India and UAE Strengthen Strategic Partnership During Abu Dhabi Crown Prince’s Visit to Delhi

On Monday, President Droupadi Murmu welcomed Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, to Rashtrapati Bhavan, highlighting the “historic yet forward-looking” bilateral relationship between India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). She noted how visionary leadership from both nations over the past decade has transformed their partnership.

During the meeting, President Murmu emphasized the importance of high-level engagements in maintaining the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between India and the UAE. She praised the UAE for its efforts in ensuring the welfare of the large Indian community living in the UAE, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The President and the Crown Prince acknowledged the shared values of peace, tolerance, and harmony embodied by Mahatma Gandhi and Sheikh Zayed, which are integral to both nations’ national character,” a statement from the Rashtrapati Bhavan read. President Murmu also noted the significant role of women in Emirati society and highlighted the benefits of women-led development for socio-economic progress.

Following the meeting, India and the UAE signed five Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) covering various areas of cooperation. These included:

• An MoU for operations and maintenance of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant between Emirates Nuclear Energy Company (ENEC) and Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL).
• A long-term LNG supply agreement between Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and Indian Oil Corporation Limited.
• An MoU between ADNOC and India Strategic Petroleum Reserve Limited (ISPRL) to explore additional opportunities for crude storage in India.
• A Production Concession Agreement for Abu Dhabi Onshore Block 1 between Urja Bharat and ADNOC, marking the first such agreement for an Indian company in the UAE.
• An MoU between the Government of Gujarat and Abu Dhabi Developmental Holding Company PJSC (ADQ) to develop food parks in India.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) highlighted that the MoU on nuclear cooperation is expected to enhance mutual investments and capacity building in the nuclear sector. The LNG agreement, providing for 1 million metric tonnes per annum, strengthens India’s energy security by diversifying LNG sources. The concession agreement for Abu Dhabi Onshore Block 1 will contribute to India’s energy needs by bringing crude oil to India.

The MoU on food parks involves developing sites in Gujarat, with the project expected to commence in Q2 2025. The Gujarat government will support ADQ in obtaining necessary permits and information.

During their discussions, both leaders expressed satisfaction with the progress made in their strategic partnership and explored new areas for collaboration, including nuclear energy, critical minerals, green hydrogen, artificial intelligence, and advanced technologies.

The Crown Prince also paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat and became the third generation of UAE leaders to plant a sapling there, following Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan in 1992 and Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan in 2016.

The Crown Prince will continue his visit in Mumbai, where he will participate in an India-UAE business forum and witness the soft launch of the India-UAE Virtual Trade Corridor (VTC) and the MAITRI interface.