Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on Saturday. During the meeting, India and the UAE emphasized further strengthening their comprehensive strategic partnership and enhancing cooperation in areas such as trade, energy security, and shared prosperity. This meeting is considered significant for the ever-growing bilateral cooperation between the two nations.
The UAE became a full member of BRICS in January 2024, alongside Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and Saudi Arabia. Subsequently, in January 2025, Indonesia also joined the group as a full member.
India and the UAE welcomed progress in bilateral ties, with the UAE’s International Holding Company announcing an $11.5 billion investment in a greenfield aluminium project in Odisha. The mega project is expected to boost Odisha’s position as a global aluminium hub.
The UAE’s BRICS membership is expected to further strengthen its role in global trade and investment. According to the UAE News Agency (WAM), this membership will foster new trade corridors, investment opportunities, and economic cooperation with emerging economies.
This move aligns with the UAE’s economic diversification policy. In this vein, 38 agreements have been concluded under its CEPA program since September 2021, including agreements with BRICS member India and with Indonesia.
Amid the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held bilateral meetings on Saturday at Hyderabad House with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali. Discussions during both meetings focused on mutual cooperation and global issues.
India is hosting the 18th BRICS summit on September 12–13. The presidency this time is centered on the theme ‘Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability,’ with development, sustainability, and innovation as key priorities. BRICS has emerged as a vital platform for fostering coordination among emerging economies and strengthening the interests of the Global South.
