India, the United Arab Emirates and France have adopted a structured roadmap to deepen their trilateral cooperation, prioritising strategic areas including artificial intelligence, space collaboration and cultural heritage preservation. The three countries reached the decision at a trilateral meeting in Abu Dhabi on May 7, attended by India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation Reem Al Hashimy, and Martin Briens, Secretary General of France’s Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs.
The partners committed to strengthening the trilateral framework by setting defined timelines and creating institutional mechanisms to guide joint work. Discussions focused on enhancing cooperation in emerging technologies—particularly AI—expanding collaboration in the space sector, and promoting initiatives to safeguard and promote cultural heritage.
The trilateral talks took place during Misri’s official visit to the UAE, where he also reviewed the full range of India-UAE bilateral ties with Emirati officials. In meetings with Reem Al Hashimy, who is also the UAE’s Special Envoy for India, both sides positively assessed progress on initiatives announced during recent high-level visits: UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s trip to India in January and Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s visit in February.
Misri and Emirati counterparts reviewed ongoing cooperation across trade, investment, energy, connectivity, defence and security, fintech, healthcare, education, culture and people-to-people exchanges, and discussed new proposals to deepen the India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. During the visit, Misri also met Khaldoon Al Mubarak, Managing Director and CEO of Mubadala Investment Company.
Officials from India and the UAE exchanged perspectives on developments in West Asia and other regional and global issues of mutual concern. The meeting underscored a growing strategic convergence among India, the UAE and France, with an increasing focus on joint work in technology, connectivity and broader geopolitical matters.
