Bilateral relations and trade in focus: Hamdan bin Mohammed lands in India on first official visit

HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, has landed in India for his first official visit to the country. He is being accompanied by several ministers, senior government officials and a high-level business delegation.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is hosting a lunch for His Highness this afternoon in Delhi. The Emirati dignitary and India’s Foreign Minister S Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh are also set to hold meticulous meetings.

This official trip comes on the heels of India hosting a long list of global leaders. The upcoming meetings could pave the path for next-generation partnerships that not only benefit both countries but also contribute to regional stability and global progress.

India-UAE economic and commercial ties

Hamdan bin Mohammed is scheduled to leave for Mumbai later in the evening on Tuesday. He is going to participate in a business round table alongside prominent business leaders from both countries.

This interaction is expected to significantly strengthen India-UAE economic and commercial cooperation across traditional and futuristic areas. The visit of His Highness is also going to solidify the UAE-India comprehensive economic partnership agreement (Cepa).

This Cepa deal came into force in 2022. Bilateral trade increased to almost $85 billion in FY23. The UAE is India’s third-largest trade partner after the US and China. India is also the UAE’s second-largest trade partner, accounting for 9% of its total foreign trade.

Notable evolution of UAE-India relationship

Hamdan bin Mohammed’s first official visit to India is going to bolster bilateral relations and trade. The UAE-India ties gained a lot of momentum in 2015 as Narendra Modi visited the Gulf state after assuming his current role.

Dubai is playing an important role in commercial, cultural and people-to-people exchanges. The majority of India’s 4.3 million diaspora in the UAE reside in Dubai. His Highness’s official visit is going to bring great improvements in traditional and futuristic areas.

In recent years, the UAE-India relationship has evolved from traditional trade to a comprehensive strategic partnership, supported by mutual respect, economic synergy and a shared global outlook.