'U & I' ON A HIGH

Bilateral partnership between the UAE and India has grown since Modi became prime minister

- ANIRUDHA KARINDALAM

In July 2022, after a successful visit to Germany, Prime Minister Narendra Modi decided to make a brief stopover in Abu Dhabi. Because of the short notice, officials at the Indian embassy in Abu Dhabi did not get enough time to prepare. But what surprised them was the decision by President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to receive Modi at the airport. The two leaders greeted each other with a hug, before heading out for a quick meeting. The same sequence of events was repeated in July 2023 as well, the only difference being Modi was returning from France this time.

Since he became prime minister in 2014, Modi has visited the UAE seven times, making it the most-visited country by the prime minister. The UAE is today India’s most notable partner in West Asia, and has established itself as an important connection between India and the region. There has been growth in the bilateral partnership since Modi became prime minister. When he went to the UAE for the first time, in August 2015, it was the first visit by an Indian prime minister in 34 years—the last was by Indira Gandhi in 1981.

The two countries have many common interests that they will pursue, keeping in mind the ground realities. The focus, in the coming days, will be to further expand the network of bilateral relationship that has been built up. A central reason for the UAE being India’s closest partner in West Asia is the 35 lakh-strong Indian community, which has been the most significant contributor to the UAE’s economy since the country was formed in 1971. Last year, India and the UAE completed 50 years of diplomatic relations.