India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are set to further deepen their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with the official visit of Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on September 9-10, 2024. This visit, which marks the Crown Prince’s first trip to New Delhi in his current role, underscores the strengthening ties between the two nations. Accompanied by top UAE ministers and a business delegation, Sheikh Khaled is expected to engage in high-level discussions with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Droupadi Murmu.

The Crown Prince's agenda includes a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat, a meeting with Prime Minister Modi to discuss bilateral cooperation and regional issues, and a Business Forum in Mumbai. This visit highlights a generational shift in India-UAE relations, reflecting the growing strategic and economic ties between the two countries. The meetings are anticipated to result in several agreements and memoranda of understanding aimed at enhancing collaboration in various sectors.

Since the landmark visit of Prime Minister Modi to the UAE in 2015, the bilateral relationship has evolved into a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Recent developments, such as the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and the Local Currency Settlement (LCS) System, have further solidified economic ties, with trade expected to reach USD 100 billion by the decade’s end. The UAE remains a crucial economic partner for India, being one of its top trading partners and foreign direct investors.

The visit by Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan is a significant step in continuing and expanding the robust India-UAE partnership. It also marks an opportunity to explore new avenues for collaboration, particularly in light of recent geopolitical developments and the evolving global economic landscape. The visit reaffirms both nations' commitment to strengthening their strategic and economic ties while fostering deeper bilateral cooperation.