Major General Humaid Mohammed Abdullah Alremeithi, Commander of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Naval Forces, conducted an official visit to India from 07 to 09 July 2025, marking a significant step forward in the bilateral maritime partnership between the Indian Navy and the United Arab Emirates Naval Forces (UAENF). The visit, embedded within the broader framework of India-UAE strategic defense cooperation, focused on advancing mutual interests in maritime security, naval interoperability, and regional stability in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
Major General Alremeithi Paid Tribute at the National War Memorial
The visit commenced on 08 July 2025 with Maj Gen Humaid Alremeithi laying a solemn wreath at the National War Memorial, New Delhi, in homage to Indian Armed Forces personnel who laid down their lives in service to the nation. This gesture of respect and solidarity underscores the shared values between India and the UAE in honoring military sacrifice and commitment to peace.
Following the wreath-laying ceremony, Maj Gen Alremeithi was accorded a Ceremonial Guard of Honour at the South Block Lawns, reflecting the high regard and deep respect extended by the Indian Armed Forces to their UAE counterparts.
High-Level Engagements with Indian Military Leadership
In line with longstanding defense diplomacy between the two nations, Maj Gen Humaid Alremeithi held a comprehensive bilateral meeting with Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Indian Navy. The discussions focused on enhancing operational engagements through joint exercises, coordinated patrols, and structured training programs. Both navies reiterated the importance of capacity building and technological collaboration, especially in maritime domain awareness and anti-piracy operations.
Additionally, the UAE Navy Chief interacted with General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Indian Armed Forces, where the conversation centered on tri-services cooperation, regional maritime challenges, and evolving security dynamics in the Indo-Pacific and Gulf regions.
These engagements are in alignment with India’s Act East and Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) policies, which aim to strengthen maritime cooperation with likeminded nations for ensuring a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific.
Enhancing Bilateral Maritime Cooperation
The visit of Maj Gen Humaid Alremeithi holds strategic relevance in the context of increasing naval cooperation between India and the UAE. The two nations have conducted several joint naval drills, port calls, and information exchanges in recent years, aimed at bolstering interoperability, enhancing maritime domain awareness, and countering transnational maritime threats such as smuggling, illegal fishing, and maritime terrorism.
India and the UAE have also emphasized the role of their navies in supporting humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) missions, ensuring secure sea lanes of communication, and contributing to peacekeeping operations under the aegis of the United Nations.
Furthermore, the establishment of defense industrial collaboration and joint research initiatives has been identified as a key pillar in future engagements. With the UAE’s expanding naval capabilities and India’s indigenous shipbuilding expertise under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative, both countries are well-positioned to explore co-development and co-production opportunities.
Strategic Significance in the Indian Ocean Region
The Indian Ocean Region is witnessing increasing strategic competition and security challenges. As two major maritime stakeholders, India and the UAE are committed to maintaining regional peace, ensuring freedom of navigation, and upholding a rules-based international order.
Maj Gen Humaid Alremeithi’s visit is therefore not only symbolic but also operational in nature, reinforcing the strategic convergence between New Delhi and Abu Dhabi. It serves as a timely reaffirmation of both nations’ resolve to deepen defense cooperation and promote regional maritime security.
A Significant Milestone In India-UAE Naval Diplomacy
The official visit of Major General Humaid Mohammed Abdullah Alremeithi to India represents a significant milestone in India-UAE naval diplomacy. Through high-level military dialogue, ceremonial engagement, and shared strategic objectives, the visit has laid the groundwork for an expanded maritime partnership in the years ahead.
As India and the UAE continue to navigate the evolving security landscape of the Indian Ocean Region, the strengthened naval relationship between the two nations is poised to serve as a stabilizing force and a model for regional cooperation.
