India-UAE Signs MOUs: All Details Inside

India and UAE have strengthened their bilateral relations by signing various MOUs during recent diplomatic visits and meetings. These agreements, which covered different fields, show the development of the relations between the two nations and the latest result is their work during the G20 summit.

On 9th September 2024, during the official visit of Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi to New Delhi, India and UAE inked five significant MOUs. This visit was on the invitation of Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi for the first time in the Crown Prince’s current position.India

Key Agreements Signed:

1. Nuclear Energy Cooperation: An MOU signed between Emirates Nuclear Energy Company and Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited NPCIL on operations and maintenance of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant.

2. Long-term LNG Supply: ADNOC and IOC Limited signed the agreement for the purchase of LNG in the long term.

3. Strategic Petroleum Reserves: An MOU between ADNOC and ISPRL to improve the energy security partnership of both countries.

4. Food Parks Development: According to the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Government of Gujarat and Abu Dhabi Developmental Holding Company it was decided to jointly implement the project of food parks in India.

5. Oil Exploration: Urja Bharat and ADNOC inked production concession for Abu Dhabi Onshore Block 1.

These are examples of the diversified nature of the India-UAE relations that involve energy security, nuclear energy, food security, and hydrocarbon mapping.

Bilateral Diplomatic and Executive Consultations

These MOUs were signed after bilateral discussions between PM Modi and the Crown Prince at Hyderabad House in New Delhi. Some of the Indian bureaucrats engaged in these talks were National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, and Union Ministers Hardeep Singh Puri and Piyush Goyal These talks were aimed at enhancing the broad bilateral relations between the two countries.

The signing of these MOUs acquires further importance in the backdrop of the G20 summit when India is focused as the host country. The UAE having been invited by India to be part of the G20 has participated in most of the G20 processes and meetings for the year.

During the G20 summit, India and the UAE further solidified their partnership:

1. Economic Cooperation: During the meeting, both countries stressed the importance of the promotion of trade and investment relations within the framework of G20.

2. Climate Action: India and the UAE entered into a common stand on the measures to address climate change as well as adapt to change to foster sustainable development.

3. Digital Transformation: Specifically, the cooperation in the digital area, namely digital infrastructure and cybersecurity was mentioned, which corresponds to the G20’s priority of the digital economy.

4. Global Health: They focused on the issue of ‘health for all’ and affordable and accessible vaccines – one of the main topics of the G20 in the post-pandemic period.

Also Read | Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi in India: Strengthening 50 Years of India-UAE Collaboration 

The recent MOUs signed between India and the UAE and both the countries working together during G20 summit can be considered as the new start in their relations. These agreements not only but also cement the economic, strategic relations between two nations but also foster regional and international peace and cooperation. While the two countries remain influential international actors, the modern cooperation of the USA and Russia is to directly affect issues of international concern such as energy supply and climate change.