India-UAE Bilateral Relations
India and the UAE have one of the most multi-dimensional bilateral relationships in West Asia. The UAE is India's third-largest trading partner and second-largest export destination. The relationship was elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2017. The two countries have a free trade agreement — the India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), signed in February 2022 and one of India's first major FTAs in over a decade.
- Bilateral trade: approximately USD 83 billion in FY 2022–23.
- Indian diaspora in the UAE: approximately 3.5 million — the largest foreign community in the UAE and a major source of remittances.
- The UAE is a key investor in India through vehicles like the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) and Mubadala.
- Energy is a foundational pillar: the UAE supplies a significant share of India's crude imports and has been exploring joint refinery investments.
● Tracked since March 17, 2026 · last seen June 10, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
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