India-UAE Partnership Strengthened: PM Modi’s Visit Highlights Comprehensive Ties

Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra remarked during a special briefing on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official two-day visit to the UAE that the partnership with the UAE stands out as one of India’s most comprehensive partnerships with any country. Prime Minister Modi engaged in detailed delegation level and one-to-one talks with President of UAE, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. As per the Foreign Secretary, 10 MoU agreements were signed during the visit, aiming to strengthen ties between the two nations.

“The leaders held detailed delegation level and one-to-one talks which covered the entire gamut of bilateral engagement between India and the UAE as well as the significant developments, regionally and globally,” Kwatra stated. The discussions emphasized on deepening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership across various sectors such as trade, investment, digital infrastructure, fintech, energy, infrastructure, culture, and people-to-people ties. The talks also touched upon regional and global issues.

Kwatra emphasized the significance of the partnership, stating, “If we look at the trajectory, spread and intensity of the cooperation in the last 10 years… if you look at the specifics, the evidence and what the two countries’ leaders have done in the partnership, you will find this is perhaps one of the most comprehensive partnerships India has with any of the countries.”

The Foreign Secretary highlighted the launch of the IIT Delhi Abu Dhabi campus as a significant step, marking an entry into the crucial domain of education and enhancing people-to-people connectivity. Prime Minister Modi, during his interaction with the Indian community in Abu Dhabi, underscored the achievements in the education sector, noting the enrollment of over 1.5 lakh Indian students in UAE schools and the commencement of master’s courses at the IIT Delhi campus in Abu Dhabi.

The opening of the IIT Delhi campus in the UAE, envisioned in February 2022, is a collaborative effort between IIT Delhi and the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge. It aims to provide quality higher education opportunities globally and foster partnerships in next-generation technology, research, and innovation.

Prime Minister Modi expressed gratitude towards the UAE President for his commitment to bilateral ties and support to the Indian community during the ‘Ahlan Modi’ event at Zayed Sports Stadium, attended by over 40,000 people. He also thanked the UAE President for granting land for the construction of the BAPS Temple, whose inauguration was scheduled for later that afternoon.