Major Highlights: PM Modi’s UAE Visit & Netherlands Arrival
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi has completed his visit to the United Arab Emirates and has now reached the Netherlands for the next leg of his five-nation foreign tour.
- The UAE visit focused on energy security, defence cooperation, AI, investment, maritime infrastructure and strategic partnership.
- The Netherlands visit will focus on trade, semiconductors, clean energy, water management, innovation, defence and India-EU cooperation.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has concluded a high-impact visit to the United Arab Emirates and has now landed in Amsterdam for the second phase of his five-nation foreign tour covering the UAE, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway and Italy.
The UAE phase was a bit breif, but delivered major outcomes for India’s energy security, defence partnership, maritime infrastructure, artificial intelligence capability, ship repair ecosystem, skill development and investment inflows.
PM Modi held talks with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi on May 15, with both leaders reviewing the full spectrum of the India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The Ministry of External Affairs had said before the visit that the two leaders would discuss energy cooperation, bilateral ties, regional issues and international developments of mutual interest.
Why PM Modi's UAE Visit Was Important?
According to the Press Information Bureau, India-UAE bilateral merchandise trade crossed US$ 101.25 billion in FY 2025-26, while both countries have committed to doubling bilateral trade to US$ 200 billion by 2032. The UAE is also India’s seventh-largest overseas investor, with cumulative FDI of US$ 25.19 billion from April 2000 to March 2025.
The UAE also plays a major role in India’s energy basket. In FY 2024-25, it was India’s fourth-largest source of crude oil, third-largest source of LNG, largest supplier of LPG and second-largest export destination for India’s finished petroleum products. It is also the only country currently participating in India’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve programme.
What PM Modi Discussed in UAE?
Both the leaders discussed the entire range of India-UAE relations. The talks were not limited to traditional areas like oil and trade. They also moved into future-focused sectors such as artificial intelligence, high-performance computing, defence manufacturing and maritime infrastructure.
The main areas of discussion included:
- Energy security and long-term oil cooperation
- LPG supply and domestic energy needs
- Defence and strategic partnership
- Maritime infrastructure and ship repair
- Artificial intelligence and supercomputing
- UAE investment in India
- Regional security and global developments
- Welfare of the Indian community in the UAE
This shows how India-UAE ties have expanded over the years. Earlier, the relationship was mainly seen through the lens of oil, trade and diaspora. Today, it has become a wider strategic partnership covering economy, security, technology and global cooperation.
Also Read: Three Indians Injured as UAE Accuses Iran of Attacks After Fujairah Refinery Fire
Key Outcomes of PM Modi’s UAE Visit
1. Big Push to India’s Strategic Petroleum Reserves
One of the most important outcomes was the MoU on strategic collaboration between Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Limited and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company.
This agreement is aimed at strengthening India’s energy security by deepening cooperation in the hydrocarbon sector. It will help India improve its ability to deal with global supply disruptions and price volatility.
The agreement also opens opportunities in LNG and LPG storage infrastructure, which can support India’s long-term energy planning.
Reuters reported that the oil pact includes a potential increase in ADNOC’s crude oil storage in India to up to 30 million barrels. The agreement also explores possible crude storage in the UAE’s Fujairah as part of India’s strategic reserve framework.
2. Long-Term LPG Supply Security
India and the UAE also signed a strategic collaboration agreement between Indian Oil Corporation Limited and ADNOC for supplies of liquefied petroleum gas.
This agreement is expected to strengthen India’s long-term LPG supply security and ensure a more stable source of energy for domestic demand.
LPG is a critical household fuel in India, and reliable supply agreements are important for both consumers and the government’s energy access goals.
The UAE’s role as India’s largest LPG supplier makes this outcome especially significant.
3. Framework for Strategic Defence Partnership
Another major outcome was the agreement on a Framework for the Strategic Defence Partnership.
This framework will deepen defence industrial cooperation between India and the UAE. It is expected to encourage joint partnerships, co-development, industry engagement, innovation and technology sharing in strategic sectors.
This marks an important shift in India-UAE ties. The relationship is no longer limited to energy, trade and diaspora links. It is now moving into strategic security, advanced technology and defence manufacturing.
4. Ship Repair Cluster at Vadinar, Gujarat
India and the UAE also agreed on an MoU between Cochin Shipyard Limited and Drydocks World to set up a ship repair cluster at Vadinar in Gujarat.
This project is expected to boost India’s shipping, port and coastal infrastructure. It will strengthen India’s maritime logistics ecosystem and support the country’s ambition to become a larger maritime and ship repair hub.
