Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan discussed the situation in West Asia and ways to deepen India-UAE ties during a phone call on Friday.
The conversation came as tensions remain high across the region, with both countries closely watching developments that could affect regional security, trade and energy supplies. The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to continued cooperation and coordination to promote peace, security and stability in West Asia.
The UAE President called Modi to convey birthday greetings. Modi turned 76 on Thursday. The call also came shortly after the BRICS Summit in New Delhi, where the UAE participated through Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the two leaders discussed measures to further strengthen the India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Their talks covered energy, defence, technology, investment and health, reflecting the growing range of cooperation between New Delhi and Abu Dhabi.
The West Asia situation was an important part of the conversation. India has significant economic and strategic interests in the Gulf, while the UAE has emerged as one of New Delhi’s key partners in the region. Any prolonged instability in West Asia can have wider consequences for energy supplies, shipping routes, trade and the large Indian community living and working in Gulf countries.
The latest discussion also comes against a backdrop of heightened concerns over regional security and freedom of navigation. India has been closely monitoring developments affecting major sea routes that connect the Gulf with international markets.
The UAE has also maintained close diplomatic engagement with countries across the region. Its position as an important economic and financial centre gives it a major role in regional trade and investment. Closer coordination with India therefore has importance beyond the two countries’ bilateral relationship.
Energy remains one of the central pillars of India-UAE relations. India imports significant quantities of crude oil and other petroleum products from the UAE, while the two sides have also expanded cooperation in natural gas and energy security. The relationship has increasingly moved beyond traditional oil trade towards longer-term energy partnerships.
Defence and security cooperation have also gained importance. India and the UAE have been working to expand defence ties, including cooperation in military training, maritime security and emerging technologies. Technology has become another growing area, with both countries looking at opportunities involving artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure and other advanced sectors.
Investment is another major part of the relationship. UAE-based investors have expanded their presence in India across infrastructure, finance, real estate, renewable energy and other sectors. Indian companies, meanwhile, have a substantial presence in the UAE, supported by the country’s role as a major commercial hub.
The India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, or CEPA, has provided another platform for expanding trade. Signed in 2022, the agreement reduced or removed tariffs on a large number of goods and was aimed at increasing trade and investment between the two countries.
Bilateral trade has grown substantially since the agreement came into force. India-UAE trade reached about $101.2 billion in 2025-26, according to recent government-linked figures, with the UAE remaining one of India’s most important trading partners in the Gulf.
The relationship also has an important people-to-people dimension. Millions of Indians live and work in the UAE, making the country one of the largest overseas destinations for the Indian community. Their presence has created strong social and economic links between the two countries.
The BRICS connection added another element to Friday’s conversation. Sheikh Mohamed congratulated Modi on India’s successful BRICS Presidency. Modi thanked the UAE for its cooperation and appreciated the participation of Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled at the BRICS Summit.
The two leaders’ latest conversation reflects the regular high-level contact between India and the UAE. Both sides have repeatedly sought to expand the relationship beyond trade and energy into defence, technology, investment, healthcare and other areas.
India’s engagement with the UAE is also part of its wider outreach to Gulf countries. New Delhi has sought to maintain close relations across West Asia while balancing economic interests, energy requirements and regional security concerns.
The latest phone call did not announce a new agreement or specific peace initiative. Instead, it reaffirmed the two countries’ existing commitment to closer coordination and regional stability while identifying several areas where the bilateral partnership can be expanded.
As the West Asia situation continues to evolve, India-UAE cooperation is likely to remain important for energy security, investment, trade and regional diplomacy. The latest conversation between Modi and Sheikh Mohamed underlined the growing breadth of that partnership.
