Delhi, India
India is set to further strengthen its diplomatic and strategic engagement with the Gulf region as the External Affairs Minister prepares for an official visit to the United Arab Emirates later this month. The announcement was made in Delhi by Randhir Jaiswal, who outlined India’s ongoing efforts to deepen ties with key partners in the region.
According to Randhir Jaiswal, S. Jaishankar will undertake an official visit to the United Arab Emirates from April 11 to 12, 2026. During the visit, he is expected to meet the UAE leadership to review the existing cooperation between the two countries and explore ways to further strengthen their comprehensive strategic partnership.
He stated that the visit will focus on enhancing bilateral cooperation and reinforcing the strong diplomatic and economic relationship between India and the UAE.
India and the United Arab Emirates share close ties across multiple sectors, including trade, energy, investment, and people to people connections. The visit is expected to provide an opportunity to review ongoing initiatives and identify new areas of collaboration.
Randhir Jaiswal also highlighted that India is actively engaging with other countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council region as part of its broader diplomatic outreach. These engagements are aimed at strengthening partnerships in areas such as energy security, economic cooperation, and regional stability.
He noted that alongside the External Affairs Minister’s visit, India’s Petroleum Minister is also visiting the region, underlining the importance of energy cooperation with Gulf nations.
As part of this outreach, Hardeep Singh Puri is scheduled to visit Qatar from April 9 to 10, 2026. His visit is expected to focus on discussions related to energy supplies, investments, and long term cooperation in the energy sector.
The simultaneous high level visits reflect India’s strategic focus on strengthening ties with Gulf nations, which play a crucial role in India’s energy security and economic growth.
The Gulf region remains a key partner for India, not only for energy imports but also for trade, investment, and the presence of a large Indian diaspora. Strengthening relations with these countries continues to be a priority for India’s foreign policy.
With back to back high level visits planned, India’s engagement with the UAE and other GCC countries is expected to gain further momentum, reinforcing long standing partnerships and opening new avenues of cooperation.
