India-UAE ties — stability, substance, strategic union, Pg10

Key Highlights:

• UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (MbZ) visited India on January 19, 2026, marking his eleventh leadership-level visit in as many years.
• The visit resulted in a defence cooperation framework, a joint space initiative, and a target of $200 billion in bilateral trade by 2032.
• A Letter of Intent was signed towards a Strategic Defence Partnership, and both nations jointly condemned terrorism.
• The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) has led to a 37% rise in bilateral trade since FY 2022–23.

Detailed Insights:

• The India-UAE relationship has deepened since the signing of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement in 2017, expanding across sectors like defence, energy, education, and economic engagement.
• UAE entities are making long-term investments in India, including participation in developing the Special Investment Region in Dholera, Gujarat, with interests in strategic assets like airports and ports.
• Bharat Mart at Jebel Ali will boost India’s MSME exports, while the proposed Bharat-Africa Setu aims to connect Indian exporters with African markets using DP World’s logistics network.
• India and the UAE will explore partnerships in advanced nuclear technologies, including small modular reactors, building on the MoU on civil nuclear cooperation signed in September 2024.

Key Concepts Involved:

• CEPA (Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement): A trade agreement between two countries to reduce or eliminate tariffs and promote trade in goods and services.
• MSME (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises): Businesses that maintain turnovers and employee sizes below certain limits, as defined by law.
• Strategic Autonomy: A country's ability to make its own foreign policy and security decisions without being dictated by other powers.