Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, 15 May departed for Abu Dhabi, launching a multi-nation European and Gulf tour that begins with a high-stakes bilateral meeting with UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The visit is aimed at deepening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between India and the United Arab Emirates, covering trade, energy security, investment, and people-to-people ties.

Key Areas of Engagement

According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the agenda for Modi's Abu Dhabi leg centres on expanding economic and strategic cooperation. Two significant Memoranda of Understanding — covering LPG supply and strategic petroleum reserves — are expected to be concluded during the visit, according to official sources. Energy security has emerged as a central pillar of the bilateral relationship, particularly given India's growing import dependency and the Gulf's evolving role in global energy markets.

The MEA noted that the visit 'will serve to promote the significant trade and investment linkages between the two countries.' The UAE is currently India's third-largest trade partner and its seventh-largest cumulative source of investment over the past 25 years.

Indian Diaspora and People-to-People Ties

With over 4.5 million Indians residing in the UAE — one of the largest Indian communities abroad — welfare of the diaspora will also feature prominently in discussions. India-UAE people-to-people ties have historically been a durable foundation of the bilateral relationship, and Modi is expected to use the visit to address community concerns alongside the strategic agenda.

The Broader Five-Nation Tour

MEA Secretary (West) Sibi George briefed the media ahead of the departure, outlining the full itinerary. Following Abu Dhabi, Modi will travel to the Netherlands — his second visit since 2017 — where he will call on King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima and hold talks with Prime Minister Rob Jetten.

The third leg takes the Prime Minister to Gothenburg, Sweden, for bilateral talks with Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. The two leaders will also jointly address the European Round Table for Industry, a leading pan-European business forum, alongside European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Modi will then travel to Norway for the 3rd India-Nordic Summit, before concluding the tour in Italy, where he will call on President Sergio Mattarella and hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Georgia Meloni.

Strategic Significance

This visit comes amid a broader Indian diplomatic push to diversify energy partnerships and deepen trade ties with both Gulf and European partners. The UAE leg, in particular, carries weight: the two countries signed the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in 2022, which has since accelerated bilateral trade flows. Concluding MoUs on LPG and petroleum reserves would mark a tangible next step in translating strategic intent into energy supply security.

Notably, the European legs — Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, and Italy — signal India's continued engagement with Western partners at a moment of global geopolitical realignment. The India-Nordic Summit in Norway will be Modi's third such engagement with the Nordic bloc, reflecting a deepening of a relationship that rarely gets the attention it warrants.