The President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, will be in India on January 9 to attend the Vibrant Gujarat Summit. MBZ and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi are expected to hold a roadshow in Ahmedabad (Gujarat). The visit of the UAE President highlights the strong ties between India and the UAE and how it has become stronger under the present leadership.

The roadshow will likely commence from the Ahmedabad airport and culminate at the historic Sabarmati Ashram. The Indian PM is expected to receive the UAE President at the airport and from there the two leaders will proceed to the Sabarmati Ashram, where they will pay respects to Mahatma Gandhi.

Modi had extended a formal invitation to the UAE President during his visit to Dubai on December 1 when they met on the sidelines of the COP28 Climate Summit. The Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit (VGGS) is scheduled to be held in Gandhinagar from January 10 to 12. The Summit was conceptualised in 2003 by Modi when he was chief minister of the state of Gujarat. Over time the summit has evolved into a major event which brings together world leaders and policy makers.

UAE’s Minister of State for Trade Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi and a business delegation will be accompanying Sheikh Mohamed to participate in the Vibrant Gujarat Summit. MOUs in sectors of renewable energy (solar, hydrogen and grid connectivity) and construction of food parks, healthcare are expected to be signed during the visit. The UAE-India Business Summit will also take place along the sidelines of the Vibrant Gujarat Summit.

India-UAE ties have seen great growth during the last decade and bilateral trade has gone up over the last few years. In February 2022, India became the first country with which the UAE signed a comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). UAE today is the seventh-largest investor in India in terms of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).

Modi is expected to be in the UAE in February later this year for two landmark events. He will inaugurate the BAPS Hindu Temple in Abu Dhabi on February 14 and a day before that, he will address a massive expatriate community event which is expected to have about 50,000 people in attendance. Modi had also traveled to Dubai last year Dec to attend the COP28 Climate Summit.

Since 2014, Modi has made six visits to the UAE, including two in 2023. The frequency of these high level visits is also indicative of how the bilateral relationship has grown since 2014.

The presence of the UAE President at the Vibrant Gujarat Summit marks a new high for the bilateral relationship. It is also significant given the current crisis in Palestine and how both India and the UAE have been able to cement their ties in challenging times. – The writer is Executive Editor of Nrifocus.com