PM Modi Departs for UAE to Strengthen Strategic and Economic Ties

New Delhi, May 2026: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday departed for Abu Dhabi on an official visit to the United Arab Emirates, marking the beginning of a multi-nation diplomatic tour aimed at deepening India’s global strategic and economic partnerships.

The UAE visit is expected to focus on enhancing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries, with discussions covering trade, investment, energy security and welfare of the large Indian diaspora living in the Gulf nation.

During the visit, Prime Minister Modi will hold high-level talks with UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the two leaders are expected to exchange views on key bilateral, regional and global issues while exploring new avenues to further strengthen cooperation across multiple sectors.

“The visit will serve to promote the significant trade and investment linkages between the two countries,” the MEA stated ahead of the Prime Minister’s departure.

Energy security is expected to emerge as one of the central themes of the discussions, especially amid rising global energy concerns linked to ongoing geopolitical tensions in West Asia.

Official sources indicated that two important Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) related to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cooperation and strategic petroleum reserves are likely to be signed during the visit.

India and the UAE have steadily expanded their economic relationship in recent years, with bilateral trade and investment witnessing significant growth. According to MEA data, the UAE is currently India’s third-largest trading partner and the seventh-largest source of cumulative foreign investment into India over the last 25 years.

The UAE also hosts one of the largest Indian expatriate communities in the world, with over 4.5 million Indians living and working there. Discussions regarding the welfare, safety and employment opportunities of the Indian diaspora are also expected to feature prominently during the visit.

The UAE visit marks the first leg of Prime Minister Modi’s broader multi-country diplomatic tour covering Europe and the Nordic region.

Earlier, MEA Secretary (West) Sibi George briefed the media on the Prime Minister’s itinerary and upcoming engagements.

Following the UAE visit, Prime Minister Modi will travel to the Netherlands, marking his second visit to the country since 2017. During the visit, he is scheduled to meet King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima, besides holding talks with Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten.

In the third phase of the tour, the Prime Minister will travel to Sweden, where he will hold bilateral discussions with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson in Gothenburg to review the full spectrum of bilateral cooperation and identify opportunities to expand trade and innovation partnerships.

Prime Minister Modi and Kristersson are also expected to jointly address the European Round Table for Industry along with Ursula von der Leyen.

The fourth leg of the visit will take the Prime Minister to Norway for the 3rd India-Nordic Summit and bilateral meetings with Nordic leaders.

In the final phase of the tour, Prime Minister Modi will visit Italy, where he is scheduled to meet President Sergio Mattarella and hold talks with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

The visit is expected to reinforce India’s diplomatic outreach and strategic engagement with key global partners across the Gulf and Europe.

Team Maverick.