BRICS: Modi meets Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi; Defence, Space, Nuclear Energy and Odisha's $11.5 Billion Investments Discussed

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Khaled bin Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on Saturday, September 12.

The talks were held on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit, with India and the UAE seeking to further strengthen their comprehensive strategic partnership.

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The two leaders reiterated the importance of the India-UAE comprehensive strategic partnership built on strong political, cultural, trade, energy and people-to-people ties, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.

“At a time of uncertainty in West Asia, a strong India-UAE is a symbol of stability, prosperity and peace,” PM Modi said in a post on X after the meeting.

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Discussions included defence, space, nuclear power and a major $11.5 billion investment in a greenfield integrated aluminum project in Odisha.

This project positions Odisha as a global hub for aluminum production, reflecting the expanding economic partnership between India and the UAE.

The UAE’s membership in BRICS supports its goals of expanding trade partnerships, enhancing economic openness and strengthening its global market presence.

The leaders discussed strengthening cooperation in strategic areas such as defense, space, nuclear energy, technology and innovation.

Yes, strengthening this partnership is necessary for mutual benefits, especially in trade and energy security amid global economic challenges.

“They recalled the recent successful visits of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates to India in January 2026 and Prime Minister to the UAE in May 2026,” the MEA said.

An $11.5 billion greenfield integrated aluminum project

During the meeting, the leaders appreciated the progress made in bilateral relations in a wide range of sectors. They noted positively the announcement by the UAE international holding company to invest in the development of an $11.5 billion greenfield integrated aluminum project in Odisha, India’s largest integrated aluminum investment. The project is expected to position Odisha as a global aluminum manufacturing hub, the MEA said.

“The leaders recognized the important role that L’Imad, as the UAE’s newest sovereign wealth fund, could play in further deepening the India-UAE partnership for mutual benefit. They also discussed opportunities to enhance cooperation between the two countries in strategic and emerging areas, including defence, space, nuclear energy, technology and innovation,” the statement said.

The visit reaffirmed the tradition of regular leadership-level engagement and generational continuity that underpins the enduring relationship between India and the UAE, the MEA said.

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The UAE became a full member of BRICS in January 2024, along with Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and Saudi Arabia, while Indonesia joined the grouping as a full member in January 2025.

According to the UAE WAM news agency, the UAE’s membership supports the country’s efforts to expand its economic and trade partnerships and strengthen its presence in global markets, while adding an economy to the group that serves as a global hub for trade, investment and logistics.

Membership is in line with the UAE’s approach to economic openness and diversification of partnerships, while creating opportunities to develop trade corridors, expand investment and trade channels, and strengthen cooperation with developing and emerging economies.

This coincides with the expansion of the UAE’s Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) programme, which has seen 38 agreements signed since its launch in September 2021, including CEPA agreements with India and Indonesia, both BRICS countries.

The meeting comes amid growing cooperation between India and the UAE, particularly in the areas of trade and energy security, with both sides seeking shared prosperity.

India is hosting the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12-13. The India Presidency is guided by the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Collaboration and Sustainability”, with development, sustainability and innovation as key areas of focus.

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The grouping currently includes 11 countries – Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates. Together with 10 partner countries – Nigeria, Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.

India’s BRICS chairmanship comes amid global economic fragmentation, technological disruption, geopolitical uncertainty, climate change and resource pressures. The expanded grouping provides a platform for cooperation on development, climate action, technology, energy and financial resilience, while contributing to reform discussions in global institutions.