Published: 18 January 2026Al-MonitorGeneral
India-UAE Sign Strategic Defence Partnership and $3 Billion LNG Deal During Presidential Visit
UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan visited New Delhi on January 19, 2026, signing a Letter of Intent for a Strategic Defence Partnership with India. The LoI covers defence industrial collaboration, innovation and advanced technology, training, special operations, cybersecurity, and counter-terrorism.
Separately, ADNOC Gas and HPCL signed a $3 billion, 10-year LNG supply agreement for 0.5 million tonnes per annum from the Das Island facility. India is now UAE's largest LNG customer. The total value of LNG contracts between ADNOC Gas and Indian companies exceeds $20 billion over the past two years. The two nations also agreed to double bilateral trade to $200 billion by 2032 and deepened nuclear energy cooperation.
0Mains angle
Q: Analyse the strategic significance of the India-UAE Strategic Defence Partnership and $3 billion ADNOC-HPCL LNG deal signed during Sheikh Mohamed's January 2026 Delhi visit.
Answer (50 words):
During UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed's New Delhi visit on January 19, 2026, India signed a Letter of Intent for a Strategic Defence Partnership and ADNOC Gas-HPCL inked a $3 billion 10-year LNG deal for 0.5 million tonnes annually. Both countries targeted doubling bilateral trade to $200 billion by 2032.
6-axis classification
CoverageInternationalSubjectEconomicExamBasic Computer Instructor · CET Graduation · CET Senior Secondary · EO/RO · LDC · Mahila Supervisor · Patwar · PTI · RAS · REET · RPSC SI · School Lecturer · Senior Computer Instructor · Senior Teacher · UPSC · Vanpal · BothSourceAl-Monitor
Practice MCQ from this story
SolveTap an option below. Correct or incorrect feedback appears instantly.
Linked questionMedium
What did India announce regarding its Kabul mission after Muttaqi's visit?
Explanation · Correct answer CIndia announced upgrading its technical mission in Kabul to a full-fledged embassy after Muttaqi's talks.
Frequently asked questions
What was signed during UAE President's visit to India in January 2026?
During UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed's visit on January 19, 2026, India and UAE signed a **Letter of Intent for a Strategic Defence Partnership** and a **$3 billion 10-year LNG supply agreement** between ADNOC Gas and HPCL.
What does the India-UAE Strategic Defence Partnership cover?
The LoI covers **defence industrial collaboration, innovation, advanced technology, training, special operations, cybersecurity, and counter-terrorism**.
What is the India-UAE LNG deal?
ADNOC Gas and HPCL signed a **$3 billion, 10-year LNG supply agreement** for 0.5 million tonnes per annum, strengthening India's energy security.
Who is the UAE President who visited India in January 2026?
**Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan** (MBZ), the UAE President, visited India on January 19, 2026, at PM Modi's invitation.
What is the bilateral trade target set during UAE President's 2026 India visit?
India and UAE agreed to **double bilateral trade to $200 billion by 2032** during the UAE President's January 2026 visit.
