UAE Foreign Minister in India: Deepening bilateral and strategic partnership in focus

UAE’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed reached India on Thursday on a high-profile trip to take part in the 4th Strategic Dialogue and the 15th UAE-India Joint Commission Meeting.

The visit is going to further strengthen the UAE-India multifaceted comprehensive strategic partnership. The 14th JCM happened on September 1, 2022, in the UAE capital. In that year, both sides also signed a deal to establish a Cultural Council Forum.

Deepening UAE-India bilateral relationship

The UAE Foreign Minister appreciated the contribution of the Indian community to the Gulf state’s progress and his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar thanked him and the entire UAE leadership for taking care of the Indian community.

The UAE and India established diplomatic relations in 1972. The UAE opened its Embassy in India in 1972 and a year later, India opened its Embassy in the UAE. Both countries share a traditionally strong bilateral relationship.

From the UAE, there have been multiple visits by different ministers and diplomats. In September 2023, UAE President HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed attended the G20 Leaders’ Summit in India. He also visited the country in January 2024.

Narendra Modi’s historic visit to UAE in 2015

Speaking at the launch of Symbiosis International University’s campus in Dubai last month, S Jaishankar lauded Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first visit to the UAE in 2015, marking a significant turning point in bilateral relations.

Modi’s 2015 historic visit represented the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister in 34 years. This marked the beginning of a better comprehensive and strategic partnership. In 2022, the UAE and India signed a comprehensive economic partnership agreement.