STRATEGIC INDO - U A E.PARTNERSHIP:

 The United Arab Emirates located in the Southeast of the Arabian Peninsula with an area of  83,600 Sq.KM,bordering Saudi Arabia and Oman became the federation of six Emirates in December 1971 comprising of Abudhabi, Dubai, Sharjah,Ajman,Umm Al- Quwain, and Fujairah, After wards in 1972 Ras Al Khaimah also joined the Federation as the 7th Emirate.After becoming a federation UAE started recieving huge inflows  of petro dollars. Consequently the Emirates embarked upon huge development activities ranging from economic, social and cultural infrastructural projects with the help of imported manpower primarily from countries like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh ,Srilanka and from other countries as well.These  development projects transformed  the country into a major trade,transport and tourism hub.Currenly UAE is the third largest economy of the Middle East with an estimated GDP of US$509 billion in 2023.UAE accounts for 6% of the world's oil reserves and seventh largest proven natural gas reserves,wherein majority of oil and gas reserves are largely  located in Abu Dhabi. About 88% of the total 9.97  million population of UAE are expatriates.Indian expatriates in UAE numbering about 3860,000 constitute major segment of 38% of aggregate population of UAE and fourth largest number of overseas Indian diaspora across the world.

In recent years the close rapport between both rulers of India and UAE and their periodical visit to host country made UAE and India not only strategic partners but also most vital linchpin of country's engagement in the Gulf. India is keenly looking eastwards on rising middle powers like UAE,Qatar, Saudi Arabia where they have a large Indian Diaspora.UAE with the soul intention of transforming  the country from an oil based economy to knowledge based economy signed the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) two years ago on February 18 2022 reportedly in a record time of 88 days.Recently India and UAE further signed 8 pacts for greater cooperation and strategic partnership in areas including instant payment system, energy, investment etc .They include domestic debit/credit cards  economic corridor interlinking, digital payment platforms, cooperative digital infrastructure projects etc.This led to the comprehensive strategic partnership across vital sectors like trade and investment, digital infrastructure,fintech, energy infrastructure, culture and people to people ties.Noticably the two sides signed the agreement interlinking instant payment platform UPI(India) and AANI(UAE) to facilitate seamless cross border transactions.This facility is particularly convenient to Indian diaspora.With regard to developing talent knowledge and culture the setting up of IIT Delhi campus in Abudhabi and their master program in Energy Transition and Sustainability and also CBSE move to open Office in Dubai can be welcomed.In any case only accredited and renowned Indian institutions  should be allowed to open their campuses in UAE. 

The UAE-India partnership performed so far strikingly well with bilateral trade reaching US $ 85 billion in 2022-23.,As observed earlier UAE became the third largest trading partner, second largest export destination, and also accounted for the fourth largest overall investor in India.The objective is to achieve the annual merchandise trade of $100 billion and service trade  US $ 115 billion in five years.The recent ratification of bilateral investment treaty will further strengthen Indo UAE strategic co operation.which will  significantly boost bilateral economic development especially in manufacturing sector and foreign direct investment. Mutual convergence in Fintech led to the acceptance of rupee transactions at Dubai Airport and also operationalised a rupee Dirham settlement system.As a result in August 2023 the Indian Oil Corporation made the rupee payment to the Abudhabi National Oil Company for crude oil imports. As a trusted energy partner the agreement between Indian Strategic petroleum Reserves Limited (ISPRL) and Abudhabi National Oil Company to invest in the strategic crude oil storage facility in Mangaluru with an initial investment of $400 million is a major breakthrough both in energy security and energy trade.A 14 year contract by Indian Oil Corporation to buy 1.2 million metric tonnes of Liquified natural gas per year from AbhuDhabi National Oil Company during 2026-39 period which gives another boost to India's energy security. Further Abudhabi Investment Authority intends to make substantial investments in India in the GIFT city of Gujarat. On the other hand India is promoting micro, small and medium enterprise products in places like Dubai's Jebel Ali Free Zone area and other Gulf markets in machinery, electrical and electronics products, auto components, medical equipments, furniture, apparel, processed foods,pharmaceuticals, cosmetics,  handicrafts and also other products catering to diaspora population. Even though India has a number of strategic partnership agreements across the world the mutual trust and coordination shown by both UAE and India are exemplary. They are also part of important groupings like West Asia Quad comprising of UAE, India, USA, and Israel and also part of India Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor ( IMEEC).

Moreover as per the request of Indian  Prime Minister and as a part of UAE's  policy to promote cultural diversity, tolerance and peace the Government  built BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abudhabi which was inaugurated by Indian Prime Minister recently primarily for the benefit of Indian diaspora.It has been observed that it stood as the symbol of universal brotherhood  because the land(27 acres )for the place of worship was contributed by the Muslim ruler(UAE president),the project was designed by a catholic Christian and the construction was managed by a Sikh working for a Parsi firm .In nutshell replication of such  healthy formula can be emulated by rulers in other countries or any other part of the globe so as  to maintain tolerance ,fraternity, peace and happiness to all segments of the  society.  In any case the Strategic partnership  between India and UAE is bound to sustain as long as the close contact between the rulers and people to people remain strong and intact.