Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Tuesday, 15 September 2026, received Abdulla Saif Al Nuaimi, Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to India, at his residence in New Delhi, in a meeting focused on strengthening parliamentary cooperation and reviewing the rapidly expanding India-UAE bilateral relationship.

What Was Discussed

Birla described the meeting as 'warm and substantive', highlighting the multifaceted India-UAE partnership rooted in mutual trust, shared interests, and strong people-to-people ties. He specifically acknowledged the UAE's role as a member of BRICS, conveying appreciation for its 'active participation and constructive contribution' during India's BRICS Presidency.

The Speaker also called the 4.5 million-strong Indian diaspora in the UAE 'an invaluable bridge' between the two nations — a community that underpins trade, remittances, and cultural exchange across the partnership.

BRICS Summit Backdrop

The meeting comes days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan met on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi. The two leaders reaffirmed their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and agreed to continue close coordination through the BRICS platform to advance shared interests.

Notably, the two sides acknowledged the announcement by UAE's International Holding Company to invest in the development of a USD 11.5 billion integrated greenfield aluminium project in Odisha — described as India's largest integrated aluminium investment. The project is expected to position Odisha as a global aluminium manufacturing hub.

Emerging Areas of Cooperation

Beyond the aluminium investment, India and the UAE on Saturday discussed opportunities to deepen cooperation in defence, space, nuclear energy, technology, and innovation. The two leaders also acknowledged the potential role of the sovereign investment platform L'Imad in further strengthening the bilateral partnership for mutual benefit.

According to an official statement, 'the visit reaffirmed the tradition of regular leadership-level engagement and the generational continuity that underpins the enduring relationship between India and the UAE.'

What Comes Next

With parliamentary cooperation now formally on the agenda, both sides are expected to pursue structured legislative exchanges and inter-parliamentary dialogue. Birla expressed confidence that 'parliamentary engagement and broader bilateral cooperation will continue to reach new milestones in the years ahead,' signalling that the relationship is moving beyond trade and diplomacy into institutional governance links.