India-UAE ties enter a new era: EAM Jaishankar

India-UAE Relations Enter New Era: Jaishankar Highlights Strategic Milestones

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar recently highlighted the remarkable progress in India-UAE relations, crediting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s landmark visit to the UAE in 2015 as a significant milestone that reinvigorated bilateral ties. During an address at the launch of Symbiosis International University’s new campus in Dubai, Jaishankar emphasized the strategic importance of collaborations across fintech, renewable energy, infrastructure, and defense as key areas in the evolving partnership between the two nations.

Jaishankar noted that Modi’s 2015 visit, the first by an Indian Prime Minister to the UAE in over a century, marked a crucial turning point and laid the foundation for a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. This partnership was further solidified in 2022 with the signing of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), enabling faster trade negotiations and deeper economic integration between India and the UAE.

He highlighted pioneering initiatives in fintech, such as the Rupay and UPI payment systems, which have strengthened financial ties. Expanding ventures in renewable energy, digital technology, and security underscore a shared commitment to mutual growth and innovation, creating a strong foundation for the India-UAE partnership to reach unprecedented milestones.

Jaishankar praised the newly inaugurated Symbiosis campus in Dubai as an example of growing educational and cultural connections between the countries, which he views as integral to bilateral cooperation. This development aligns with a broader trend of educational exchanges, as more than 100 Indian schools operate in the UAE, serving a large expatriate population. Major Indian institutions, including IIT Delhi, Manipal, BITS Pilani, and Amity University, have also established UAE campuses, providing Indian curricula and educational excellence to expatriates and international students alike.

Reflecting on diplomatic history, Jaishankar mentioned that India-UAE ties officially began in 1972, when the two countries established embassies in each other’s capitals. High-level visits from UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, both as Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and later as President, have further strengthened this relationship. His visits to India in recent years, including for events such as the G20 Summit and the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit, underline the UAE’s commitment to a robust partnership.

In July 2023, a tripartite MoU was signed between India’s Ministry of Education, IIT Delhi, and the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) to open an IIT Delhi campus in Abu Dhabi, reflecting the UAE’s ongoing interest in strengthening educational ties with India.

Addressing the youth at the event, Jaishankar acknowledged the unique opportunities and challenges they face, highlighting how the expanding India-UAE relations create a supportive environment for future generations.