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India and the United Arab Emirates signed a series of major agreements on defense, energy, shipping, and investment during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the UAE on May 15, 2026, as both countries moved to strengthen ties amid ongoing tensions linked to the Iran war.

Modi met UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi, where the two leaders discussed regional security, energy cooperation, trade, and new investment opportunities.

The visit comes at a sensitive moment for the Gulf region following months of conflict involving Iran, the U.S., and Israel, which has disrupted energy markets and raised concerns about maritime security and oil supplies.

One of the biggest outcomes of the visit was the signing of a framework for a strategic defense partnership between India and the UAE.

According to official statements, the agreement will increase cooperation in areas including maritime security, cyber defense, military training, joint exercises, secure communications, defense technology, and information sharing.

The deal also focuses on defense industrial collaboration and advanced technologies, showing that both countries are looking beyond traditional trade ties and moving toward deeper strategic cooperation.

My brother, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and I discussed ways to deepen the India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and deepen ties in sectors like trade, energy and more. pic.twitter.com/vuKvJuKorl

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 15, 2026

The growing partnership reflects wider geopolitical changes in the region, where Gulf countries are increasingly expanding their security relationships with Asian powers such as India.

During the meeting, Modi strongly condemned recent attacks targeting the UAE, including missile and drone strikes linked to the ongoing conflict with Iran.

The UAE recently accused Iran of launching attacks on Fujairah, an important emirate on the country’s eastern coast. The strikes reportedly caused damage to an oil refinery and injured three Indian workers.

In a statement after the talks, Modi said India condemned attacks targeting civilians, infrastructure, and facilities in the UAE “in the strongest terms.”

Around 4.3 million Indians live and work in the UAE, making the Indian community one of the largest expatriate populations not only in the UAE but also in the whole Gulf region.

Energy Security Agreements

Energy cooperation was another major focus of the visit. India and the UAE signed agreements related to strategic petroleum reserves and liquefied natural gas supplies as New Delhi looks to protect itself from rising energy prices and supply disruptions caused by instability in the Gulf.

One agreement involves possible crude oil storage in Fujairah as part of India’s strategic petroleum reserve program. Another deal could expand cooperation between Abu Dhabi National Oil Company and Indian energy firms on oil and gas supplies.

Officials said the two sides will also explore opportunities for increased liquefied petroleum gas trade. The agreements come as India faces growing pressure from higher fuel prices caused by disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy shipping routes.

India imports around 90 percent of its oil, and roughly half of those imports pass through the Strait of Hormuz. The conflict involving Iran has therefore had a major impact on India’s economy and energy security.

Fuel prices in India recently increased by around 3 percent as global markets reacted to instability in the region. The UAE’s recent decision to leave OPEC is also expected to increase its oil production capacity, potentially helping major importers such as India secure more stable energy supplies in the future.

Speaking after the meeting, UAE officials said cooperation in energy remains one of the most important pillars of the bilateral relationship.

ADNOC CEO Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber said India’s rapid economic growth and rising energy demand make the partnership increasingly important for both countries.

This UAE visit also saw the conclusion of key agreements across vital areas such as energy, defence, infrastructure, shipping and advanced technology, giving fresh impetus to the India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. In another important development, UAE announced… pic.twitter.com/SMdxpsM0ka

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 15, 2026

$5 Billion Investment

Alongside the defense and energy agreements, the UAE also announced plans to invest up to $5 billion in India. The investments are expected to focus on sectors including infrastructure, finance, energy, technology, logistics, and artificial intelligence.

The two countries already share strong economic relations. The UAE is one of India’s biggest trading partners, and bilateral trade has grown rapidly in recent years under the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement signed by both countries.

Officials from both sides said the latest agreements are expected to further strengthen economic cooperation and open new opportunities for investment.

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed said discussions with Modi focused on giving “new momentum” to cooperation in technology, energy, and other strategic sectors. The leaders also discussed food security, space cooperation, and emerging technologies during the talks.

Regional Competition and Strategic Calculations

The strengthening relationship between India and the UAE also comes amid broader regional realignments. Analysts have increasingly pointed to closer Saudi-Pakistani defense cooperation in recent years, especially after Pakistan signed a mutual defense accord with Saudi Arabia last year.

Pakistan has also played an active diplomatic role during the Iran conflict, serving as a mediator between Tehran and Washington while helping strengthen Gulf security coordination. Against that backdrop, India appears to be deepening its own strategic relationships in the Gulf, especially with the UAE.

For New Delhi, stronger ties with Abu Dhabi help secure energy supplies, protect Indian citizens working in the region, and expand India’s influence in Middle Eastern affairs.

For the UAE, closer cooperation with India offers access to one of the world’s fastest-growing economies while also helping diversify strategic partnerships beyond traditional Western allies.

Both countries also share concerns about maritime security and the protection of shipping routes in the Gulf and the Arabian Sea.

Modi Continues Multi-Nation Tour

After concluding his visit to the UAE, Modi continued his multi-nation tour with stops in the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, and Italy.

India’s Foreign Ministry said Modi will participate in the India-Nordic summit in Oslo before holding talks with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni later this month.

The UAE visit, however, is likely to remain one of the most significant parts of the trip due to the major defense and energy agreements signed during a period of heightened regional uncertainty.

As instability continues to affect the Gulf, both India and the UAE appear determined to strengthen strategic cooperation to protect economic interests, energy security, and regional stability.

I welcomed Prime Minister @narendramodi to Abu Dhabi for talks aimed at further strengthening the deeply rooted ties between our nations and peoples. The UAE and India share a longstanding strategic and economic partnership, and our discussions today focused on ways to advance… pic.twitter.com/sJDWqBrqSt

— محمد بن زايد (@MohamedBinZayed) May 15, 2026