India and the United Arab Emirates have agreed to launch fresh initiatives and adopt a results-driven roadmap to strengthen collaboration in key areas, following high-level talks between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed.
The discussions took place in Abu Dhabi on Monday, where the two leaders jointly chaired the 16th India-UAE Joint Commission meeting along with the fifth Strategic Dialogue. During the meetings, both sides conducted a comprehensive review of their partnership, covering sectors such as trade and investment, energy cooperation, connectivity, defence and security, development initiatives, technology, healthcare and education.
According to the external affairs ministry, both ministers expressed satisfaction with the progress of the comprehensive strategic partnership and agreed to pursue new measures and a focused action plan over the next year to further expand cooperation in priority areas.
Regional and international developments were also on the agenda, with particular attention given to the situation in West Asia. The two sides underlined their shared commitment to safeguarding regional peace, stability and economic prosperity.
In line with this approach, Jaishankar and Sheikh Abdullah agreed to deepen coordination and cooperation on major initiatives. They reiterated their support for the India Middle East Europe Economic Corridor and reaffirmed their joint efforts to advance the interests of the Global South.
Sheikh Abdullah also conveyed the UAE’s backing for the AI Impact Summit scheduled to be hosted by India in February, as well as support for India’s presidency of the BRICS grouping in 2026.
During his visit, Jaishankar held separate meetings with Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE’s vice president and deputy prime minister, National Security Adviser Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and Khaldoon Mubarak, managing director and chief executive of Mubadala, the country’s sovereign wealth fund.
The external affairs ministry said these high level interactions reinforced the shared vision of both nations to build greater strategic trust, broaden economic engagement and identify new avenues for bilateral and trilateral cooperation.
Jaishankar also took part in the Sir Bani Yas Forum held from December 13 to 14, where he exchanged perspectives with global leaders and experts on pressing geopolitical, security and technological challenges.
Following his engagements in the UAE, Jaishankar is set to travel to Israel for bilateral discussions with Israeli foreign minister Gideon Saar. His visit follows a recent phone conversation between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, during which both leaders agreed to meet in the near future.
Earlier this year, several Israeli ministers, including finance minister Bezalel Smotrich, visited India. During Smotrich’s visit, the two countries signed a bilateral investment treaty, while the terms of reference for a free trade agreement were finalised during commerce minister Piyush Goyal’s visit to Israel last month.
