UAE-India ties are rooted in affinity, trust and respect
Context:
Recently, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, to India, Sheikh Khaled had visited India signifying diplomatic engagements and ties between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and India.
Relevance:
GS-02 (International Relations)
Dimensions of the Article
- Highlights of the Summit
- India-UAE Relations: A Historical Overview
- Significance to India
- Challenges
Highlights of the Summit
- The visit by the Crown prince reflected a long-standing relationship between India and UAE.
- One notable moment was the planting of tree that symbolizes the bond of the two nations at Rajghat, much like his father and grandfather in 2016 and 1992.
- The visit ended with signing of various agreements on civil nuclear technology, renewable energy, health innovation, and educational exchange.
The major highlight was the inauguration of the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi Abu Dhabi campus.
India-UAE Relations: A Historical Overview
- Archaeological Evidence: According to a recent evidence, the potteries found in Abu Dhabi shows connections to the Indus Valley Civilization. And this over the period of time has magnified into a strong partnership based on mutual respect, trust and shared interests.
- Indian residents in UAE: More than 3.5 Million Indians reside in UAE as of today. It is also evident from the fact that there are over 1,500 flights between India and UAE every week, which highlights the importance of connectivity.
Significance to India
- Economic Collaboration: India was the first country to have the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) agreement with the UAE. It was signed in 2022 and just within one year, the CEPA had led a 15% increase in the bilateral trade.
- Strategic Cooperation: With the recent inauguration of the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi Abu Dhabi campus, it is evident that the collaboration extends beyond trade. Other strategic areas include- civil nuclear technology, green energy, and health innovation.
Challenges
- Economic Diversification and Dependency: Both countries should work on diversifying their trade and investment. They should also ensure to not overly depend on certain sectors like energy. This makes the partnership more resilient to global economic changes.
- Geopolitical Dynamics: The geopolitical landscape of the Middle East and South Asia can impact bilateral relations. Both countries must carefully manage their foreign policies to maintain a balanced relationship amidst regional tensions.
- Labor Rights and Welfare: Given the huge number of Indians (3.5 Million) accommodating in UAE, both countries need to formulate policies related to labor laws, working conditions and human rights to ensure fair treatment of Indian workers in UAE
Way Forward
- It is high-time that both countries should explore new areas like technology, digital infrastructure, and renewable energy and expand the CEPA.
- Areas like defense, cybersecurity and space technology can be strengthened by joint research and capacity building.
- Alongside the trade relations, promoting people-to-people connections through cultural programs, educational exchanges, and tourism can strengthen the soft power aspect of the relationship.
- Addressing labor rights and enhancing the legal framework for expatriate workers can further solidify the bond between the two nations.
