India and the United Arab Emirates on Monday agreed to double bilateral trade to $200 billion by 2032, announcing a broad set of commercial and strategic outcomes spanning energy security, defence cooperation, space, food exports, investment, and advanced computing.
The agreements were signed during UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s one-day state visit to New Delhi.
Briefing the media after talks between President Sheikh Mohamed and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said the ambitious trade target reflects the deepening India-UAE economic partnership, which has expanded rapidly since the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) came into force.
He noted that the UAE has now emerged as India’s second-largest supplier of liquefied natural gas (LNG).
A major outcome on the energy front was the signing of a Sales and Purchase Agreement between Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) and ADNOC Gas.
Under the agreement, India will receive LNG supplies for a 10-year period beginning in 2028, strengthening long-term energy security amid volatile global gas markets.
Defence, Space and High-Tech Cooperation
India and the UAE also signed a Letter of Intent on a Strategic Defence Partnership, signalling closer collaboration in defence manufacturing, technology, and capability development.
In another significant step, the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) and the UAE Space Agency signed a Letter of Intent to promote space industry development and commercial cooperation.
The initiative aims to encourage private sector participation and joint ventures in space infrastructure and downstream applications.
The two sides further agreed to establish a supercomputing cluster in India, underlining growing cooperation in advanced digital and computing capabilities.
Trade, Investment and Export Push
Investment cooperation featured prominently among the outcomes. A Letter of Intent was signed between the Government of Gujarat and the UAE Ministry of Investment for the development of the Dholera Special Investment Region, a flagship industrial and infrastructure hub.
To strengthen financial and logistics linkages, the UAE’s First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) and global port operator DP World will establish offices and operations in GIFT City, Gujarat, reinforcing India’s position as a regional hub for financial and trade services.
In the agri-export sector, a memorandum of understanding was signed between India’s Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) and the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment.
The MoU focuses on food safety and technical requirements and is expected to facilitate market access for Indian agricultural and processed food exports to the Gulf.
India and the UAE also agreed to promote bilateral civil nuclear cooperation and to explore the establishment of “digital/data embassies”, reflecting growing trust and collaboration in sensitive and future-oriented sectors.
People-to-People and Cultural Initiatives
Beyond trade and strategic cooperation, the two countries announced plans to establish a ‘House of India’ in Abu Dhabi.
The proposed cultural space will showcase Indian art, heritage and archaeology, and will be complemented by initiatives to promote youth exchanges, adding a strong soft-power dimension to the partnership.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi later received His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in New Delhi.
In a post on X, Modi said the visit underscored the importance the UAE leadership attaches to ties with India and said he looked forward to discussions.
Taken together, the agreements point to an expanding India-UAE partnership that goes well beyond hydrocarbons, with a clear emphasis on trade expansion, long-term investment, and collaboration in strategic and high-technology sectors over the coming decade.