India and the United Arab Emirates are preparing to further expand one of Asia’s fastest-growing economic partnerships, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives in Abu Dhabi on Friday for high-level discussions expected to focus on trade, investment, energy security, and emerging technologies.
The visit comes amid rapid growth in bilateral economic engagement between the two countries. India-UAE trade crossed the $100-billion mark in the financial year 2024-25, achieving the target set under the 2022 Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, or CEPA, five years ahead of schedule. During UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s visit to India earlier this year, both sides agreed to raise the bilateral trade target to 200 billion dollars by 2032.
While the relationship was traditionally anchored in the energy sector, the trade partnership has diversified significantly in recent years. The UAE continues to remain one of India’s key suppliers of crude oil and liquefied natural gas, but non-oil trade between the two countries rose nearly 20 percent last year to reach 65 billion dollars. Trade now spans petroleum products, gems and jewellery, engineering goods, food and agricultural products, chemicals, textiles, pharmaceuticals, and a wide range of services.
India’s exports to the UAE crossed 36.63 billion dollars, making the Emirates India’s second-largest export destination. Refined petroleum products, gold and diamond jewellery, engineering goods, garments, pharmaceuticals, and processed food remain among the leading Indian exports. UAE exports to India continue to be led by crude oil, gold, and petrochemicals.
Economic cooperation is also expanding into high-value sectors such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence, renewable energy, fintech, healthcare, critical minerals, and civil nuclear energy. Indian companies have established a significant presence across the Emirates in manufacturing, construction, hospitality, healthcare, retail, and education, with firms such as Taj Hotels, Mahindra, Dabur, Larsen and Toubro, and BITS Pilani operating across the UAE.
Industry leaders say the India-UAE partnership is increasingly evolving beyond traditional bilateral engagement. UAE-India Business Council Chairman Faizal Kottikollon said, “The India-UAE partnership is no longer confined to bilateral engagement alone. It is increasingly becoming a platform for wider regional cooperation.” Kottikollon added that recent UAE-India Business Council strategic studies on India-UAE investment synergies in Africa had highlighted significant opportunities for joint collaboration across African growth corridors, particularly in infrastructure, healthcare delivery, logistics, digital ecosystems, sustainability, and human development.
Friday’s talks are expected to focus on further strengthening bilateral ties in areas such as trade, investment, energy security, technology, culture, and people-to-people relations.
