All about Modi’s UAE visit: Defence pact, energy deals and USD 5 billion investment

India and the United Arab Emirates on Friday signed a series of major agreements on defence, energy, shipping, infrastructure and technology during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Abu Dhabi, as both countries moved to strengthen strategic ties amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia.

The two sides agreed on the framework for a strategic defence partnership and also signed pacts linked to strategic petroleum reserves and long-term liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) supply, while the UAE announced investment commitments worth USD 5 billion in India.

Prime Minister Modi held talks with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan during the visit, which came against the backdrop of concerns over energy security and disruptions caused by the conflict in the region.

According to India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the two countries agreed to deepen cooperation in defence industrial collaboration, innovation, advanced technology, training, exercises, maritime security, cyber defence, secure communications and information exchange.

Highlights from a productive UAE visit, which will deepen our bilateral friendship… pic.twitter.com/e8D8Wuuz0j

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 15, 2026

“The two sides have agreed on deepening defence industrial collaboration and cooperation on innovation and advanced technology, training, exercises, maritime security, cyber defence, secure communications and information exchange,” the ministry said in a statement.

Under the framework, India and the UAE are also expected to explore joint development of military hardware and broader regional security cooperation.

The agreements were signed as tensions in West Asia continued to affect global energy markets. The conflict and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz have disrupted transportation and business activity across the region. Iranian strikes have also targeted Gulf states, including the UAE, before a fragile ceasefire last month.

Ahead of the visit, Indian sources told Reuters that Modi was likely to discuss long-term energy supply arrangements and seek support to expand India’s strategic oil reserves.

A key agreement signed during the visit was between Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Limited and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC). The pact aims to strengthen India’s energy security through cooperation on petroleum reserves and possible collaboration on liquefied natural gas and LPG storage facilities.

According to an official statement, the agreement will enhance the UAE’s participation in India’s strategic petroleum reserves to 30 million barrels and also support plans for strategic gas reserves in India.

ADNOC separately said the oil pact includes a potential increase in crude oil storage in India and also explores possible crude storage in Fujairah in the UAE as part of India’s strategic reserve programme.

A separate agreement between Indian Oil Corporation and ADNOC will create opportunities for long-term LPG supply and trading arrangements between the two companies.

ADNOC said it would explore expanded LPG supply and trading opportunities with Indian Oil Corp.

“India’s scale and growth trajectory make it one of the defining energy markets of our time. As demand accelerates alongside a rapidly expanding population, the strength of the UAE India energy partnership becomes ever more critical,” ADNOC managing director and CEO Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber said.

The visit also saw agreements in shipping and infrastructure sectors. India and the UAE signed deals on ports and coastal infrastructure, ship repair cooperation and skill development in ship repair.

The friendship between India and UAE is very strong! Our nations will keep working together with the aim of building a better future for our planet.@MohamedBinZayed pic.twitter.com/TzjU63GFll

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 15, 2026

An agreement was also signed between Cochin Shipyard Limited and Drydocks World of Dubai, including plans for a ship repair centre at Vadinar in Gujarat.

The two countries additionally signed a term sheet for setting up a super-computing cluster to strengthen India’s artificial intelligence and high-performance computing capabilities.

“This will add to India’s AI mission and the infrastructure involved with that,” India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said.

The MEA also announced the operationalisation of a virtual trade corridor linking customs and port authorities of both countries. Officials said the digital trade corridor is expected to streamline cargo movement, reduce logistics costs, cut transit time and improve supply chain resilience.

The UAE also announced investments worth USD 5 billion in India.

According to the MEA, the investment commitment includes plans by Abu Dhabi Investment Authority and India’s National Infrastructure and Investment Fund to explore investments of up to USD 1 billion in India’s infrastructure sector.

The ministry said Emirates NBD will invest USD 3 billion in RBL Bank, while UAE-based International Holding Company will invest USD 1 billion in Sammaan Capital.

It described the investment push as part of efforts to create stronger markets and generate jobs, calling it a reflection of the UAE’s “sustained commitment to India’s development and growth story”.

“In the field of investment, the UAE has traditionally been a significant investor in India. It is cumulatively the seventh-largest investor in India over the course of the last 25 years,” Misri said.

“This visit is a reflection of the exceptional trust and confidence that marks this very, very important relationship between India and the United Arab Emirates,” he added.

Modi described the agreements signed during the visit as “pivotal” in sectors including energy, defence, infrastructure, shipping and advanced technologies, saying they would provide a “fresh boost” to the India-UAE comprehensive strategic partnership.

The prime minister said his visit to the UAE was “brief, yet extraordinarily fruitful” and expressed confidence that the outcomes would “further solidify the bonds of friendship between us, and contribute to achieving growth and prosperity.”

The two leaders also exchanged views on the West Asia crisis.

“We condemn the attacks on the UAE,” Modi said in his opening remarks, adding that “the way UAE has been targeted is not acceptable”.

The UAE, which hosts a major US military base, has also faced Iranian strikes since the conflict began on February 28.

Praising the Emirati leadership for handling the situation “with restraint”, Modi said India was ready to extend “all possible support” to bring peace in West Asia.

The visit also took place amid shifting regional alignments involving Iran, Israel, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.

New Delhi and Abu Dhabi had already signed a USD 3 billion LNG deal in January, along with a letter of intent to work towards a strategic defence partnership.

That move followed a mutual defence accord signed last year between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.

Pakistan has since emerged as a key mediator between Washington and Tehran following the conflict that began with US and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28. It has also supported Saudi Arabia’s defences after the kingdom faced Iranian missile and drone attacks.

Last month, Riyadh announced USD 3 billion in additional support for Pakistan to help bridge a financing gap linked to debt repayment obligations to the UAE.

Modi’s stop in Abu Dhabi was part of the first leg of his five-nation tour, which will also take him to the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway and Italy.

Earlier in the day, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan personally received Modi at the airport in Abu Dhabi, where the Indian prime minister was accorded a ceremonial guard of honour. In a special gesture, Modi’s aircraft was escorted by UAE military jets.

This marked Modi’s eighth visit to the Gulf nation in 12 years.

“Concluding a short but highly productive visit to the UAE,” Modi said before departing. “Held extensive discussions with my brother, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, on ways to further deepen the India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.”