Jaishankar Meets Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, Discusses Gulf Situation

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah and a member of the UAE Supreme Council, on Friday, 16 October 2026.

Jaishankar posted on social media that the meeting was an honour and that the ruler shared insights on strengthening India-UAE ties and deepening regional engagement. He noted that the situation in the Gulf also came up for discussion.

The external affairs minister arrived in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, 14 October, for a three-day visit to review progress under the India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. On the first day he held talks with UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Context of the visit

Ras Al Khaimah is the northernmost of the seven emirates that form the UAE. It shares a land border with Oman and lies near the Strait of Hormuz. The emirate has expanded tourism, manufacturing and logistics links with India in recent years.

The Gulf discussion occurred against a backdrop of continued Houthi activity in Yemen, reported attacks or threats involving Saudi infrastructure, and broader regional tensions that have already prompted Indian carriers to suspend flights to Saudi cities.

Jaishankar’s itinerary focuses on bilateral economic and strategic cooperation while also addressing immediate regional security questions that affect Indian citizens and commercial traffic. The meeting with the Ras Al Khaimah ruler adds a sub-national dimension to the partnership review.

Indian officials have emphasised the large Indian diaspora in the UAE and the volume of bilateral trade as reasons for sustained high-level contact. The current visit continues that pattern while incorporating the latest developments in the wider Gulf.