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India, UAE chart deeper economic ties amid West Asia tensions

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan have reviewed bilateral relations, identifying defence, artificial intelligence and critical minerals as priority areas for expanded cooperation. The talks underscore New Delhi and Abu Dhabi's commitment to strengthening ties during a period of regional uncertainty.

LSN India · 12 September 2026

India, UAE chart deeper economic ties amid West Asia tensions

India and the United Arab Emirates have outlined an ambitious agenda to deepen their strategic partnership, with both nations signalling intent to expand cooperation across multiple sectors. The review came during talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on the sidelines of the BRICS summit on Saturday.

The two leaders identified defence, artificial intelligence, space exploration, critical minerals, energy, food security and connectivity infrastructure as focal areas for enhanced bilateral engagement. Modi highlighted the significance of the partnership, noting that strong India-UAE relations serve as a stabilising force in the region at a time of elevated tensions in West Asia.

On the economic front, both sides explored mechanisms to accelerate investment flows from Emirati entities into India. The discussion centred on leveraging L'Imad, the UAE's newly established sovereign investment fund, as a vehicle for deepening financial collaboration and supporting infrastructure projects across sectors.

The engagement reflects both nations' commitment to broadening economic interdependence while addressing shared strategic interests in the Indo-Pacific region. Officials acknowledged the potential for the sovereign fund to channel capital into key growth areas and strengthen the overall bilateral economic architecture.