External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar is set to commence an official visit to the United Arab Emirates on Sunday (June 23), focusing prominently on discussions concerning the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two nations.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, during his visit, Dr. Jaishankar will hold talks with his UAE counterpart Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan on a wide range of issues pertaining to the India-UAE partnership. The agenda includes discussions on regional and global developments, with special attention to the current tensions in the Middle East, including those exacerbated by the situation in Gaza.
The visit is also seen as an opportunity to review the entire spectrum of the comprehensive strategic partnership between India and the UAE. Bilateral ties between the two countries have seen significant growth in recent years, particularly since Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s landmark visit to the UAE in August 2015, which elevated bilateral relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Highlighting the economic dimension, the Ministry pointed out that the India-UAE trade, which was valued at US$180 million annually in the 1970s, has reached US$85 billion in the fiscal year 2022–23, making the UAE India’s third largest trading partner after China and the US. The UAE is also India’s second-largest export destination, with trade reaching nearly US$31.61 billion for the same period.
In addition to economic ties, India and the UAE cooperate closely on various international platforms, including the United Nations, BRICS, I2U2 (India-Israel-UAE-USA), and the UFI (UAE-France-India) Trilateral. The UAE was also invited as a guest country to the G20 Summit held during India’s presidency.
