♦ The United Arab Emirates and India signed a ‘Letter of Intent for a bilateral Strategic Defence Partnership’ on 19 January 2026. The agreement was signed during the two-hour visit to India by UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The two sides set a goal of doubling bilateral trade to $200 billion by 2032.

♦ Under the defence partnership, India and the UAE are eyeing defence industrial collaboration and cooperation in advanced technologies, cyberspace training, special operations, interoperability of their militaries and counter terrorism. 

♦ Another pact was inked to provide for the purchase of 0.5 million metric tonnes of LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) by Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) from Abu Dhabi National Oil Company Gas over a period of 10 years starting 2028. The UAE is India's second-largest supplier of LNG to India after Qatar.