India-UAE Bilateral Ties Strengthened: PM Modi's UAE Visit Yields Deals in Energy, Defence & Tech

In a landmark diplomatic development, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's state visit to the United Arab Emirates has culminated in seven significant agreements and investment announcements, deepening the strategic partnership between the two nations across critical sectors. Formalised on May 15, 2026, the outcomes of PM Modi's UAE visit span energy security, defence industrial collaboration, maritime development, artificial intelligence infrastructure, and multi-billion-dollar UAE investment in India. The agreements were announced by the Press Information Bureau (PIB), New Delhi.

India-UAE Energy Security: ISPRL-ADNOC Strategic Petroleum Reserve MoU

A pivotal Memorandum of Understanding on strategic collaboration was signed between the Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Limited (ISPRL) and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), laying the groundwork for long-term India-UAE energy security cooperation.

Key objectives of the ISPRL-ADNOC MoU include:

•      Potential ADNOC crude oil storage in India's Strategic Petroleum Reserves of up to 30 million barrels, including participation in facilities at Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, and development of new reserve facilities at Chandikol, Odisha.

•      Potential storage of Indian crude oil at Fujairah, UAE, to be designated as part of India's strategic petroleum reserve — a significant extension of India's energy storage footprint to the Gulf region.

•      Potential collaboration in Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) and Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) storage facilities in India.

Separately, a Strategic Collaboration Agreement was signed between Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) and ADNOC to explore opportunities in the sale and purchase of LPG, including long-term supply arrangements and a formal LPG Sale and Purchase Agreement between ADNOC Gas Limited and IOCL. This agreement reinforces India's efforts to diversify and secure its hydrocarbon supply chains.

India-UAE Strategic Defence Partnership: A New Framework for Defence Industrial Collaboration

One of the most consequential outcomes of PM Modi's UAE visit is the establishment of a Strategic Framework for Defence Industrial Collaboration between the two countries. The India-UAE Strategic Defence Partnership covers a broad spectrum of military and security cooperation, including:

•      Defence industrial collaboration, innovation, and advanced technology development.

•      Joint training, military exercises, education, and doctrinal development.

•      Special operations and interoperability enhancements.

•      Maritime security cooperation in the Indian Ocean and Gulf regions.

•      Cyber defence, secure communications, and information exchange protocols.

This framework positions India and the UAE as defence industrial partners and marks a significant elevation of the bilateral security relationship, building upon the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership established in previous diplomatic engagements.

Maritime Development: Ship Repair Cluster at Vadinar and Workforce Skill Development

Two MoUs in the maritime sector were concluded between Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) and Drydocks World (DDW) of the UAE, underpinning India's ambitions to become a global maritime hub.

Ship Repair Cluster at Vadinar

The first MoU provides for cooperation in setting up a Ship Repair Cluster at Vadinar, including offshore fabrication capabilities, under the Maritime Development Fund Scheme launched by the Government of India. The CSL-DDW partnership is expected to attract investment, create employment, and establish Vadinar as a significant node in the global ship repair industry.

Tripartite Skill Development MoU

A tripartite MoU was also signed between Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), Drydocks World (DDW), and the Centre of Excellence in Maritime & Shipbuilding (CEMS). This agreement establishes a comprehensive framework to mobilise, train, and employ a skilled maritime workforce. The objective is to enhance the capabilities of India's maritime professionals and position India as a global hub for skilled shipbuilding and ship repair talent.

AI Mission India: CDAC and G-42 to Build 8 Exaflop Supercomputing Cluster

In a major boost to India's artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure ambitions, a Term Sheet was signed for the establishment of an 8 Exaflop Supercomputing Cluster in partnership between the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC), India, and G-42, UAE. This collaboration is part of AI Mission India and is intended to provide the computational backbone necessary for advanced AI research, large-scale data processing, and national digital capabilities. The India-UAE supercomputing partnership is among the most technically ambitious outcomes of the visit.

UAE Investment in India: Over US$ 5 Billion in Infrastructure, Banking, and Capital Markets

The visit also yielded three major UAE investment commitments into the Indian economy, totalling over US$ 5 billion across infrastructure, banking, and capital markets: