UAE, India could cooperate on aerospace, AI, education: Ambassador Abdulnasser Jamal Alshaali

Commenting on India-UAE ties, Abdulnasser Jamal Alshaali said that the first visit (of Prime Minister Modi was the turning point in the relationship

India and the United Arab Emirates can collaborate on developing aerospace, artificial intelligence (AI), and education, among other sectors, Abdulnasser Jamal Alshaali, UAE ambassador to India said on February 12.

Commenting on MoU expectations between the two countries, he said, “There are several MoUs that would be signed. The list has not been finalised yet because we're trying to do as many of them as possible…. In the last meeting, they discussed new sectors where the UAE and India could cooperate. Aerospace, for instance, AI, education, and so on.”

The UAE’s Ministry of Investment recently signed three Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with India. These agreements aim to expand bilateral investment cooperation in the renewable energy, food processing, and healthcare sectors.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be on a two-day visit to the United Arab Emirates beginning February 13, during which he is slated to hold wide-ranging talks with President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and inaugurate the first Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi. It would be the prime minister's seventh visit to the UAE since 2015, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said. PM Modi and Al Nahyan will discuss ways to further deepen, expand and strengthen the strategic partnership between the countries and exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual interest.

With PM Modi's 2015 visit, a 34-year hiatus of an Indian PM to the UAE ended, and a new chapter in their relationship began. The relationship has since developed quickly, leading to the conclusion of three major agreements: a comprehensive strategic cooperation agreement in 2017, the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CEPA) in 2022, and the more recent Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) on February 1, 2024.

Reiterating the importance of PM Modi’s visit to the UAE, the ambassador said: “Such visits are very important in keeping the momentum in the relationship...This tells you how important the relationship is.... Cultural harmony is very important, it is a testament to acceptance, tolerance and co-existence. There is no other place like the UAE that could stand tall for its values when it comes to its values of acceptance of all ethnicities...”

Commenting on India-UAE ties, Abdulnasser Jamal Alshaali said, “The first visit (of the prime minister) was the turning point in the relationship. Although India-UAE ties date back several years, and the Indian diaspora have been here for quite some time, things were not happening at the pace that you see today -- thanks to the special bond and the special friendship between the two leaders.”

The bilateral relationship between India and the UAE is strong, and trade ties between the two nations run deep. According to a press statement released by the Ministry of Commerce & Industry on May 1, 2023, the UAE and Saudi Arabia are India’s third and fourth largest trading partners. Also, the UAE is now the fourth-largest source of FDI for India, with a $ 3.5 billion investment.