UAE and India: A history of friendship and common interests

The United Arab Emirates is keen to extend bridges of cooperation and friendship with the countries and peoples of the world and strengthen its relations with various countries.
On the eve of the official visit to India by His Highness Shaikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, Dr. Hussain Al Thaqafi, Vice-Chancellor of the Islamic University in Kerala has said that UAE-Indian relations enjoy strong bonds of friendship based on historical, deep-rooted and age-old cultural, religious and economic ties and built on mutual respect and common interests, as well as fruitful cooperation in various fields for the development and prosperity of the two countries and their peoples.
Kerala has been one of the important trading posts for Emirati traders since ancient times, and now the UAE and India have strong economic and cultural relations with the Indian expatriate community played an important role in various economic sectors in the country.
Relations between the UAE and India date back to a long period before the discovery of oil in the Arabian Gulf and have developed considerably over the past decades due to political understanding, rapprochement and common economic interests between the two countries.
The UAE is keen on providing a safe and attractive environment for the Indian community that has enabled it to achieve the ambitions and successes in various fields and at all levels.
In this regard, Dr. Hussain Al Thaqafi said that the UAE and its people play a key role in the implementation of a number of humanitarian and development projects in the areas of education, health and infrastructure.
He praised the role of benefactors and philanthropists in the UAE and the stances of charities, including the Emirates Red Crescent (ERC), which has always been a forerunner in the implementation of projects concerning orphans as well as building mosques, water wells, schools and health centres in order to meet people's needs.