UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan arrives in India; energy, trade high on agenda of visit

United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan arrived on Sunday night and will hold talks with his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar to boost cooperation in key sectors such as trade and energy.

The UAE minister will also call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and participate in a business roundtable on Monday.

The visit would provide the two sides with an opportunity to explore new areas of cooperation to further strengthen their comprehensive strategic partnership, Ministry of External Affairs said earlier.

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Sheikh Abdullah's visit comes at a time the issue of energy security is high on India's agenda due to the situation arising out of US sanctions on importing oil from Iran.

The ties between India and the UAE are on an upswing in the last few years.

The UAE is India's third-largest trade partner and fourth-largest energy supplier. The country is also home to 3.3 million-strong Indian community, largest in the Gulf region.

Modi had visited the UAE in August 2015 during which the two countries decided to elevate their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership.

The prime minister also visited the UAE in February last year. As the chair of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, UAE invited India as the 'Guest of Honour' at the 46th Council of Foreign Ministers meeting of the grouping in Abu Dhabi in March this year

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The ties between UAE and India have been such that to mark PM Modi's swearing-in ceremony on May 30, the iconic Adnoc Tower in Abu Dhabi was lit up with the visual of the Indian flag, followed by UAE's Sheikh Mohd Bin Zayed’s handshake with PM Modi and the Abu Dhabi flag.