UAE President’s Two Hour Visit To India: Here’s The Background That It Takes Place In

UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan is scheduled to arrive in India on Monday for a brief official visit expected to last around two hours, according to sources familiar with the matter.

The visit, which takes place at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, comes amid heightened diplomatic churn across West Asia, driven by parallel developments ranging from the Gaza conflict and US regional outreach to unrest in Iran and evolving security alignments involving key regional players.

The Ministry of External Affairs has said the visit builds on a series of recent high-level exchanges between the two countries. These include the September 2024 visit of Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, and the April 2025 visit of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE and Crown Prince of Dubai.

Talks between President bin Zayed and Prime Minister Modi are scheduled to take place in New Delhi later this evening.

Gaza Peace Plan and US Outreach to Regional Players

The timing of the visit coincides with the United States preparing to advance the next phase of the Gaza Peace Plan announced by President Donald Trump. According to US officials, Phase 2 of the plan involves the creation of a National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, tasked with overseeing governance and reconstruction following the cessation of major hostilities.

As part of this process, Washington has intensified consultations with several countries in the region to secure political backing and participation in the proposed administrative framework. Arab states are viewed as central to these efforts, given their financial capacity, diplomatic leverage, and role in post-conflict stabilisation initiatives.

The UAE is among the countries the US has been engaging in this context. Abu Dhabi has maintained active channels with the United States, Israel, and key Arab capitals on Gaza-related issues since the outbreak of the conflict. Regional developments linked to Gaza are expected to feature in discussions during President bin Zayed’s meeting with Prime Minister Modi, alongside other strategic issues.

Protests in Iran and Regional Responses

Another significant development shaping the regional backdrop to the visit is the ongoing unrest in Iran, where protests have been reported across multiple cities. The situation has drawn international attention, with the US administration increasing diplomatic pressure on Tehran in recent weeks.

At the same time, reports indicate that several Arab countries have conveyed concerns to Washington over the prospect of military action against Iran. According to regional diplomatic sources, these countries have cautioned against steps that could further destabilise the region or disrupt energy markets and maritime security.

The UAE, which lies directly across the Gulf from Iran, has consistently emphasised de-escalation and regional stability in its public messaging. India, which maintains diplomatic ties with Tehran and has strategic interests linked to connectivity, energy, and regional balance, has also been closely monitoring developments. The evolving situation in Iran forms part of the wider strategic context surrounding the UAE President’s visit.

The Saudi–UAE Split and Shifting Gulf Alignments

The visit also takes place at a time when the long-assumed strategic alignment between Saudi Arabia and the UAE is showing visible signs of strain. While the two Gulf states continue to coordinate on several issues, differences in regional priorities and methods have become increasingly apparent.

These divergences are most clearly visible in conflict zones such as Yemen and Sudan, where Riyadh and Abu Dhabi have backed different factions in pursuit of distinct strategic objectives. More broadly, the two countries have taken differing approaches to Islamist groups, regional partnerships, and questions of political legitimacy and sovereignty.

Energy policy has been another source of friction, with disagreements over production baselines and market strategy exposing competing economic priorities within OPEC+. What was once a complementary relationship has gradually evolved into one marked by parallel ambitions and selective cooperation rather than unified action.

For external partners, including India, this shift complicates the regional picture. The Gulf can no longer be viewed as a monolithic bloc, and bilateral relationships with individual states are increasingly shaped by their own evolving strategic calculations. The Saudi–UAE divergence forms an important, if understated, backdrop to diplomatic engagements across the region.

Saudi–Pakistan–Turkey Trilateral Reports

The visit also coincides with reports of emerging security coordination involving Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey. These reports follow a recent military cooperation agreement between Riyadh and Islamabad and have pointed to discussions on a possible trilateral framework.

While official details remain limited, the reported consultations have drawn attention in regional capitals due to their potential implications for security alignments in West Asia and South Asia. Pakistan has long-standing defence ties with Saudi Arabia, while Turkey has been seeking a more assertive role in regional security affairs.

Developments linked to this reported trilateral arrangement are being closely tracked by multiple countries, including India, given their broader impact on regional security dynamics.

India–UAE Engagements Continue

India and the UAE have significantly expanded cooperation across sectors in recent years, including trade, energy, defence, technology, and strategic dialogue. The two countries signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement in 2022, and senior leaders have maintained regular contact through visits and institutional mechanisms.

President bin Zayed’s short visit to India is part of this ongoing engagement and takes place against a backdrop of overlapping diplomatic and security developments across West Asia, underscoring the growing complexity of the regional environment in which India–UAE ties continue to evolve.