Dubai | India has deepened its diplomatic and economic ties with the Gulf Cooperation Council region this year with Prime Minister Narendra Modi visiting three of the six GCC countries – including Kuwait where no Indian PM had been after Indira Gandhi.
As 2024 unfolded, a renewed focus on strategic partnerships in the region took centre stage, with Abu Dhabi serving as the pivotal gateway to this robust alliance.
From high-profile visits to pivotal agreements, the story of India and the GCC, an influential grouping comprising the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait, is a dynamic one.
Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE, became Prime Minister Narendra Modi's first GCC destination in 2024.
The India-UAE bonhomie has been an ongoing story in recent years, and some layers were added this year.
PM Modi's Abu Dhabi visit may have hogged the limelight due to the much-talked-about inauguration of BAPS Hindu Mandir; it also gathered momentum on substantive bilateral engagements, starting with the UAE and spreading across the GCC.
Bilateral agreements with regional leaders have also constantly been on the table, furthering India's economic and cultural ties in this part of the world.
During the year, Modi also visited Qatar from February 14-15 and Kuwait from December 21-22.
His visit to Kuwait marked the first time in over four decades that an Indian prime minister made the trip, which is particularly significant as Kuwait is currently chairing the GCC.
Several ministers in the Modi government followed in his footsteps in engaging with the region.
In June, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar visited Doha to review bilateral ties, focusing on trade, investment, energy, and security. The two sides have made concerted efforts to deepen strategic partnerships, focusing on economic collaboration, cultural exchange, and regional security.
Bilateral trade between India and the GCC reached approximately USD 161.59 billion in 2024, gathering impetus over the years.
It reflects remarkable growth fuelled by enhanced cooperation in various sectors.