The move also aligns with the Make in India initiative by promoting domestic manufacturing, allied maritime capabilities and infrastructure development.
5. Skill Development in Ship Repair
A separate MoU was signed between Cochin Shipyard Limited, Drydocks World and the Centre of Excellence in Maritime & Shipbuilding for skill development in ship repair.
This agreement will focus on technical training, capacity-building and upskilling of India’s maritime workforce. It is expected to create a future-ready talent pool for the global maritime industry and support India’s Skill India Mission.
This is an important outcome because infrastructure projects require skilled manpower. By linking investment with training, India and the UAE are trying to build both capacity and capability.
6. Eight Exaflop Supercomputing Cluster With UAE’s G42
One of the most future-facing outcomes of the visit was the term sheet for setting up an 8 exaflop supercomputing cluster in partnership between C-DAC, India and G42, UAE.
This partnership is expected to accelerate India’s sovereign AI and high-performance computing capabilities. It will strengthen India’s supercomputing infrastructure and support the IndiaAI Mission.
The significance of this agreement goes beyond computing power. Supercomputing capability is increasingly important for artificial intelligence, climate modelling, defence research, drug discovery, advanced manufacturing and large-scale data processing.
For India, this partnership can help build stronger AI infrastructure at a time when countries around the world are competing to develop sovereign AI systems.
7. UAE Investment Commitments in India
The UAE also announced investment commitments for India. These are expected to strengthen economic and financial cooperation between the two countries, particularly in infrastructure and banking sectors.
Reuters reported that the Indian foreign ministry announced UAE investments worth US$5 billion, including deals linked to India’s banking and energy sectors.
This is important because long-term foreign investment supports infrastructure development, job creation, capital formation and investor confidence in India’s growth story.
Also Read: Doval in Abu Dhabi: India's NSA Meets UAE President as West Asia Stays on Edge
PM Modi Today Lands in Netherlands: What Comes Next
After wrapping up the UAE leg, PM Modi landed in Amsterdam for his official visit to the Netherlands from May 15 to 17, 2026. He was received by senior Dutch officials, including Rear Admiral Ludger Brummelaar, Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen and India’s Ambassador to the Netherlands Kumar Tuhin.
PM Modi said after landing that the Netherlands visit comes at a time when the India-EU Free Trade Agreement has given a major push to trade and investment linkages. He added that the visit offers an opportunity to deepen cooperation in areas such as semiconductors, water and clean energy.
This is PM Modi’s second visit to the Netherlands after his 2017 visit.
Key Takeaway
PM Modi’s UAE visit has delivered major outcomes in energy, defence, AI, maritime infrastructure, skill development and investment. The agreements on strategic petroleum reserves and LPG supply are especially important because they directly support India’s energy security.
The defence partnership shows that India-UAE ties are moving into a more strategic phase. The ship repair cluster in Gujarat and the supercomputing partnership with UAE’s G42 point to future-facing cooperation in maritime infrastructure and technology.
With PM Modi now in the Netherlands, the focus has shifted to Europe. His discussions there are expected to centre on semiconductors, clean energy, water management, innovation, defence and trade.
Together, the UAE and Netherlands visits show a clear message: India is strengthening partnerships that can support its long-term goals in energy security, technology leadership, economic growth and global influence.
FAQs
What was the main outcome of PM Modi’s UAE visit?
The main outcome of PM Modi’s UAE visit was the strengthening of India-UAE cooperation in energy security, defence, artificial intelligence, maritime infrastructure, LPG supply and investment.
What did PM Modi discuss with the UAE President?
PM Modi discussed energy security, defence cooperation, trade, investment, artificial intelligence, maritime infrastructure, regional developments and the welfare of the Indian community with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Why is the India-UAE energy agreement important?
The India-UAE energy agreement is important because it strengthens India’s strategic petroleum reserves and LPG supply security. This can help India manage global oil price shocks, supply disruptions and energy-related uncertainty.
What is the defence outcome of PM Modi’s UAE visit?
India and the UAE agreed on a framework for a Strategic Defence Partnership. This is expected to deepen cooperation in defence manufacturing, maritime security, cyber defence, advanced technology, joint training and information sharing.
What is PM Modi’s Netherlands visit about?
PM Modi’s Netherlands visit is expected to focus on trade, semiconductors, clean energy, water management, innovation, defence cooperation, renewable energy and India-EU relations.
Why is the Netherlands important for India?
The Netherlands is important for India because it is a major European partner in trade, investment, semiconductors, ports, logistics, agriculture technology, water management and clean energy.
