The discussions focused on expanding trade, energy, and investment ties under the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.
MUMBAI — 20 October 2026 : United Arab Emirates Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan met with India’s External Affairs Minister Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar in Mumbai to review bilateral ties and accelerate strategic and economic collaboration.
The high-level discussions in India’s financial capital centered on maximizing gains under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and the bilateral Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which has served as a cornerstone for trade growth between the two nations since coming into force in 2022.
Both ministers evaluated expanding cooperation across trade, investment, energy, financial services, and culture. Sheikh Abdullah described the UAE-India relationship as an advanced model of international partnership built on mutual trust and aligned economic interests. He noted that the expanding framework strengthens both economies and positions them as active drivers of broader international growth.
The agenda also covered pressing regional and international issues, with both diplomats reviewing diplomatic mechanisms to safeguard stability and security across West Asia and the Indo-Pacific.
Sheikh Abdullah arrived in Mumbai earlier on a working visit. He was received at the airport by Mangal Prabhat Lodha, Maharashtra’s Minister of Skills, Employment, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, alongside senior protocol and diplomatic officials.
Bilateral engagements between Abu Dhabi and New Delhi have intensified in recent years, underpinned by deep trade links, shared security priorities, and a sizable Indian diaspora in the Emirates. Since the implementation of CEPA, non-oil commerce and capital flows between both countries have seen substantial expansion, with ongoing deliberations targeting deeper integration in renewable power, financial technology, and regional infrastructure corridors.
