NewsGate Press Network

The Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on an ambitious visit to UAE and Europe beginning on Friday the 15th of May 2026.

Briefing reporters on Wednesday, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that it will be PM’s first visit to any West Asian country since the conflict in the region.

The six-day journey, spanning from May 15 to 20, will see Modi travelling to the UAE before heading to a cluster of four European nations to fortify India’s global footprint.

Addressing a special media briefing, MEA Secretary (West) Sibi George detailed the itinerary, stating that “Prime Minister Narendra Modi will undertake a five-nation tour from May 15-20, covering the UAE and four European countries — the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, and Italy”.

This diplomatic circuit is strategically designed to bolster energy security and accelerate India’s transition to advanced technologies at a time when the global landscape is rattled by supply disruptions.

The Prime Minister’s mission begins with a “short halt in the UAE” on May 15 for a pivotal meeting with President Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

According to MEA the leaders will “discuss bilateral ties, energy cooperation and regional issues,” an engagement that underscores a “pressing requirement to secure India’s energy imports” as the “effective” closure of the Strait of Hormuz has severely “stressed global energy markets”.

This meeting carries significant weight as “India and the UAE share a comprehensive strategic partnership, with over 4.5 million Indians living there”.

After UAE’s visit Modi will embark to Europe from 15th to 17th.

Reflecting on the significance of the diplomatic milestone, Sibi George remarked that this represents the Prime Minister’s “second visit after 2017 — at a crucial moment in bilateral relations,” signalling a pivotal chapter for India’s engagement on the world stage.

These diplomatic engagements are framed by a major milestone, coming “in the backdrop of the India-EU FTA that we finalised earlier this year.

“Following the Dutch leg, the Prime Minister go to Scandinavia, visiting Sweden and Norway, nations viewed by New Delhi as “key to New Delhi’s transition to green and emerging technologies.”

A highlight of the tour is Modi’s arrival in Norway for the third India-Nordic Summit in Oslo on 18th of May 2026.

It may be recalled that this visit to Norway was originally “postponed last year in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terrorist attack and Operation Sindoor.

The Nordic region’s visit is further strengthened by Norway’s existing free trade agreement with India, which “came into effect in October 2025,” providing a robust foundation for new pacts in “health and digital public infrastructure.”

After the Nordic region the Prime Minister will wrap up his multi-nation tour with a visit to Italy between 19th and 20th of May 2026 further expanding India’s diplomatic reach across both Europe and the Middle East.

In this final leg, the two nations look to “deepen engagements in defence and strategic sectors” following the Italian Defence Minister’s recent visit to New Delhi.

Not to forget that Italy is also aggressively positioning itself as a key player, a “gateway to Europe” under the proposed India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC).