Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed visited India on April 8–9, leading to several key announcements aimed at strengthening ties between the two countries. The visit focused on trade, education, defence, infrastructure, and support for the Indian community in the Gulf.
Ship Repair Projects in India
India and the UAE agreed to set up ship-repair clusters in Kochi, Kerala, and Vadinar, Gujarat. This will be done through a partnership between Cochin Shipyard Ltd and Drydocks World. The aim is to improve India’s ship-repair capacity and bring in global expertise.
Indian Institutes to Open in Dubai
IIM Ahmedabad and the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) will open campuses in Dubai. This follows the recent opening of an IIT campus in Abu Dhabi. These steps will strengthen education ties and position Dubai as a hub for Indian institutions.
New Hospital and Bharat Mart Project
Land has been allocated in Dubai for an India-UAE friendship hospital. Also, a 3D plan of the Bharat Mart complex was launched, and construction is set to begin. Bharat Mart will help Indian exporters and boost trade.
Meeting with PM Modi
The Crown Prince met Prime Minister Modi and gifted him a replica of his grandfather’s traditional cloak, symbolizing strong historic ties. Modi highlighted Dubai’s role in deepening the India-UAE partnership and called the visit a sign of lasting friendship.
Defence Ties Discussed
The Crown Prince met Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to discuss closer defence cooperation. Both countries plan to work together on defence production and development. The focus is on making defence industry ties a key part of their relationship.
Cultural Connection Highlighted
External Affairs Minister Jaishankar met the Crown Prince and noted the progress in India-UAE relations. The Crown Prince shared a newspaper article about his father helping save Indian airline passengers in 1984, reflecting the strong bond between the nations.
Trade and Business Growth
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and the Crown Prince discussed the impact of the India-UAE trade deal (CEPA). They noted that the new education projects will also support trade and business cooperation.
Support for Indian Community
The announcements will benefit the 4.3 million Indians living in the UAE and nine million across the Gulf. These include better access to Indian education, healthcare, and jobs in the region.
India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor
India confirmed its commitment to this key regional trade route. Projects like Bharat Mart and the ship-repair hubs are expected to support this vision and improve regional trade links.
Trade Targets and Outlook
India-UAE trade is expected to cross $97 billion, with a goal of reaching $100 billion in non-oil trade. The visit has paved the way for deeper cooperation in business, education, defence, and infrastructure.
