Jaishankar holds talks with Ras Al Khaimah ruler on India-UAE ties, Gulf situation
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, the Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah and a member of the UAE’s Supreme Council, on Friday and discussed bilateral ties and the situation in the Gulf.
Mr. Jaishankar arrived in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday for a three-day visit to review progress in the India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
In a post on X, the External Affairs Minister said it was an honour to meet the ruler. He said he was grateful for Sheikh Saud’s insights on further strengthening India-UAE ties and deepening engagements with the region. He added that the situation in the Gulf also came up for discussion.
Ras Al Khaimah is one of the seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates. It is located near the northernmost point of the country, shares an international border with Oman and stretches along the shore of the Gulf, adjacent to the Strait of Hormuz.
The meeting followed Mr. Jaishankar’s talks with his UAE counterpart, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, on Wednesday. The two ministers exchanged perspectives on bilateral and global issues.
India and the UAE have expanded cooperation across trade, investment, energy, defence and security in recent years. The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, which came into force in May 2022, has provided a framework for boosting bilateral trade and economic engagement. The agreement aims to reduce tariffs on a wide range of goods and improve market access for services, with the goal of expanding bilateral trade.
The UAE is an important partner for India in the Gulf region. It is home to a large Indian expatriate community and is a key source of energy supplies and investment. According to the Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi, the Indian expatriate community is the largest ethnic community in the UAE, accounting for approximately 35 per cent of the country’s population. The number of resident Indian nationals in the UAE was around 4.3 million in 2024.
India and the UAE elevated their relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2017. The framework covers political, economic, defence, security and people-to-people ties, among other areas. High-level visits are used to review progress and identify ways to deepen cooperation.
The India-UAE relationship has grown across several areas in recent years. The two countries cooperate in trade, investment, energy, defence and security, as well as in people-to-people contacts. The UAE hosts a large Indian diaspora, and Indian professionals and workers form an important part of the country’s labour force. The UAE is also a major source of remittances for India.
The UAE’s Supreme Council is the country’s highest constitutional authority and includes the rulers of the seven emirates. Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi has been the Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah since 2010.
The Strait of Hormuz, near Ras Al Khaimah, is a strategically important waterway for global energy shipments. The remarks did not provide further details about the discussion on the Gulf situation.
