New Delhi/Fujairah: India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are working on a new agreement aimed at facilitating the evacuation of Indian workers through Fujairah port during emergencies.
The proposed agreement is likely to be signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s stopover in Fujairah on his way to his Europe visit. This will add another layer to the growing strategic partnership between the two countries, experts say.
The Indian Prime Minister is scheduled to depart for Europe on May 15, with a stop in Fujairah before continuing to the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway and Italy.
The ongoing Middle East crisis has disrupted air travel, leaving thousands, including migrant workers, stranded in countries like the UAE.
In the event of future air traffic disruptions, lakhs of Indians working in the UAE could be evacuated by sea through Fujairah, located west of the Strait of Hormuz, the government believes. The Gulf region is home to nearly 10 million Indian workers, including around 4.3 million in the UAE, as reported by News18.
Even as access to the Dubai port remains restricted due to the conflict, Fujairah has emerged as a key alternative shipping route. The port had earlier been projected as a major hub under the proposed India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor. Khor Fakkan is another port currently being used for cargo movement, with goods transported onward by road.
Iran has reportedly targeted Fujairah because of its growing strategic importance. A recent strike on an oil facility at Fujairah left three Indians injured.
PM Modi had condemned the attack. His visit is being viewed as a signal of India’s support for the UAE. The visit comes amid the UAE’s decision to exit OPEC due to reported differences with Saudi Arabia. Analysts believe India could benefit from closer energy ties with the UAE, particularly as Saudi Arabia continues to impose an Asian premium on crude exports.
Iran, meanwhile, is said to have conveyed its response to the latest US proposal aimed at ending the 10-week conflict, according to the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency.
Trump’s proposal reportedly included allowing passage through the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for Washington ending its blockade on Iranian ports within a month. Further negotiations over Iran’s nuclear programme were expected later.
Despite a ceasefire, tensions remain high in the Gulf. On Sunday, a drone strike briefly set a cargo vessel ablaze off the coast of Qatar. The UAE and Kuwait have also reported intercepting hostile drones, weeks after both countries faced attacks linked to the regional conflict.
