PM Modi’s UAE Visit Expected to Deepen India-UAE Defence and Strategic Partnership

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming visit to the United Arab Emirates is expected to give fresh momentum to the India-UAE Strategic Defence Partnership, as both countries look to expand cooperation across defence, security and emerging strategic sectors. The visit comes after the signing of a Letter of Intent on Strategic Defence Partnership during the January 2026 visit of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to India, signalling a more structured phase in bilateral defence engagement.

The proposed framework is expected to strengthen cooperation in defence industrial collaboration, advanced defence technologies, counter-terrorism, cyber security, training and interoperability. These areas are increasingly important as India and the UAE deepen their strategic alignment in a region shaped by fast-changing security dynamics, maritime concerns, technology competition and the need for resilient supply chains.

India and the UAE have already built one of New Delhi’s most important partnerships in the Gulf. Over the past few years, the relationship has expanded beyond traditional trade and energy ties into infrastructure, technology, defence, logistics and strategic connectivity. The Comprehensive Strategic Partnership has given the two countries a wider platform to work together on long-term economic and security priorities.

The economic side of the relationship remains equally significant. India and the UAE are targeting bilateral trade of ₹18.90 lakh crore, or about US$200 billion, by 2032. This target is being supported by the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, investments in logistics and infrastructure, and growing cooperation in emerging sectors such as artificial intelligence, space technology and advanced manufacturing.

The defence dimension adds a new strategic layer to this partnership. For India, closer defence cooperation with the UAE strengthens its engagement with a key Gulf partner that sits at the centre of energy routes, trade corridors and regional connectivity networks. For the UAE, India offers a major defence, technology and industrial partner with growing manufacturing capability, a large security footprint in the Indian Ocean and expanding influence in the Indo-Pacific and West Asia.

Maritime security is another important area where the two countries are expected to deepen engagement. The Gulf and the Indian Ocean are directly linked through energy flows, shipping lanes, ports and trade networks, making maritime stability a shared priority. Cooperation in naval engagement, information sharing, counter-terrorism and regional stability could become increasingly important as India seeks to secure its western maritime flank and strengthen its broader SAGAR vision.

The visit is also expected to build on cooperation in energy security, digital infrastructure and connectivity projects. India and the UAE have already developed strong economic complementarities, with the UAE serving as a major investment, energy and logistics partner, while India offers a large market, skilled workforce and growing technology base. The addition of defence and advanced technology cooperation gives the relationship a more future-oriented strategic character.

Prime Minister Modi’s UAE visit therefore carries significance beyond a routine diplomatic engagement. It reflects the steady elevation of India-UAE ties from commerce and diaspora links into a broader strategic partnership covering defence, technology, energy, maritime security and regional stability. As both countries look toward the 2032 trade target and a stronger defence framework, the partnership is emerging as one of the most important pillars of India’s engagement with the Gulf region.