India–United Arab Emirates relations
India–United Arab Emirates relations refers to the bilateral relations that exist between the Republic of India and the United Arab Emirates. Indians also make up the largest minority ethnic group in the UAE, making up roughly 38% of UAE's total residents. India is UAE's largest exports destination & trading partner with bilateral trade turnover of US$ 68.4 billion during the calendar year 2021. UAE's exports to India stood at US$ 43.04 billion while India's exports to UAE stood at US$ 25.4 billion. In 2022 India & UAE signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership  Agreement (CEPA) with an aim of taking bilateral trade to US$ 100 billion within 5 years. History. Early years. Since 3000 B.C, relations between India and the seven emirates which now make up the United Arab Emirates were traditionally close. The UAE and India had enjoyed close and friendly ties based on historic and cultural ties. People-to-people contacts and barter trade for clothes and spices from India in exchange for dates and pearls from the region have existed for centuries. After the creation of the Federation in 1971, India-UAE relations flourished. Today UAE and India share political , economical, and cultural links. There are over a million Indians in the United Arab Emirates, being by far the largest migrant group in the country. 21st century. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visited Abu Dhabi in March 2013. On 16 August 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi began a two-day visit to the UAE, the first state visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the country in 34 years. In 2018, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between India and the UAE on Technical Cooperation in the Rail Sector. It provided a platform for Indian Railways to interact and share  their latest developments and knowledge in the railway sector. On 18 August 2018, Modi described Sheikh Mohammed's humanitarian support for those affected by the Kerala floods that year as "[reflecting] the special ties between governments and people of India and UAE". On 6 August 2019, the UAE backed the decision of the Indian government to pursue passage of the 2019 Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill, with the UAE's Ambassador to India stating: "We expect that the changes would improve social justice and security and confidence of the people in the local governance and will encourage further stability and  peace." In August, 2021, UAE and India signed an agreement under which faculty members from Indian universities will spend six to 10 months every year for undertaking research and teaching social sciences in Abu Dhabi. This agreement was aimed at deepening the academic and cultural ties between the two nations. Economic Relations. The UAE is India's top trading partner in the entire West Asia and North Africa region. According to journalist Ravi S. Jha, Indian exports to the UAE account for 6% of India's global exports. In 2008–09, India emerged as the largest trade partner of the UAE  with bilateral trade between the two countries exceeding $44.5 billion. In 2018–19, India-UAE bilateral trade grew by over 20% and India's exports to UAE grew by 7% whereas the UAE's exports to India surged by 37% to reach US$29.78 billion. A rail tunnel under the sea is being built. It will link the UAE with the western coast of India. The tunnel will be supported by pontoons and will be nearly 2000 kilometres in length. Security Relations. Since 2014, India has worked with UAE on various counter-terrorism issues. In December 2020, Indian authorities in  coordination with UAE had foiled a Pakistani ISI backed-terrorist attack in Delhi. The arrested terrorists consisted of 2 Khalistani and 3 Hizbul Mujahideen members. The head of the cell was arrested in UAE and deported to India. On 4 March 2018, the Indian Coast Guard and Emirati special forces collaborated in a successful operation, requested by Emirati Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and approved by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to intercept a yacht carrying Latifa bint Mohammed Al Maktoum.