India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Sunday announced that at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), is scheduled to pay an official state visit to India on January 19, 2026.
The trip marks the UAE president’s third official visit to India since his inauguration and his fifth trip to the country in the past decade, according to an MEA statement.
The upcoming visit builds on the significant momentum established by recent high-level diplomatic interactions, such as the September 2024 arrival of Khaled bin Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, and the April 2025 visit of Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, Crown Prince of Dubai and Crown Prince of Dubai.
India and the UAE maintain a cordial, intimate and diverse relationship supported by deep political, cultural and financial ties.
The two countries are among the other’s major trading and investment partners, a status reinforced by the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), the Local Currency Settlement Framework (LCS), and the Bilateral Investment Treaty.
Energy Alliance
In addition, India and the UAE benefit from a solid energy alliance that includes permanent power purchase agreements.
This diplomatic mission will offer the two leaders a chance to define new directions for the comprehensive India-UAE strategic partnership. It will also facilitate dialogue on regional and international matters of common interest where both countries achieve a significant level of political alignment, the statement said.
Diplomatic relations between India and the United Arab Emirates began in 1972. While the UAE established its embassy in India in the same year, the Indian embassy in the United Arab Emirates began operations in 1973. The two countries maintain strong cooperation within the United Nations and participate in various multilateral groups, including BRICS, I2U2 (India-France-India-Israel) and the UAE. Trilateral. Notably, the UAE served as the guest country during the G20 summit hosted by India.
