PM Modi met with the President of the UAE to evaluate their mutual partnership and deliberate on new areas for collaboration.

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi embarked on an official visit to the UAE, where he received a special and cordial welcome at the airport by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the UAE.

Following this warm reception, PM Modi and Sheikh Mohamed engaged in both one-on-one and delegation-level discussions. They examined the existing bilateral partnership and explored novel avenues for collaboration.

Both leaders expressed satisfaction at the deepening of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership across various sectors, including but not limited to trade, investment, digital infrastructure, fintech, energy, infrastructure, culture, and people-to-people connections. Additionally, the talks encompassed discussions on regional and global matters of mutual interest.

The two leaders witnessed the exchange of the following: Cooperation between India and UAE

• Bilateral Investment Treaty: This agreement will be a key enabler for further promoting investments in both countries. India has signed both a bilateral Investment Treaty and a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with the UAE.

• MoU on cooperation in the field of electrical interconnection and trade: This opens new areas of collaboration in the field of energy, including energy security and energy trade.

• An Intergovernmental Framework Agreement between India and the UAE on the India-Middle East Economic Corridor: This would build on previous understandings and cooperation on this matter and foster India and UAE cooperation, furthering regional connectivity.

• MoU on cooperation in Digital Infrastructure Projects: This will create a framework for wide-ranging cooperation, including investment cooperation, in the digital infrastructure sector and also facilitate the sharing of technical knowledge, skills, and expertise.

• Cooperation protocol between the National Archives of the two countries: This protocol will shape extensive bilateral cooperation in this field, including the restoration and preservation of archival material.

• MoU for cooperation in the field of heritage and museums: This would foster engagement between the two countries aimed at supporting the Maritime Heritage Complex at Lothal, Gujarat.

• Agreement on interlinking the instant payment platforms UPI (India) and AANI (UAE): This will facilitate seamless cross-border transactions between the two countries. This follows the MoU on interlinking payment and messaging systems signed in July last year during the Hon’ble PM’s visit to Abu Dhabi.

• Agreement on interlinking domestic debit and credit cards – RuPay (India) with JAYWAN (UAE): An important step in building financial sector cooperation, this will enhance the universal acceptance of RuPay across the UAE.

Want to know? Where are RuPay and UPI used?

The Prime Minister congratulated President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on the launch of the UAE’s domestic card, JAYWAN, which is based on the digital RuPay credit and debit card stack. The leaders witnessed a transaction made using the JAYWAN card.

The leaders also discussed strengthening the energy partnerships. They appreciated that, in addition to the UAE being among the largest sources of crude and LPG, India is now entering into long-term contracts for LNG.

Ahead of the visit, RITES Limited signed an agreement with Abu Dhabi Ports Company and Gujarat Maritime Board with Abu Dhabi Ports Company. These would help in building port infrastructure and further enhance connectivity between the two countries.

PM Modi on BAPS Temple in Abu Dhabi:

The Prime Minister thanked President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for his support and for his graciousness in granting the land for the construction of the BAPS Temple in Abu Dhabi. Both sides noted that the BAPS Temple is a celebration of UAE-India friendship, deep-rooted cultural bonds, and an embodiment of the UAE’s global commitment to harmony, tolerance, and peaceful coexistence.