DUBAI: His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council, has arrived in India for his first official visit that promises to deepen the longstanding relationship between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and India.
His visit underscores the UAE's commitment to strengthening global partnerships and fostering cooperation across vital sectors.
Upon his arrival at Indira Gandhi International Airport, the Crown Prince and the accompanying delegation were welcomed by Suresh Gopi, India’s Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, and Tourism. An official reception ceremony was held in their honour.
Crown Prince’s visit to India
During his visit, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed will engage in high-level discussions with senior Indian officials, aiming to explore avenues for enhanced bilateral cooperation.
Scheduled meetings include a working lunch with the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi later today, where topics of mutual interest are expected to be addressed. The agenda for these discussions includes critical sectors such as trade, technology, infrastructure, aviation, and the burgeoning digital economy.
This visit comes at a time when economic exchanges between the two nations are at an all-time high, with India being one of the UAE's largest trading partners. Notably, non-oil trade between the UAE and India surpassed Dh180 billion in 2023, reflecting a growth of over 15 percent compared to the previous year.
The strategic importance of this visit is underscored by the diverse delegation accompanying the Crown Prince, which includes prominent figures such as His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Reem bint Ebrahim Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation, and Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade.
UAE-India relations
Following the engagements in New Delhi, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan will travel to Mumbai on 8-9 April to participate in a business roundtable featuring prominent business leaders from both the UAE and India. This segment of the visit is poised to fortify economic and commercial cooperation, focusing on both traditional industries and innovative sectors. Over the past five years, Indian investments in Dubai have reached Dh15 billion, while Dubai's investments in India have climbed to Dh17.2 billion, underscoring the mutual benefits of these relationships.
In 2024 alone, the Dubai Chamber of Commerce reported that 16,623 new Indian companies joined its ranks, bringing the total to over 70,000 Indian companies. This surge is indicative of the thriving economic landscape that both nations are cultivating together. Additionally, DP World has maintained operations in India for over 20 years and signed a substantial $3 billion agreement in January 2024 to expand its operations in Gujarat, further solidifying the economic partnership between the two countries.
The UAE-India strategic relationship has witnessed significant advancement in recent years, particularly following the signing of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in 2022.
With tourism booming – Dubai welcomed 3.14 million visitors from South Asia in 2024, with India accounting for the largest share. Emirates Airline has played a crucial role in this exchange, operating 167 weekly flights to nine Indian cities since 1985, thereby facilitating a seamless flow of visitors and commerce.