Relations between India and UAE have reached new heights: S Jaishankar
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi‘s maiden trip to the United Arab Emirates in 2015 and emphasized the “era of new milestones” that both India and the United Arab Emirates are now experiencing.
Speaking on Thursday at the opening of Symbiosis International University’s campus in Dubai, Jaishankar said that important partnerships in fields like fintech, renewable energy, infrastructure, and defense have propelled India-UAE relations to unprecedented heights.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s historic visit to the United Arab Emirates in 2015, the first by an Indian prime minister in more than a century, was cited by Jaishankar as a major turning point in the two countries’ bilateral ties.
“India-UAE relations are really entering a new era of significant developments. “Our Comprehensive Economic Partnerships are being negotiated at record time, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s historic visit in 2015 was the first in the century,” Jaishankar said.
“The initial fintech links on the domain are Rupay and UPI. Whether it’s digital technology, infrastructure, renewable energy, defense, or security, our activities and partnerships are always growing. In their own unique ways, they are all blazing new ground,” he said
The opening of the Symbiosis campus in Dubai, he said, is a part of a larger trend that represents the expanding cultural and educational contacts between the two nations.
“This campus and your education are part of a larger trend that has seen India and the UAE come close in an unprecedented way,” remarked the minister.
Speaking to the young as well, Jaishankar acknowledged that they confront both tremendous prospects and difficult obstacles.
In 1972, India and the United Arab Emirates established diplomatic ties. India established its embassy in the United Arab Emirates in 1973, whereas the United Arab Emirates launched its embassy in India in 1972.
When Prime Minister Narendra Modi made his first trip to the UAE in 34 years in 2015, the historically close bilateral ties between India and the UAE took a new turn. With this, the two countries entered into a new Comprehensive and Strategic Partnership. In 2022, PM Modi and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan had a virtual meeting at which they signed the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).
President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed has made many trips from the United Arab Emirates. He traveled there as the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi in 2016 and 2017. As President of the United Arab Emirates, he traveled to India in September 2023 to attend the G20 Leaders’ Summit. He attended the 2nd Virtual Global South Summit in November 2023. He traveled to Gujarat in January 2024 as the Chief Guest for the 10th Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit.
Regarding the two countries’ educational links, there are over 100 foreign Indian schools in the United Arab Emirates that follow the Kerala Board and CBSE curriculum. The majority of the students attending these schools are Indian expats.
On July 15, 2023, the Abu Dhabi Department of Education & Knowledge (ADEK), IIT Delhi, and the Indian Ministry of Education signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to open an IIT Delhi overseas campus in Abu Dhabi. Amity University, BITS Pilani, Manipal, and other prestigious Indian universities have also established campuses in the United Arab Emirates.
