NEW DELHI, November 8: India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri held talks in Abu Dhabi on November 1 and 2 with the UAE’s Minister of State for International Cooperation and Special Envoy for India, Reem Al Hashimy, reviewing the two countries’ Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and exchanging views on regional and global developments, the Ministry of External Affairs said. He also met senior Abu Dhabi officials in charge of culture, tourism and finance.
Key highlights
- Main talks: with Reem Al Hashimy, the UAE’s Special Envoy for India, on the full range of the partnership and new areas of cooperation.
- Culture and tourism: met Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of Abu Dhabi’s Department of Culture and Tourism, on cultural links including the “House of India” and tourism.
- Investment: met Jassem Mohamed Bu Ataba Al Zaabi, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Finance and Group CEO of L’IMAD Holding Company, on scaling up investment flows.
- Context: the visit was part of the “regular, high-level engagement” between the two countries, the MEA said.
| Official | Role | Topic |
|---|---|---|
| Reem Al Hashimy | UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation; Special Envoy for India | Review of the strategic partnership; regional and global developments |
| Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak | Chairman, Department of Culture and Tourism, Abu Dhabi | Cultural and creative exchanges, House of India, tourism |
| Jassem Mohamed Bu Ataba Al Zaabi | Chairman, Abu Dhabi Department of Finance; Group CEO, L’IMAD Holding Company | Investment flows and long-term commercial partnerships |
Why the UAE matters to India
The UAE is one of India’s most important partners in the Gulf, for trade, energy, investment and the large Indian community that lives and works there. Talks on investment with Abu Dhabi’s finance department and an Abu Dhabi holding company point to continued interest in channelling Gulf capital into Indian projects. The MEA said the visit “underscored the mutual trust and strategic convergence” behind the relationship.
A busy week for the Foreign Secretary
Two days after the Abu Dhabi talks, Mr Misri was in Kathmandu on November 4 and 5, where he met Nepal’s Prime Minister Balendra Shah to prepare for Mr Shah’s visit to India, as we reported in our story on that visit.
Our calculation
- Mr Misri held three separate meetings in two days, covering diplomacy, culture and tourism, and investment.
What it means for India and Asia
With conflict in the Middle East keeping energy prices high, steady ties with Gulf partners such as the UAE matter for India’s energy security and for the safety of Indian workers in the region. The emphasis on investment and tourism also shows how the partnership has grown beyond oil.
What to watch
- Any new UAE investment announcements in India.
- Progress on cultural projects such as the House of India.
- Further high-level visits between the two countries.
The Abu Dhabi skyline. Image: comedian44, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Photo source · Licence
Sources
- Ministry of External Affairs: Official visit of Foreign Secretary to UAE, November 2, 2026
- Ministry of External Affairs: Joint Press Release, Official visit of Foreign Secretary to Nepal (04–05 November 2026)
The National Desk covers India's politics, governance, security and public-interest news. Stories are checked against at least two credible sources before publication.
