India-UAE bonhomie

ON landing in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that being in the UAE made him ‘feel at home’. This succinct remark sums up the strength and depth of the ties between the two nations. PM Modi’s current visit to the UAE — his seventh in the past nine years — has taken the bilateral relationship to the next level in terms of geopolitical, cultural and economic cooperation.

India and the UAE have inked 10 pacts for collaboration in key sectors such as energy, infrastructure and investments. Their bilateral trade was around $85 billion in 2022-23, with the UAE being among the biggest investors in India in terms of foreign direct investment. The Intergovernmental Framework Agreement concerning Cooperation for the Empowerment and Operation of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor is expected to give a boost to regional connectivity. The corridor was announced during the G20 Summit in New Delhi in September and is perceived to be an alternative to China’s Belt and Road Initiative. The signing of an agreement connecting the instant payment platforms — India’s UPI and UAE’s AANI — and a pact on interlinking domestic debit/credit cards is another major step forward.

The high point of PM Modi’s trip was the inauguration of the Swaminarayan Mandir in Abu Dhabi. The temple, a testament to interfaith harmony in the Muslim-majority country, also signifies a religious and cultural outreach to the 3.5 million-strong Indian community, that forms the largest expatriate group in the UAE. The PM’s rapport with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has played a big role in bringing the two nations closer. Having such a dependable ally augurs well for India’s growing footprint in the Gulf region.