UAE President Calls PM Modi on Birthday, Discusses West Asia and Strategic Partnership
UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan spoke with Prime Minister Narendra Modi by telephone on September 18 and conveyed warm birthday greetings. The two leaders also discussed ways to further strengthen the India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, covering areas such as energy, defence, technology, investment and health.
Birthday Greetings and BRICS Cooperation
During the conversation, Sheikh Mohamed congratulated Prime Minister Modi on his birthday as well as on India’s successful BRICS Presidency. Modiji thanked the UAE President for his wishes and appreciated the participation of UAE Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in the BRICS Summit.
The Prime Minister also acknowledged the UAE’s cooperation and partnership in helping advance substantive outcomes during India’s BRICS Presidency. The exchange highlights the close diplomatic engagement between New Delhi and Abu Dhabi at both bilateral and multilateral forums.
India-UAE Strategic Partnership Expands
The latest conversation placed particular emphasis on expanding the India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the leaders discussed new measures in energy, defence, technology, investment and health.
India and the UAE have steadily broadened their relationship beyond traditional trade and energy cooperation. Recent bilateral engagement has included investment, advanced technologies, artificial intelligence, healthcare, infrastructure and other emerging areas. The two countries have also been working to create stronger links between their business communities and industries.
Trade and Investment Drive Bilateral Ties
Economic cooperation remains a major pillar of India-UAE relations. Bilateral trade reached US$100 billion in FY 2024-25, according to the joint statement issued following the UAE President’s visit to India. Both countries have set an objective of increasing bilateral trade to US$200 billion by 2032.
The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, which came into force in 2022, has provided an important framework for expanding trade and market access. Investment ties have also received greater attention, supported by the Bilateral Investment Treaty signed in 2024 and continuing discussions on new investment opportunities.
Technology and New Areas of Cooperation
Technology has emerged as another important dimension of the relationship. During the UAE President’s 2026 visit to India, the two sides agreed in principle to collaborate on establishing a supercomputing cluster in India involving C-DAC and UAE-based G42. The proposed facility is intended to support research, application development and commercial uses.
The countries have also identified areas such as artificial intelligence, advanced technologies, renewable energy, health and life sciences, and space systems for greater industrial cooperation. Such initiatives reflect the expanding economic and technological dimensions of the bilateral partnership.
West Asia Situation Takes Centre Stage
The regional situation in West Asia was another important subject of the telephone conversation. Prime Minister Modi and President Sheikh Mohamed exchanged views on developments in the region and reaffirmed their commitment to continued cooperation and coordination to promote peace, security and stability.
The discussion comes at a time when developments in West Asia continue to have wider implications for regional security, energy supplies, trade and connectivity. For India and the UAE, maintaining regular communication on regional developments is also relevant because of their extensive economic and people-to-people links with the wider Gulf region.
A Relationship with Wider Strategic Importance
The latest conversation demonstrates how India-UAE relations have developed into a broad partnership encompassing diplomacy, trade, investment, defence, energy and emerging technologies. The two countries are simultaneously working to expand economic engagement while coordinating on regional and international issues.
With bilateral trade already reaching $100 billion and a target of $200 billion by 2032, economic cooperation remains central to the relationship. At the same time, new initiatives in technology, healthcare, energy and other strategic sectors are widening the scope of cooperation between New Delhi and Abu Dhabi.
The MGMM Outlook
India-UAE relations continue to expand across trade, investment, defence, energy, technology and healthcare, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan maintaining regular high-level engagement. Their latest conversation, which included birthday greetings and discussions on India’s BRICS Presidency, also highlighted the growing importance of cooperation in emerging sectors such as artificial intelligence, advanced technology and supercomputing.
The discussion on West Asia further reflects the importance of close coordination between India and the UAE on regional peace, security and stability. With bilateral trade reaching $100 billion in FY 2024–25 and both countries targeting $200 billion by 2032, the partnership is gaining wider economic and strategic significance. Continued cooperation in technology, investment, energy, healthcare and regional affairs can further strengthen the long-term relationship between New Delhi and Abu Dhabi.
(Sources: Firstpost, Hindustan Times, The New Indian Express)
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