India–United Arab Emirates relations

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India–United Arab Emirates relations
Map indicating locations of India and United Arab Emirates

India
United Arab Emirates
Diplomatic mission
Embassy of India, Abu DhabiEmbassy of the United Arab Emirates, New Delhi
Envoy
Ambassador Pavan KapoorAmbassador Ahmed Al-Banna

India–United Arab Emirates relations refers to the bilateral relations that exist between the Republic of India and the United Arab Emirates. Indians also make up the largest minority ethnic group in the UAE, making up roughly 38% of UAE's total residents.[1]

Country comparison[]

India India United Arab Emirates United Arab Emirates
Emblem Emblem of India.svg Emblem of the United Arab Emirates.svg
Population 1,401,309,721 (2022 estimate) 10,078,023 (2022 estimate)
Area 3,287,263 km2 (1,269,219 sq mi) 83,600 km2 (32,300 sq mi)
Population density 464/km2 (1,202/sq. mi.) 118/km2 (306/sq mi)
Capital New Delhi Abu Dhabi
Largest city Mumbai – 12,691,836 (20,748,395 Metro) Dubai – 3,331,420 (~4,000,000 Metro)
Government Federal parliamentary constitutional republic Federal elective constitutional monarchy
Current Leader President Ram Nath Kovind

Prime Minister Narendra Modi

President Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan

Prime Minister Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum

Official languages Hindi, English Arabic
Main religions 79.8% Hinduism, 14.2% Islam, 2.3% Christianity, 1.7% Sikhism, 0.7% Buddhism, 0.4% Jainism, 0.23% Unaffiliated, 0.65% others 76% Islam, 13% Christianity, 7% Hinduism, 2% Buddhism, 1% Other, 1% None
Ethnic groups 75% Indo-Aryan, 19% Dravidian, 5%Austroasiatic, Sino-Tibetan, Tai-Kadai and others 11.6% Emirati Arab, 59.4% South Asian (38.2% Indian, 27.4% Pakistani, 12.5% Bangladeshi), 7.4% Egyptian, 6.1% Filipino, 12.8% Others
Immigration 12,470 Emiratis in India 3,420,000 Indians in the UAE
GDP (nominal) US$3.150 trillion ($2,191 per capita) (2022) US$402 billion ($41,476 per capita) (2022)

History[]

Early years[]

Since 3000 B.C, relations between India and the seven emirates which now make up the United Arab Emirates were traditionally close. The UAE and India had enjoyed close and friendly ties based on historic and cultural ties. People-to-people contacts and barter trade for clothes and spices from India in exchange for dates and pearls from the region have existed for centuries.[2] After the creation of the Federation in 1971, India-UAE relations flourished. Today UAE and India share political, economical, and cultural links. There are over a million Indians in the United Arab Emirates, being by far the largest migrant group in the country.[1]

21st century[]

Prime Minister Narendra Modi being received by Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visited Abu Dhabi in March 2013.[3] On 16 August 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi began a two-day visit to the UAE, the first state visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the country in 34 years.[4][5][6] In 2018, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between India and the UAE on Technical Cooperation in the Rail Sector. It provided a platform for Indian Railways to interact and share their latest developments and knowledge in the railway sector.[7] On 18 August 2018, Modi described Sheikh Mohammed's humanitarian support for those affected by the Kerala floods that year as "[reflecting] the special ties between governments and people of India and UAE".[8] On 6 August 2019, the UAE backed the decision of the Indian government to pursue passage of the 2019 Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill, with the UAE's Ambassador to India stating: "We expect that the changes would improve social justice and security and confidence of the people in the local governance and will encourage further stability and peace."[9]

In August, 2021, UAE and India signed an agreement under which faculty members from Indian universities will spend six to 10 months every year for undertaking research and teaching social sciences in Abu Dhabi. This agreement was aimed at deepening the academic and cultural ties between the two nations.[10]

Economic Relations[]

The UAE is India's top trading partner in the entire West Asia and North Africa region. According to journalist Ravi S. Jha, Indian exports to the UAE account for 6% of India's global exports. In 2008–09, India emerged as the largest trade partner of the UAE with bilateral trade between the two countries exceeding $44.5 billion.[11] In 2018–19, India-UAE bilateral trade grew by over 20% and India's exports to UAE grew by 7% whereas the UAE's exports to India surged by 37% to reach US$29.78 billion.[12][13]

A rail tunnel under the sea is being built. It will link the UAE with the western coast of India. The tunnel will be supported by pontoons and will be nearly 2000 kilometres in length. [14] [15]

Security Relations[]

Since 2014, India has worked with UAE on various counter-terrorism issues.[16] In December 2020, Indian authorities in coordination with UAE had foiled a Pakistani ISI backed-terrorist attack in Delhi. The arrested terrorists consisted of 2 Khalistani and 3 Hizbul Mujahideen members. The head of the cell was arrested in UAE and deported to India.[17] On 4 March 2018, the Indian Coast Guard and Emirati special forces collaborated in a successful operation, requested by Emirati Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and approved by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to intercept a yacht carrying Latifa bint Mohammed Al Maktoum.[18]

References[]

  1. ^ Mohan, C. Raja (18 August 2015). "How India, UAE looked beyond Pak to forge a new partnership". indianexpress.com. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
  2. ^ "StackPath". www.indembassyuae.org. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  3. ^ "Khaleej Times".
  4. ^ "First visit to a Gulf Arab nation: At UAE grand mosque, Modi hails 'peace, harmony inherent in Islam'". 17 August 2015.
  5. ^ Desk, Internet (16 August 2015). "Path of terror will never benefit anyone: Modi". The Hindu.
  6. ^ "Narendra Modi leaves for his two-day maiden visit to UAE". 16 August 2015.
  7. ^ "India-UAE: Cabinet approves MoU on Technical Cooperation in Rail Sector | Current Affairs Today". currentaffairs.gktoday.in. 5 April 2018. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
  8. ^ "UAE expats help Kerala victims through social media". Gulf News. 18 August 2018.
  9. ^ "UAE backs India on Article 370, says Kashmir its internal matter". India Today. 6 August 2019.
  10. ^ "India signs agreement with UAE to send visiting professors to Abu Dhabi". The Indian Express. 27 August 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
  11. ^ Jha, Ravi S. "India's Economic Resilience Impresses Mohammed". Khaleej Times. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  12. ^ "System on Foreign Trade Performance Analysis (FTPA) Version 3.0". Archived from the original on 14 February 2018.
  13. ^ Roseberry, Eric; Quartet, Suk; Trio, Suk; Panenka, Jan; Stepan, Pavel; Suk, Josef (January 1994). "Suk: Chamber Works". The Musical Times. 135 (1811): 48. doi:10.2307/1002849. ISSN 0027-4666. JSTOR 1002849.
  14. ^ https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/destinations/a-2000-km-long-underwater-rail-will-connect-mumbai-to-the-uae-very-soon/amp_articleshow/66878629.cms
  15. ^ "The UAE Wants an Underwater Bullet Train to India".
  16. ^ Siyech, Mohammed Sinan (21 December 2017). "India Gulf Counter-Terrorism Cooperation". Middle East Institute.
  17. ^ "ISI man nabbed in Delhi after his arrival from UAE". Times Of India. 1 January 2021.
  18. ^ "India's Modi authorized capture of runaway Dubai princess, newspaper claims". Washington Post. 28 April 2018.
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