New Delhi, May 23: Agreements signed between India and the United Arab Emirates during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit are expected to deepen the strategic and economic partnership between the two countries across energy, investment, defence and technology, according to a report.
The report by India Narrative said the agreements reinforce India’s energy resilience, maritime security, digital infrastructure and emerging artificial intelligence capabilities.
Among the key outcomes is a proposed $5 billion investment commitment through collaboration involving India’s National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) and the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), aimed at supporting long-term capital deployment in strategic sectors.
The report said the investment commitment could support infrastructure development and strengthen the role of Gulf sovereign capital in India’s economic expansion.
“Strategically, it enhances the participation of Gulf sovereign wealth in India’s economic transformation and development trajectory,” the report noted.
Energy security emerged as a major pillar of the partnership, with both countries agreeing to strengthen cooperation in crude storage and fuel supplies.
The agreements include plans related to India’s strategic petroleum reserves and the possibility of storing up to 30 million barrels of crude oil through collaboration involving Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), including potential arrangements linked to Fujairah and strategic storage infrastructure.
Analysts cited in the report said such arrangements could reduce supply risks and enhance India’s energy buffer amid global supply uncertainties and geopolitical disruptions.
India and the UAE also expanded long-term gas cooperation through a 10-year LNG agreement between ADNOC Gas and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), valued at around $2.5–3 billion. Under the agreement, ADNOC Gas will supply 0.5 million tonnes of LNG annually to HPCL.
The report said long-duration fuel supply contracts improve import predictability and provide greater stability against shipping disruptions, higher freight rates and insurance costs arising from regional tensions.
Beyond energy, the report highlighted growing technological cooperation between the two countries, particularly in artificial intelligence and high-performance computing.
According to the report, collaboration in advanced computing could strengthen India’s AI ecosystem by supporting applications in defence technologies, cybersecurity, climate and weather modelling, large language models and industrial innovation.
PM Modi’s Abu Dhabi visit, undertaken en route to Europe, came amid evolving regional energy dynamics and the UAE’s efforts to pursue more flexible bilateral energy partnerships with key markets such as India, the report added.
