Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to the United Arab Emirates on May 15 with energy security, strategic investments and deeper technology cooperation set to dominate discussions with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Ministry of External Affairs officials said on Wednesday.The UAE leg will mark the beginning of Modi’s five-nation tour spanning the Gulf and Europe from May 15 to 20, amid growing geopolitical uncertainties in West Asia and India’s increasing push to secure long-term energy partnerships.Official sources indicated that the two countries could sign agreements on “strategic oil reserves and LPG” during PM Modi’s high-stakes stopover in Abu Dhabi.Addressing a special media briefing ahead of the visit, Secretary (West) Sibi George said the discussions between the two leaders would focus on strengthening the “comprehensive strategic partnership” across trade, investment, technology, energy, culture and people-to-people ties.“Discussions will also focus on strengthening our energy security. I repeat, energy security, which is an important aspect of our relationship,” George said, underlining the centrality of the UAE in India’s energy matrix.The visit comes against the backdrop of heightened tensions in the Gulf region and concerns over maritime security around the Strait of Hormuz, through which a significant portion of India’s crude imports pass.The MEA said the UAE currently accounts for nearly 11 per cent of India’s crude oil requirements, making it India’s fourth-largest crude supplier. Abu Dhabi has also emerged as a key long-term LNG partner for India, with Indian firms signing cumulative supply agreements of 4.5 million metric tonnes per annum with ADNOC Gas.Additional Secretary (Gulf) Aseem Mahajan said recent deals signed by Indian public sector companies, including IOC, GAIL and HPCL, had further deepened the energy partnership, making India the largest buyer of UAE LNG.The UAE is also India’s largest supplier of LPG, meeting nearly 40 per cent of the country’s domestic requirement, while Indian companies have invested over $1.2 billion in upstream oil assets in Abu Dhabi.In a significant development, Bharat PetroResources Ltd earlier this year confirmed an oil discovery in Abu Dhabi’s Onshore Block-1 — among India’s first successful upstream investments in the Gulf region.Officials said the two sides were also expected to review cooperation in renewable energy, strategic petroleum reserves and emerging connectivity projects. The UAE was the first country to store crude oil in India’s strategic petroleum reserve facility at Mangaluru.The two nations are additionally exploring electricity grid connectivity and cooperation in green energy projects, including a proposed 60 GW renewable energy initiative in Rajasthan backed by Emirati investments.India and the UAE have witnessed intense high-level engagement over the past year. UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed visited India in January, while Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed participated in the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi earlier this year.Officials described the 4.5 million-strong Indian diaspora in the UAE as a “living bridge” that continues to anchor bilateral ties.The visit is expected to further consolidate India-UAE cooperation in critical sectors at a time when New Delhi is seeking stable energy supplies, resilient trade corridors and stronger strategic partnerships across West Asia.