DUBAI: His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Defence of the UAE, has wrapped up a significant first official visit to India.
The multi-city trip focused on bolstering the strong bilateral partnership between the two nations through high-level meetings, strategic agreements, and visionary initiatives in key sectors.
The visit highlighted the depth of the UAE-India relationship, which the Crown Prince described as rooted in mutual trust, respect, and shared ambitions for a prosperous future. He reaffirmed that the bond between the two countries continues to grow across multiple dimensions, driven by a common commitment to sustainable development and innovation-led progress.
High-level engagements
During the official visit, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum held a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Crown Prince conveyed greetings from the UAE leadership and underscored the importance of strengthening ties built on a rich history of trade and civilisational exchange. He remarked on India’s vast population and rich heritage, describing trade as a historic bridge between the two nations, now complemented by cooperation in advanced sectors such as technology and infrastructure.
The Crown Prince witnessed the signing of eight Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) aimed at enhancing collaboration across infrastructure, healthcare, higher education, maritime services, logistics, and private sector partnerships. These agreements build upon frameworks such as the 2022 Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and the Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT), which have laid the foundation for a dynamic and resilient economic relationship.
Among the most notable developments, bilateral trade between the UAE and India surged by 20 percent in 2024, reaching Dh240 billion, a reflection of the successful implementation of CEPA and ongoing economic alignment.
Economic expansion
The Crown Prince praised the UAE’s private sector for its pivotal role in broadening the nation's global economic ties. He also commended national economic institutions for their adoption of advanced, tech-enabled solutions aimed at sustainable development and competitiveness.
In Mumbai, the Crown Prince inaugurated DP World's new Free Trade Warehousing Zone (FTWZ) – the Nhava Sheva Business Park (NSBP). This state-of-the-art facility is DP World's third FTWZ in India and represents an investment of over US$200 million (Dh735 million). The initiative is expected to further streamline logistics, reinforce trade channels, and boost UAE-India business integration.
Strategic sites & symbolic visits
In addition to economic engagements, Sheikh Hamdan visited several iconic Indian institutions. In Mumbai, he visited the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), Asia’s first and one of the world’s oldest stock exchanges, established in 1875.
In Bengaluru, he attended the opening of the second representative office of the Dubai International Chamber in India, aimed at enhancing Dubai-India trade and investment flows.
Accompanied by a high-level UAE delegation, Sheikh Hamdan’s visit included notable figures such as Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority; Mohammad bin Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs; Reem bint Ebrahim Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation; and other key ministers and senior officials representing various economic sectors.
Future-facing agreements
Among the eight MoUs signed were initiatives that reflect a forward-looking vision for cooperation. These include establishing a campus of the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIM-A) in the UAE and launching the UAE-India Friendship Hospital in Dubai. Another agreement focuses on strengthening maritime ties through a ship repair cluster in Kerala, positioning both countries to benefit from shared access to expertise, innovation, and regional maritime capabilities.
The agreements were formalised in the presence of the Crown Prince and India’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, during a special event organised by Dubai Chambers in Mumbai. The diversity of sectors represented in the MoUs reflects the multifaceted nature of the growing bilateral relationship.
Shared vision
Following the conclusion of the visit, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Modi and the Indian people through social media posts written in Arabic, Hindi, and English.
He lauded the warm welcome and generous hospitality extended during his visit and reflected on the centuries-old civilisational ties binding the two nations.
Sheikh Hamdan reaffirmed a shared determination to continue building bridges of friendship, guided by values, ambition, and a vision for impactful global cooperation.