The UAE and India have strong bonds of friendship based on centuries old cultural and economic ties between the two nations and subsequently this relationship flourished with the creation of the UAE Federation in 1971.
The UAE appointed its first Ambassador to New Delhi in 1972 while India appointed its First Ambassador to the UAE in June 1973. Since then, both sides have made sincere efforts to further develop their relations in all fields.
The two countries have established strong partnerships in the fields of commerce, trade and Investment. This partnership is expanding, diversifying and emerging into a strategic partnership with emphasis on cooperation in defence, energy, space, and IT sectors.
Both the countries have speeded up the relationship to transform from what used to be a buyer-seller relationship into strategic partnership.
The bilateral relations have also received impetus from time-to-time with exchange of high-level visits from both sides including:
- On 15 July 2023, Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi visited the UAE for the fifth time, marking a significant milestone in the deepening of the UAE-India bilateral relationship. During this visit, three crucial Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) were signed. The first focused on establishing a framework to encourage the use of local currencies (AED-INR) for cross-border transactions by the Governors of the respective Central Banks. The second MoU pertained to the interlinking of payment and messaging systems, also endorsed by the Governors of the respective Central Banks. Lastly, plans were set in motion for the establishment of the Indian Institute of Technology – Delhi in Abu Dhabi. Prime Minister Modi's previous visits to the UAE occurred in August 2015, February 2018, in August 2019 when he received the Order of Zayed, and in June 2022 to convey greetings to HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan as he assumed the presidency of the UAE.
- Meanwhile, in reciprocal visits, HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, visited India thrice. First in 2016, then on 26 January 2017 as the Chief Guest at India’s Republic Day Celebrations. The UAE-India relationship was elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during this visit. In his latest visit, from 8-10 September 2023, His Highness attend the 18th Group of 20 (G20) Summit in New Delhi, in which the UAE participated as a guest of honour.
- The bilateral trade between the UAE and India trade stands at USD 85 billion as of 2022. The UAE is India’s third-largest trading partner for the year 2022-23. India is the UAE’s second largest trading partner. In February 2022, India became the first country with which the UAE signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). Bilateral trade has increased by approximately 15% since the entry into force of the CEPA on 1 May 2022.
- The UAE stood as India’s fourth largest supplier of crude oil in FY 2022-23, with the UAE’s crude oil export to India valued at USD 16.84 billion.
- The UAE is the fourth largest investor in India in terms of FDI.1 Prominent UAE companies such as Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), Mubadala, ADQ, IHC, DP World, Emaar Properties, Sharaf Group, TAQA, Borouge, ADNOC, Ducab, Emirates NBD, First Abu Dhabi Bank, Mashreq have invested significantly in various sectors of the Indian economy.
- In 1975, the UAE and India entered into a Cultural Agreement, laying down the fundamental framework to enhance bilateral cultural relations and people-to-people ties.
- The Indian community of over 3.5 million2 is a major part of UAE's vibrant society and its economic success. It also makes a significant economic contribution to India and constitutes an indelible human bond of friendship between the two nations.
- Following the signing of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) on 18 February 2022, Prime Minister Modi and HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan agreed to establish a UAE-India Cultural Council to facilitate bilateral cultural cooperation. The Office of Public and Cultural Diplomacy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, UAE, and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) will collaborate to oversee the coordination of this initiative.
- The two countries also have signed Executive Programme for Cultural Cooperation (EPCC). Through such dynamic platform, the two countries are promoting cultural activities for Indian as well as Emeriti society.
- The Embassy of the UAE in India also engages in charitable activities. The Embassy of, in collaboration with Sun Foundation, Rashid Centre for the Disabled and FICCI, organized 'A Gala Night of Hope' in Delhi.
This interactive page provides Emirati travelers with personalized travel guidance and essential entry requirements based on their selected destination. Through a user-friendly map interface, travelers can quickly access important information, understand destination-specific regulations and requirements, and prepare confidently for their international journey.
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