Dhabi. This flagship project will house a museum dedicated to Indian art, heritage, and archaeology. Furthermore, a new MoU on Food Safety was signed to facilitate agricultural exports from India, ensuring food security for the UAE while benefiting Indian farmers.

The visit concluded with a mutual commitment to foster future leaders through a new Youth Exchange Programme, promoting academic and cultural understanding between the next generations of both nations.

This visit by President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has not only reinforced the existing strong bonds but has also opened new avenues for strategic cooperation, making the India-UAE partnership a model for the region.