India, UAE seek deeper strategic ties amid West Asia tensions

India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Tuesday reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening strategic and economic ties, with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar expressing deep concern over the situation in West Asia and calling for dialogue, diplomacy and the uninterrupted movement of essential commodities.

Jaishankar held talks with UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Mumbai, reviewing bilateral cooperation across trade, investment, energy, defence, technology, logistics, education and people-to-people exchanges.

Sheikh Abdullah, who arrived in Mumbai on Monday, said the UAE was keen to expand its partnership with India, describing the existing relationship as strong but emphasising the need for greater engagement.

"We are very close but we want to be closer," the UAE foreign minister said, highlighting opportunities to strengthen cooperation in culture, education and people-to-people relations.

𝗪𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗔𝘀𝗶𝗮 𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀

At the beginning of the meeting, Jaishankar expressed concern over developments in the Gulf region and reiterated India's support for diplomatic efforts to restore peace and stability.

"The situation in the Gulf remains a matter of deep concern. We will continue to work together and support all efforts to promote dialogue and diplomacy," he said.

The External Affairs Minister also underlined the importance of maintaining secure international trade routes amid regional instability.

He said India continued to support the free and uninterrupted movement of trade, energy supplies and fertilisers, which remain essential for economic stability and food security.

Jaishankar thanked the UAE leadership for ensuring the safety and well-being of the Indian community in the Emirates, which numbers approximately 4.5 million.

The discussions came against the backdrop of continuing tensions in West Asia, which have raised concerns over regional security and the movement of essential supplies.

𝗕𝗶𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗨𝗦𝗗 𝟭𝟬𝟬 𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻

Jaishankar said the India-UAE economic partnership continued to achieve new milestones despite global economic uncertainty and regional challenges.

Bilateral trade has crossed USD 100 billion following the implementation of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in 2022.

The UAE is currently India's third-largest trading partner after China and the United States.

The External Affairs Minister said investments between the two countries were continuing to expand, reflecting growing confidence among businesses in both economies.

He also highlighted the increasingly strategic nature of cooperation in defence, energy and technology.

The two countries have sought to diversify their economic relationship beyond traditional energy trade, with growing engagement in logistics, infrastructure, financial services and emerging technologies.

𝗨𝗔𝗘 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗸𝘀 𝗯𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

Sheikh Abdullah said the UAE valued its position as one of India's largest trading partners and wanted to build a stronger, more diversified relationship.

He emphasised the importance of expanding cooperation in education, cultural exchanges and direct engagement between the people of the two countries.

The UAE foreign minister said the partnership was built on longstanding historical ties, mutual trust and shared economic interests.

The discussions also covered opportunities to enhance cooperation in investment, finance and energy, alongside sectors supporting sustainable economic growth.

Following the meeting, Jaishankar described the talks as productive and said both sides had undertaken a comprehensive review of their bilateral relationship.

In a social media post, he said the breadth of India-UAE cooperation was reflected in their expanding engagement across trade, investment, energy, technology, logistics, defence, education and people-to-people ties.

𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵-𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀

The meeting follows a series of high-level engagements between India and the UAE during 2026.

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan visited India in January, while Sheikh Khalid, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, led the UAE delegation to the AI Impact Summit in February and the BRICS Summit in September.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the UAE in May, when both sides reviewed cooperation in trade, investment, defence, security, energy and emerging technologies.

The latest meeting between Jaishankar and Sheikh Abdullah reflects efforts by both governments to sustain diplomatic engagement and expand economic cooperation despite uncertainties in the wider region.

The discussions also underscored the importance of the India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, particularly as both countries seek to strengthen supply chains, encourage investment and maintain stability in trade and energy flows.