MoS Defence Seth and UAE Counterpart Meet: Focus on Co-Development to Strengthen Bilateral Ties
DUBAI, UAE: Minister of State for Defence, Sanjay Seth, has encouraged the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to explore opportunities for joint research, co-development, and co-production in the defence sector to significantly deepen bilateral engagement.
The call came during a bilateral meeting with his UAE counterpart, Mohammad Mubarak Al Mazrouei, held on the sidelines of the prestigious Dubai Air Show 2025. The meeting took place on the first day of the Air Show, which runs from November 17-21, 2025, at Dubai World Central (DWC).
During the discussion, MoS Seth highlighted the already strong bilateral engagement between the two nations, which is underpinned by institutional mechanisms, participation in defence exhibitions, and ongoing training cooperation.
A key focus of the Indian delegation’s agenda is to move beyond traditional buyer-seller relationships toward a model of collaborative defence industrial partnership. The Minister’s proposal for joint research and co-production aims to leverage the technological and manufacturing capabilities of both countries.
The bilateral meeting is part of a larger push by India to showcase its burgeoning defence capabilities at the global event. Minister Seth is also scheduled to chair an industry round table, bringing together around 50 companies from multiple nations, including India and the UAE, to further enhance cooperation in defence technology and manufacturing.
India’s participation in the Dubai Air Show 2025 includes a prominent ‘India Pavilion’ featuring key domestic industries like Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), alongside independent displays from 19 Indian defence companies and 15 Indian start-ups. The Indian Air Force is also participating with the Suryakiran Aerobatic Team and the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas.
The bilateral dialogue between Minister Seth and Mr. Al Mazrouei is expected to pave the way for more substantive defence industrial agreements in the coming months, building on the strategic partnership between India and the UAE.