National Security Advisor Ajit Doval flew to Abu Dhabi on Sunday, April 26, and met with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The Indian Embassy confirmed the visit on X, stating that Doval conveyed greetings from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and that discussions covered "measures to deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, the regional situation, and other issues of mutual interest."
UAE state news agency WAM added that energy security was also on the agenda — specifically how the ongoing West Asia conflict is affecting global supply chains and oil prices.
This is the second high-level Indian visit to the UAE in April. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar visited Abu Dhabi earlier this month, meeting the same Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The Prince of Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, was present at that meeting.
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Two visits in a month, both at the most senior levels — this is not a ceremonial calendar. India is working its Gulf relationships hard right now.
https://twitter.com/NS_Neelotpal/status/2048358725933735949
The backdrop is the ongoing US-Israeli military campaign against Iran, which began on February 28, 2026. The joint strikes killed Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, triggering a large-scale Iranian military response against Israel and US bases across Gulf nations. The conflict has since shifted into a contested ceasefire phase, but the region is far from stable.
One of the most immediate consequences for India: the Strait of Hormuz has been effectively shut down. Iran's Revolutionary Guards have repeatedly stated that controlling the strait is their "definitive strategy." The US has imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports in retaliation. Between the two, global energy flows through one of the most critical chokepoints in the world are severely disrupted.
India imports a substantial share of its crude oil through the Gulf region. The Hormuz disruption has already affected global energy prices and forced Indian refiners to re-route supply chains. Energy security, unsurprisingly, was at the top of Doval's agenda.
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The Indian Community in the UAE
There is a more immediate human dimension to this. The UAE is home to the largest Indian diaspora in any single country — over 3.5 million Indian nationals live and work there. When Jaishankar visited earlier this month, he explicitly thanked Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed for "ensuring the well-being of the Indian community in the UAE during the conflict in West Asia."
The strikes in February and the subsequent Iranian military response created serious security concerns for Indian workers across Gulf countries. The Indian government has been quietly working to ensure their safety, maintain consular access, and prepare evacuation contingencies if needed.
Doval, as NSA, carries a different portfolio than Jaishankar. His visit suggests that the conversations have moved beyond diplomatic pleasantries into harder questions: intelligence sharing, security protocols, and what happens if the ceasefire breaks down entirely.
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India's Strategic Position in the Gulf
India has deliberately maintained a position of formal neutrality in the US-Iran conflict, while keeping open diplomatic channels with all sides. Modi has not publicly condemned either the US-Israeli strikes or Iran's response. Instead, India has called for dialogue, expressed concern about civilian casualties, and advocated for a ceasefire through multilateral forums.
This is not passive fence-sitting. It is a calculated effort to keep India's relationships functional with the US, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Iran simultaneously — all of whom are critical partners for different reasons.
The UAE relationship is particularly layered. The Comprehensive Strategic Partnership signed in 2022 covers trade, investment, defence, and now, evidently, crisis coordination. The UAE is both an Indian diaspora hub and a major investment partner through sovereign wealth funds like ADIA and Mubadala. UAE companies have also committed significant capital to India's renewable energy and infrastructure sectors.
What Was Not Said Publicly
Both sides have been careful not to say too much. The Indian Embassy's statement is notably brief — "the regional situation and other issues of mutual interest" is the kind of language that diplomatically covers a lot of ground without revealing specifics.
What Doval likely discussed, based on the context: India's position on the Iran ceasefire negotiations, India's expectations of how Gulf nations will manage energy supply during the conflict, intelligence on Iranian military intentions, and the security situation facing Indian workers in Gulf countries.
None of this would be confirmed on record, and none of it needs to be. The visit itself is the signal.
FAQs:
Q: Why did Ajit Doval visit the UAE?
Doval met UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed to discuss deepening India-UAE strategic ties, the West Asia war situation, energy security, and the safety of the Indian community in the Gulf.
Q: How many Indians live in the UAE?
Over 3.5 million Indian nationals reside in the UAE, making it the largest Indian diaspora destination globally.
Q: What is India's position on the US-Iran conflict?
India has maintained formal neutrality, calling for dialogue and ceasefire, while maintaining active diplomatic engagement with all parties including the US, UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Iran.
Q: How is the West Asia conflict affecting India's oil supply?
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has severely disrupted global energy flows. India imports a significant portion of its crude oil through the Gulf, requiring rerouting of supply chains.
Q: Is this Doval's first visit to UAE in 2026?
This is his first confirmed visit in 2026 during the current West Asia crisis. EAM Jaishankar visited the UAE earlier in April.
Source: IANS