PM Modi begins five-nation tour, UAE talks to focus energy

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday departed for Abu Dhabi, marking the beginning of his five-nation tour that will also cover the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway and Italy from May 15 to 20. The visit is aimed at expanding India’s strategic engagement in areas such as energy, trade, investment, technology, innovation and green growth.
During his stay in Abu Dhabi, the Prime Minister is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to review the growing partnership between the two countries and exchange views on regional and global developments. Discussions are expected to centre around the India-UAE comprehensive strategic partnership, with focus on energy cooperation, trade, investments, technology, culture and stronger people-to-people connections. Energy security is likely to remain one of the major areas of discussion.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi departs from Delhi as he embarks on a 5-nation visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, and Italy.

On the first leg of his visit, the PM will reach the UAE today, where he will meet President Sheikh Mohamed bin… pic.twitter.com/gEO8YxsMbP

— ANI (@ANI) May 15, 2026

The visit follows several high-level interactions between the two nations in recent months, including the UAE President’s state visit to India in January and the participation of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince in the AI Impact Summit held in India earlier this year.
Ahead of the visit, Additional Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs Aseem Mahajan said the energy sector continues to be a crucial pillar of India-UAE ties. He noted that the UAE emerged as India’s fourth-largest crude oil supplier last year, accounting for nearly 11 per cent of the country’s total requirement. He also said Indian companies have signed long-term LNG agreements with Abu Dhabi National Oil Company Gas amounting to around 4.5 million metric tonnes annually, making India the largest LNG buyer from the UAE.
The UAE currently supplies close to 40 per cent of India’s liquefied petroleum gas imports and also remains an important market for Indian petroleum exports. Indian firms have also expanded their presence in upstream oil projects in the UAE through investments in the Lower Zakum field and Abu Dhabi onshore blocks, reflecting deeper collaboration in the energy sector. Both sides are additionally working together on strategic petroleum reserves, renewable energy initiatives and the possibility of electricity grid connectivity. The UAE is also a founding member of the Global Biofuels Alliance, highlighting growing cooperation in clean and sustainable energy.
India and the UAE have significantly broadened their energy partnership beyond the traditional crude oil trade. While the UAE remains a major crude supplier, cooperation has expanded into natural gas, renewable energy and civil nuclear sectors. Earlier this year, Hindustan Petroleum entered into a 10-year agreement with Abu Dhabi National Oil Company for the supply of half-a-million tonnes of LNG annually from 2028, helping India secure stable pricing and reduce dependence on volatile spot markets.
Cooperation in renewable energy and civil nuclear technology is also gaining momentum. UAE sovereign wealth funds are increasingly investing in India’s solar energy sector, while India’s SHANTI Act, which allows private participation in the nuclear industry, has opened new opportunities for collaboration in reactor technologies, including Small Modular Reactors. Both countries are also encouraging the settlement of energy trade in rupees and dirhams to reduce dependence on the US dollar. From hydrocarbons and LNG to clean energy and nuclear cooperation, the India-UAE partnership is evolving in line with the global energy transition.Speaking on the Prime Minister’s eighth visit to the UAE, Indian Ambassador to the UAE Deepak Mittal said the visit comes at a significant time when the region is witnessing rapid geopolitical and economic developments.