India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are boosting their defence cooperation thanks in large part to the Dubai Air Show 2025.
Sanjay Seth, India’s Minister of State for defensive, and Mohammed Mubarak Al Mazrouei, the UAE’s Minister of State for Defence Affairs, had important strategic talks at the event, indicating a growing partnership in defensive technology, training, and industrial cooperation.
Both presidents decided to institutionalise regular bilateral contacts and collaborative participation in defence exhibits and exercises during their high-level meeting. The goal of this organised engagement is to guarantee ongoing communication and the successful execution of cooperative defence projects. It is anticipated that regular communication between the two ministries will speed up coordination on exchanges of operational training, logistics assistance, and technology.
The possibility of collaborative research, co-development, and co-production of military equipment was a major topic of discussion. India urged the UAE to collaborate on the creation of new systems and take advantage of each other’s cutting-edge technological know-how.
Unmanned platforms, precision-guided weapons, and electronic warfare systems—areas in which both countries are making significant investments—may be included in this cooperation.
These cooperative production frameworks support the UAE’s emphasis on self-reliance through its “Operation 300 billion” industrial plan and are in line with India’s “Make in India” and “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” goals. Both nations might be positioned as complementary centres for innovation and export-oriented defence production if they engage in mutual defence manufacture.
Sanjay Seth opened the India Pavilion, which showcases the country’s advancements in aerospace technology and military production, to emphasise India’s presence at the airshow. The pavilion showcases cutting-edge avionics, unmanned aerial vehicles, indigenous fighter aircraft systems, and futuristic platform designs, all of which demonstrate India’s increasing defence R&D maturity.
The BRAHMOS missile stall’s opening significantly increased awareness of India’s cutting-edge weaponry. International delegations were very interested in BRAHMOS, a supersonic cruise missile developed jointly by Russia and India. The missile’s adaptability—it can be launched from air, land, and sea platforms—demonstrates India’s growing proficiency in precision attack technologies, which may be of interest to Middle Eastern allies.
The increasing contribution of Indian entrepreneurs to the defence industry was highlighted by Seth’s visit to the Vista Startup Zone. Fifteen Indian companies showcased their ideas, including composite aerospace materials, AI-based surveillance, and futuristic avionics, through the Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) initiative. These initiatives reflect India’s move to combine commercial innovation with the country’s defence objectives.
Additionally, the platform offers Emirati businesses and investors the chance to work with Indian startups, especially in fields like smart materials, autonomous systems, and next-generation propulsion technologies. Such cooperation might boost both countries’ defensive industrial bases and result in reciprocal economic gains.
Defence relations between the United Arab Emirates and India have been gradually expanding beyond traditional trade to include intelligence sharing, marine security, and counterterrorism collaboration. The conversations at the Dubai Airshow 2025 represent an advancement in the integration of these important domains with technical cooperation.
The two countries might establish a new standard for South-South defence cooperation by fusing India’s defence R&D skills with the UAE’s industrial and investment potential. Additionally, both nations’ roles as regional security partners in the Indo-Pacific and West Asian arenas are strengthened by this synergy.
Senior representatives from the Department of Defence Production, the Ministry of Defence, and the Ministry of External Affairs make up the Indian delegation, which demonstrates New Delhi’s dedication to strengthening bilateral ties. Future policy-level discussions on enhancing operational cooperation, including joint exercises and technology transfer, will have a forum thanks to the event.
India’s active involvement in the Air Show highlights its expanding power in the international aerospace and defence industries. Their shared goal of regional stability backed by technology-driven modernisation and economic cooperation is strengthened by the renewed engagement with the UAE.