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S Jaishankar met Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed in Abu Dhabi to review bilateral and global issues. The talks underscored expanding India-UAE cooperation across trade, energy, investment, defence and security.
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Abudhabi,Oct 15, 2026 11:14 IST
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday held what he described as a "warm and productive" meeting with his UAE counterpart, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, during his three-day official visit to the United Arab Emirates.
The two ministers exchanged views on bilateral and global issues as India and the UAE continue to expand cooperation in trade, investment, energy, defence and security. Jaishankar is visiting the country to review progress in bilateral ties.
In a social media post, Jaishankar said he and Sheikh Abdullah "exchanged perspectives on bilateral and global issues in the spirit of our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership".
The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, which came into force in May 2022, has provided a framework for boosting bilateral trade and economic engagement.
Earlier on Wednesday, Jaishankar participated in the second edition of the Raisina Middle East event. He joined Sheikh Abdullah, who is also the UAE's deputy prime minister, for a discussion on 'The World Ahead: Power, Purpose & Possibility'.
Jaishankar also met Georgian Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili in Abu Dhabi. They discussed ways to deepen bilateral cooperation in areas including business, connectivity and culture.
Last month, Jaishankar met Sheikh Abdullah and French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. They reviewed progress in trilateral cooperation across agreed areas of mutual interest and discussed the situation in West Asia.
Jaishankar had also visited the UAE in April, when he met Sheikh Abdullah to discuss the evolving regional situation and its implications.
The UAE is an important Indian partner in the Gulf region and is a key source of energy supplies and investment. It is also home to a large Indian expatriate community.
According to the Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi, Indians are the largest ethnic community in the UAE and account for about 35 per cent of its population. The number of Indian nationals living in the country was estimated at 4.3 million in 2024.
About 15 per cent of the Indian diaspora in the UAE lives in Abu Dhabi, while the rest is spread across the other six emirates, including Dubai. Kerala has the largest representation among Indian states, followed by Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. People from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Punjab and other states also form significant sections of the community.
Jaishankar's visit includes talks on bilateral and global issues, participation in the Raisina Middle East event and meetings aimed at reviewing and strengthening India's cooperation with the UAE and other partners.
With PTI Inputs
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