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PM Modi in UAE: PM Modi's short visit to Abu Dhabi comes as a chance for India shore up energy supplies from the UAE and to discuss the welfare of the four-million-strong diaspora in the Emirates amid the impact on fuel supply due to Iran war.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan during a ceremonial reception, in Abu Dhabi. (@NarendraModi/YT via PTI Photo)(PTI05_15_2026_000075B)(@NarendraModi)PM Modi in UAE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed in Abu Dhabi, UAE, on the first leg of his five-nation visit on 15 May.
The prime minister met UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan during the visit. The two leaders exchanged views on bilateral issues, in particular energy cooperation, as well as regional and international issues of mutual interest.
“I used to keep speaking to you over the phone, but I was very eager to meet you in person,” PM Modi said during his delegation-level talks with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Here are the major agreements and investment decisions announced today, according to news agency ANI:
-Agreement on Framework for the Strategic Defence Partnership between India and UAE.
-MoU on Strategic Petroleum Reserves.
-Agreement on supplies of Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG)
-MoU on setting up Ship Repair Cluster at Vadinar.
-Investment worth 5 Billion US dollars announced in Indian Infrastructure and RBL Bank and Samman Capital.
What is an MoU on Strategic Petroleum Reserves?
While official details of MoUs are awaited, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPR) generally refers to a diplomatic and operational framework between countries or energy corporations to collaborate on building, maintaining, or storing emergency crude oil supplies.
These reserves usually act as an energy safety net to stabilize supply chain disruptions and volatile global oil prices
Short visit to Abu Dhabi
PM Modi's short visit to Abu Dhabi was seen as a chance for India shore up energy supplies from the UAE and to discuss the welfare of the four-million-strong diaspora in the Emirates.
During the crisis arising due to US-Iran war and its impact on movement of vessels through Strait of Hormuz, India has made an outreach to key West Asian suppliers of energy. The UAE is India’s third largest trade partner and its seventh largest source of investment cumulatively over the past 25 years, the Ministry said.
PM Modi’s visit to the Emirates comes months after President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan visited India for two-three hours in January.
After the UAE, PM Modi will travel to the Netherlands from May 15-17, where he is scheduled to hold talks with Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten and meet King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima. The visit is expected to focus on sectors such as semiconductors, green hydrogen, innovation, defence and water management.
(With agency inputs)
Key Takeaways
- Strengthening energy security through strategic petroleum reserves.
- Investment of $5 billion in Indian infrastructure signals growing economic ties.
- The importance of personal diplomacy in enhancing bilateral relations.
About the Author
Gulam Jeelani
Gulam Jeelani is Political Desk Editor at LiveMint with over 16 years of experience covering national and international politics. Based in New Delhi, Jeelani delivers impactful political narratives through breaking stories, in-depth interviews, and analytical pieces at LiveMint since February 2024. The expertise in video production fuels his current responsibilities, which include curating content and conducting video interviews for an expanding digital audience.<br><br> Jeelani also travels during elections and key political events and has covered assembly elections in key states apart from national elections. He has previously worked with The Pioneer, Network18, India Today, News9Plus and Hindustan Times.<br><br> Jeelani’s tenure at LiveMint and previous experience at print and digital newsrooms have honed his skills in creating compelling text and video stories, explainers, and analysis that resonate with a diverse viewership.<br><br> Before moving to New Delhi in 2015, Jeelani was based in Uttar Pradesh, where he worked for five years as a reporter. In 2018, Jeelani was one of the two Indian journalists selected for the Alfred Friendly Fellowship in the US. There, he attended training workshops on reporting and data journalism, and he was attached to the Minneapolis Star Tribune in Minnesota, where he worked as a reporter.<br><br> Jeelani is a Bachelor's in Chemistry and holds a Masters Degree in journalism and mass communication from Aligarh Muslim University. Outside work, he enjoys poetry, cricket and movies.
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