Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, 18 September 2026, received a phone call from United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who congratulated him on India's successful BRICS Presidency and conveyed personal birthday wishes. The call underscores the deepening Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two nations at a moment of heightened geopolitical flux in West Asia.

What Was Discussed

According to a statement from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), the two leaders deliberated on fresh measures to further strengthen the India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership across energy, defence, technology, investment, and health. Both sides also exchanged assessments on evolving developments in West Asia and reaffirmed their commitment to fostering regional peace, security, and stability.

Modi expressed appreciation for the participation of Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in the BRICS Summit, crediting the UAE's engagement as a key factor in achieving substantive outcomes under India's Chairship.

Modi's Post-Call Remarks on X

Following the conversation, Prime Minister Modi posted on social media platform X: 'Grateful to my brother, the President of UAE, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, for his call and birthday wishes. We discussed measures to further deepen our bilateral Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and exchanged views on efforts to promote regional peace, security and stability.'

The BRICS Summit Context

The call follows last week's 18th BRICS Summit held in New Delhi, on the sidelines of which Modi met Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Modi described that meeting as an opportunity to elevate bilateral ambitions, posting: 'India-UAE ties have been transformed over the last few years. Now, we are raising our ambitions even higher.'

During the summit interaction, both sides explored deeper collaboration in defence, artificial intelligence, space, critical minerals, energy, food security, and the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). Modi framed the partnership in strategic terms, stating: 'At a time of uncertainty in West Asia, a strong India-UAE is a symbol of stability, prosperity and peace.'

Strategic Significance

This is not a routine diplomatic exchange. The UAE's active participation in the BRICS Summit — as a partner country under India's Presidency — signals Abu Dhabi's growing alignment with plurilateral economic platforms traditionally dominated by emerging-market blocs. For India, locking in UAE support on IMEC, energy supply chains, and investment flows carries outsized strategic value at a time when West Asian stability remains fragile. The frequency and warmth of Modi-MBZ contact in recent months suggests the bilateral relationship is operating well above the level of formal treaty commitments.