India–UAE Roll Out Major Deals in Defence, Space, Energy and Tech
12-point outcomes announced after Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed’s visit; focus on Dholera, LNG, supercomputing and strategic defence
- Landmark Letter of Intent for UAE investment in Dholera SIR
- Strategic Defence Partnership framework agreed in principle
- 10-year LNG supply deal signed with ADNOC Gas
- Joint supercomputing cluster to be set up in India
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 20th Jan: India and the United Arab Emirates unveiled a comprehensive list of agreements and announcements following the official visit of UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, signalling a deepening of the bilateral Comprehensive Strategic Partnership across infrastructure, defence, space, energy, technology and culture.
Among the most significant outcomes is a Letter of Intent for investment cooperation between the Government of Gujarat and the UAE Ministry of Investment for the development of the Dholera Special Investment Region. The proposed collaboration covers critical infrastructure including an international airport, pilot training school, MRO facility, greenfield port, smart township, railway connectivity and energy projects.
In space cooperation, India’s IN-SPACe and the UAE Space Agency signed a Letter of Intent to jointly develop space industry infrastructure, including launch complexes, manufacturing zones, startup incubation centres, and training exchanges — a major step toward commercial space collaboration.
On defence, both sides agreed to work toward a Strategic Defence Partnership Framework Agreement, covering defence industrial cooperation, advanced technology, cyber security, counter-terrorism, training and interoperability.
Energy emerged as a key pillar of engagement, with a Sales & Purchase Agreement between HPCL and ADNOC Gas for the supply of 0.5 million tonnes of LNG annually for 10 years starting 2028. This strengthens India’s long-term energy security.
A separate MoU on food safety and technical standards was signed between APEDA and the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment to facilitate agricultural exports from India, particularly rice and processed food, while supporting UAE’s food security.
In a major technological announcement, both sides agreed in principle that C-DAC India and UAE’s G-42 would collaborate to establish a supercomputing cluster in India under the AI India Mission, available for public and private sector research and innovation.
The leaders also committed to doubling bilateral trade to $200 billion by 2032, with a focus on MSME linkages through Bharat Mart, Virtual Trade Corridor and Bharat–Africa Setu initiatives.
Building on India’s new SHANTI nuclear law, the two sides agreed to explore civil nuclear cooperation, including large reactors, Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), plant operations and nuclear safety collaboration.
Financial and logistics ties were strengthened with confirmations that First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) will operate from GIFT City and DP World will base key global shipping and leasing operations there.
Both sides also agreed to explore the creation of Digital/Data Embassies under mutually recognised sovereignty arrangements — a novel diplomatic innovation.
Culturally, India and UAE agreed in principle to establish a ‘House of India’ in Abu Dhabi, featuring a museum of Indian art, heritage and archaeology, along with youth exchange programmes to deepen people-to-people ties.
