Modi-plomacy Triumphs ::: PM Namo's 2.5-hour trip to UAE brings rich Dividends for India :::: “We strongly condemn attack on UAE. The manner in which UAE has been targeted is not acceptable in any form"

 Oil reserves to LPG supply: PM's 2.5-hour trip to UAE brings big returns for India 

India and the UAE signed key defence, energy and maritime agreements and announced USD 5 billion in investments amid regional geopolitical uncertainty.

The two sides also concluded an agreement on supplies of Liquefied Petroleum Gas, aimed at ensuring stable and long-term energy supplies to India as it seeks to secure and diversify imports and limit the impact of global price shocks on domestic consumers. 

Modi with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi.

The agreement was signed between Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL) and ADNOC, secures a long-term, prioritised supply of fuel from the UAE, which fulfils roughly 40 per cent of India’s domestic LPG requirements.

It was a brief visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the United Arab Emirates on Friday, but it yielded big returns for New Delhi. The visit produced a series of strategic and economic gains for India, with the two countries announcing defence, energy and infrastructure agreements along with investment commitments worth billions of dollars.

The PM's visit to Abu Dhabi came at a time of geopolitical churn in West Asia and continued uncertainty in global energy markets. 

Against the backdrop of the ongoing regional conflict and concerns over disruption to critical shipping routes, including the Strait of Hormuz, both sides stressed the need for stability, connectivity and economic resilience.  

Agreement on Framework for the Strategic Defence Partnership

One of the main outcomes was the signing of an Agreement on Framework for the Strategic Defence Partnership between India and the UAE. The agreement moves beyond standard military exercises to focus on the joint development and co-production of advanced defense technologies, deeper intelligence sharing, and stricter counter-terrorism cooperation.

MoU on Strategic Petroleum Reserves

In the energy sector, India and the UAE signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Strategic Petroleum Reserves to strengthen India’s energy security amid volatile crude markets and supply disruptions linked to regional tensions. 

Building on their existing partnership, 

......  where Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) is the only foreign entity storing oil in India's underground reserves, this agreement deepens strategic cooperation, securing a reliable energy supply for India while providing the UAE with a stable, long-term market for its expanded crude production capacity.

MoU on setting up Ship Repair Cluster at Vadinar

The visit also saw an MoU for setting up a Ship Repair Cluster at Vadinar in Gujarat, a project expected to strengthen India’s maritime infrastructure ecosystem and support its position as a regional hub for ship maintenance and repair.

Investment worth 5 billion

In addition, the UAE announced investments worth USD 5 billion, targeted at boosting Indian infrastructure projects, expanding credit capacity at RBL Bank, and injecting liquidity into housing financier Sammaan Capital.

The agreements, according to officials, showed how India-UAE ties were expanding beyond traditional trade and energy cooperation into defence, logistics, infrastructure and finance.

India and the UAE have emerged as major economic partners in recent years, especially after the signing of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, which helped bilateral trade cross the USD 100 billion mark. Both countries are now targeting USD 200 billion in trade in the coming years.

PM Narendra Modi condemned the attack on the United Arab Emirates during the war between the United States and Iran.

PM is currently in the United Arab Emirates on the first leg of his five-nation diplomatic tour, which will also take him to the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway and Italy.

During his talks with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, PM Modi condemned the Iranian attacks and said, 

“We strongly condemn the attacks launched on the UAE. 

The manner in which the UAE has been targeted is not acceptable in any form. We welcome the steps taken by you to uphold national unity, security and regional integrity."

The prime minister also expressed gratitude to the UAE president for taking care of Indians living in the country during the attacks.

ends