The UAE is India’s third-largest trading partner, its second biggest export destination, seventh biggest foreign investor, and concluded its first bilateral trade agreement with India in 2022. MbZ’s sudden India visit came amidst heightened tensions between the UAE and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The announcement of the UAE-India negotiations for a defence agreement is being read by some as a possible military front to counter other regional alignments. Even so, the government must keep in mind ties not only with the UAE but also other important Gulf region countries, where nearly 10 million Indians reside. With important relationships in the region, and so many faultlines within it, India has little option but to tread lightly.

Source: The Hindu January 21, 2026 01:24 UTC