New Delhi, January 19, 2026: United Arab Emirates President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan arrived in India on Monday for a brief official visit, set against the backdrop of significant geopolitical developments in West Asia. The visit, extending for approximately two hours, will see the UAE President hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, underscoring the growing intensity of high-level engagement between the two nations.

High-Level Engagements Build on Decade of Ties

President Mohamed bin Zayed’s visit comes at the invitation of Prime Minister Modi and builds upon recent exchanges between the leadership of India and the UAE. In September 2024, Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, visited India, followed by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE and Crown Prince of Dubai, in April 2025.

This marks the UAE President’s third official visit to India since assuming office, and his fifth visit to the country in the past decade, highlighting the frequency and depth of India-UAE diplomatic, economic, and strategic interactions.

Context: West Asia and the Gaza Peace Plan

The visit coincides with Phase 2 of the Gaza Peace Plan, spearheaded by US President Donald Trump. The plan aims to establish a National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, tasked with stabilising governance, reconstruction, and capital mobilisation in the region. India, through Prime Minister Modi, has been invited to join the Board, alongside US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, World Bank President Ajay Banga, and other international representatives, including Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.

According to the White House, the proposed Board will oversee critical portfolios, including governance capacity building, regional relations, investment promotion, and large-scale funding initiatives. Trump is expected to chair the board, with a team of advisors and officials managing day-to-day operations. The development of this committee has drawn attention from global capitals, with the UAE playing an active role in supporting the peace process.

Strengthening India-UAE Relations

The UAE President’s visit comes amid a series of recent high-level engagements between India and the UAE. Earlier this month, on January 4, Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi visited the UAE to strengthen military cooperation. During his visit, the Army Chief was accorded a Guard of Honour by the UAE Land Forces, received briefings on the UAE Army’s capabilities, and visited key military establishments, highlighting growing defence and strategic ties between the two countries.

In December 2025, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar visited the UAE for the 16th India-UAE Joint Commission Meeting and the fifth round of the India-UAE Strategic Dialogue, co-chaired with Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs. Discussions covered a wide range of areas including trade, investment, energy, connectivity, defence, technology, health, culture, and people-to-people ties.

Regional Dynamics and Security Concerns

The visit also comes amid shifting dynamics in West Asia, particularly involving Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Yemen. Recently, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed a defence pact establishing collective security arrangements, while tensions in southern Yemen have escalated. The UAE has been accused of backing the Southern Transitional Council (STC) in southern Yemen, which seeks independence in the region, although the UAE has officially denied these claims.

Against this backdrop, the India-UAE dialogue provides an opportunity for both countries to align on regional security, counter-terrorism, and diplomatic strategies. Officials highlight that India and the UAE share strong convergence on regional and global issues, providing a platform for coordinated action on matters affecting West Asia and beyond.

Trade, Investment, and Energy Ties

India and the UAE share robust economic ties, making the visit strategically significant. Both nations are top trading partners, bolstered by the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), the Local Currency Settlement (LCS) system, and a Bilateral Investment Treaty. Their cooperation spans multiple sectors including energy, with long-term arrangements for oil, gas, and renewable energy supplies forming a core aspect of their partnership.

The MEA has noted that the UAE President’s visit provides an opportunity to chart new frontiers for the India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, covering trade, technology, defence, security, and development cooperation. The visit also reinforces India’s diplomatic outreach in West Asia, a region where it maintains close ties with multiple stakeholders including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Israel.

Historical and Diplomatic Context

India and the UAE formally established diplomatic relations in 1972, with the UAE opening its embassy in New Delhi the same year and India opening its embassy in Abu Dhabi in 1973. Over the decades, both countries have cultivated strong political, cultural, and economic ties, collaborating closely on multilateral platforms including BRICS, I2U2 (India-Israel-UAE-USA), and the UFI (UAE-France-India) Trilateral. The UAE also participated as a guest country in the G20 Summit hosted under India’s presidency.

Conclusion

President Mohamed bin Zayed’s visit represents a strategically timed engagement that strengthens India-UAE ties while providing both countries with a platform to discuss regional stability, security cooperation, and economic partnerships. Against the backdrop of volatile developments in West Asia, the visit signals continued high-level coordination and convergence on issues ranging from regional peace and security to trade, investment, and energy.

As the UAE President meets with Prime Minister Modi in New Delhi, the discussions are expected to reinforce bilateral cooperation, explore new avenues for collaboration, and affirm both nations’ commitment to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership capable of addressing regional and global challenges.

The visit underlines India’s growing diplomatic influence in West Asia, its strategic alignment with the UAE, and the willingness of both countries to collaborate on complex regional issues while deepening their long-standing economic, cultural, and defence ties.