Sushma Swaraj to visit UAE

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will be paying a three-day official visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) beginning on November 10 at the invitation of her counterpart Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

This will be the External Affairs Minister's first official visit to the UAE during which she will interact with the top leadership there.

The two sides will discuss bilateral, regional and other issues of mutual interest.

The External Affairs Minister will also interact with the Indian community in the UAE.

India enjoys close and multifaceted comprehensive partnership with the UAE. UAE was India's largest trading partner in 2012-13. It is the eleventh largest investor in India in terms of Foreign Direct Investments. It contributes significantly to India's energy security and is the sixth largest supplier of crude oil to India.

About 2.6 million strong and vibrant Indian community forms the largest expatriate group in the UAE. India has vital stakes in the security and stability of the Gulf region, which hosts over seven million Indians. This region is also the source of nearly two-third of India's crude oil requirements and is New Delhi's largest trading partner.