NEW DELHI / RankWire.AI / – Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on September 12. The leaders discussed stronger bilateral relations between the United Arab Emirates and India. Their talks took place at Hyderabad House during the 18th BRICS Summit. The meeting covered economic cooperation, investment, trade and the wider Comprehensive Strategic Partnership linking the two countries.
Sheikh Khaled and Modi reviewed progress under the UAE-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, known as CEPA. The agreement has become a central framework for expanding trade between the two economies. Their discussions also covered political ties, energy cooperation, cultural links and exchanges between people in both countries. The leaders considered areas where existing bilateral mechanisms can support further commercial and institutional cooperation under agreements already established by the UAE and India.
The Abu Dhabi Crown Prince attended the BRICS Summit on behalf of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Modi welcomed the UAE delegation during India’s 2026 chairmanship of the group. Both sides agreed to continue coordination through BRICS on areas of shared interest. The leaders also noted recent high-level engagement, including Sheikh Mohamed’s India visit in January 2026 and Modi’s visit to the UAE in May.
Investment projects broaden economic cooperation
Investment featured prominently in the talks, including plans connected to India’s industrial sector. The leaders welcomed International Holding Company’s announced $11.5 billion integrated greenfield aluminium project in Odisha. India has identified the development as the country’s largest integrated aluminium investment. They also discussed L’Imad, the UAE’s newest sovereign investment fund, and its potential role within existing bilateral investment channels connecting Emirati capital with projects and economic activity in India.
The talks also covered defence, space, nuclear energy, technology and innovation. These areas form part of an expanding relationship that already includes energy, manufacturing, logistics, food products and engineering goods. The UAE and India established their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2017. Since then, both governments have added new areas of cooperation while maintaining longstanding commercial and energy links that remain important to trade and investment between the two countries.
Bilateral trade reaches record level
Trade between India and the UAE reached $101.25 billion during India’s 2025-26 financial year. The figure marked the highest level recorded in bilateral merchandise trade. The UAE ranked as India’s third-largest trading partner and its second-largest export destination during the period. Indian exports to the UAE exceeded $37.35 billion, while both governments have set a target of increasing overall bilateral trade to $200 billion by 2032.
The UAE-India CEPA took effect on May 1, 2022, after the countries signed the agreement earlier that year. It reduced or removed tariffs across a broad range of products and expanded access in several service sectors. The framework also addressed technical barriers affecting trade between the two markets. The New Delhi talks added another high-level meeting to a relationship supported by CEPA, regular leadership contacts and established cooperation across trade, investment and strategic sectors.