UAE President’s 03 Hour Visit To India.

New Delhi; January 2026: The Honourable President Of United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan paid a visit to India yesterday, 19th January 2026. Although the visit was brisk – just for some few hours (03^1/2 hours), the bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi yielded certain path breaking decisions bolstering both economic and diplomatic ties.

The Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri have underscored the United Arab Emirates’ crucial contribution to its energy security and announced a long-term Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) supply agreement. The agreement is a Sales and Purchase Agreement between Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company Gas (ADNOC Gas). Under the deal, HPCL will purchase 0.5 million metric tons per annum of liquefied natural gas from ADNOC Gas for 10 years, starting in 2028.

“This is a sale and purchase agreement between Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited and the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) gas, and it’s a long-term agreement providing for the purchase of 0.5 million metric tons per annum of LNG by HPCL from ADNOC gas over a period of 10 years commencing from 2028”.

The enactment of the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Act, noting that it creates new opportunities for enhanced civil nuclear cooperation.

Both sides also agreed to explore partnerships in advanced nuclear technologies, including the development and deployment of large nuclear reactors and Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), as well as cooperation in advanced reactor systems, nuclear power plant operations and maintenance, and nuclear safety.

Regarding investment cooperation, Misri said India is pursuing the UAE’s participation in the development of the Special Investment Region in Dholera, Gujarat. He said the proposed collaboration focuses on large-scale infrastructure development, including a full-fledged international airport, a pilot training school, a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility, ports, a smart urban township, railway connectivity, and energy projects, to be jointly pursued by the UAE and the Government of Gujarat.

“We are looking at pursuing or attracting investment from the UAE in the development of the Special Investment Region in Dholera in Gujarat, which essentially focuses on infrastructure and included in this infrastructure, the idea would be to add a full-fledged international airport in Dholera”, the Foreign Secretary said.

“Annexe to that would be things like a pilot training school and an MRO facility, and also other infrastructure projects, ports and smart urban townships, railways, and energy projects that would come up. This will be pursued between the UAE and the government of Gujarat”, he added.

The Joint Statement noted that the Bilateral Investment Treaty signed in 2024 has further augmented investment flows across multiple sectors, and the leaders have welcomed discussions on the UAE’s partnership in Dholera and highlighted opportunities to build strategic infrastructure.

Both the country has also welcomed the establishment of DP World and First Abu Dhabi Bank operations in GIFT City, Gujarat, reinforcing its emergence as a leading international financial centre. The FAB GIFT City branch is expected to serve as a key link connecting Indian corporates and investors

with markets across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the wider Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

Furthermore, the joint statement envisages the reiteration of unequivocal condemnation pertinent to terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including cross-border terrorism, and lay emphasis that no country should provide safe haven to those who finance, plan, support or commit terrorist acts.

“They agreed to continue cooperation within the framework of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to counter terror financing and strengthen anti-money laundering efforts”, the Joint Statement read.

Misri further acknowledged the UAE President’s support for India’s BRICS Chairmanship, scheduled for later this year.

Suvro Sanyal – Team Maverick.