India, UAE sign MoU for planning to establish IIT-Delhi campus in Abu Dhabi

India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish the first international campus of the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT-Delhi) in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE. The MoU was signed on July 16, 2023, in the presence of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was on a day-long visit to the Gulf country.

The MoU reflects the shared vision of both nations to prioritise educational excellence, innovation, knowledge exchange, and investments in human capital as the foundations for future prosperity and enablers of long-term economic growth and sustainable development. The MoU also complements the ongoing UAE-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which aims to boost bilateral trade and investment.

The MoU was signed by Sara Musallam, Minister of State for Early Education, Chairwoman of the Federal Agency of Early Education, and Chairwoman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK); Sunjay Sudhir, Indian Ambassador to the UAE; and Professor Rangan Banerjee, Director of IIT-Delhi.

According to the MoU, IIT-Delhi Abu Dhabi will become operational by January 2024 by offering a master’s programme in energy transition and sustainability. Other bachelor, master’s and Ph.D. level programmes are expected to be offered from September 2024, in addition to establishing research centres in the fields of sustainable energy, climate studies, computing, and data sciences.

IIT-Delhi is one of India's leading technical education and research institutions, ranked among the top 50 engineering colleges in the world by QS World University Rankings 2023. It has over 11,000 students and 700 faculty members across various disciplines of engineering, science, management, humanities and social sciences. IIT-Delhi Abu Dhabi will be the second IIT campus abroad after Tanzania, where IIT-Delhi established a Centre for Excellence in ICT in 2018.

The establishment of IIT-Delhi Abu Dhabi will strengthen the long-standing bilateral ties between India and the UAE, which share a strategic partnership based on common values and interests. The two countries have also agreed to enhance cooperation on climate ambition, decarbonization, clean energy, maritime security and connectivity, defence exchanges, and counter-terrorism.

The IIT-Delhi Abu Dhabi campus will also contribute to Abu Dhabi's vision of becoming a global hub for innovation and knowledge-based economy. It will attract high-caliber faculty, researchers and student talent from both countries and beyond, and foster an environment that nurtures creativity and excellence.

Source: 

(1) India, UAE sign MoU for planning to establish IIT-Delhi campus in Abu Dhabi. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/services/education/india-uae-sign-mou-for-planning-to-establish-iit-delhi-campus-in-abu-dhabi/articleshow/101793172.cms.

(2) IIT Delhi to establish campus in Abu Dhabi’ strengthening India-UAE .... https://www.financialexpress.com/education-2/iit-delhi-to-establish-campus-in-abu-dhabi-strengthening-india-uae-educational-ties/3172181/.

(3) India’s IIT-Delhi to set up first international campus in Abu Dhabi .... https://gulfnews.com/uae/government/indias-iit-delhi-to-set-up-first-international-campus-in-abu-dhabi-with-adek-1.1689442549207.

(4) Indian Institute Of Technology (IIT) Expands Globally With Campus In Abu Dhabi. https://www.thehansindia.com/news/national/indian-institute-of-technology-iit-expands-globally-with-campus-in-abu-dhabi-809390.

(5) India, UAE ink pact to set up IIT campus in Abu Dhabi. https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/other/india-uae-ink-pact-to-set-up-iit-campus-in-abu-dhabi/ar-AA1dVexU.

FAQ's

What is the bond between India and UAE?

In 1975, UAE and India signed an agreement to deepen their cultural ties. Both countries agreed to cooperate in art, culture, and education, including academic activity in science and technology, sports, public health and mass media. There are currently over 3 million Indians living in UAE.

What India and UAE have signed?

The historical India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) was signed on February 18, 2022 during the virtual summit attended by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President of the UAE Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Who owns UAE National Bonds?

The Investment Corporation of Dubai National Bonds is a private joint stock shareholding company, established in March 2006 with a paid-up capital of AED 150 million. It is 100% owned by The Investment Corporation of Dubai, the investment arm of Dubai government.

Has any Indian got UAE citizenship?

Five Indians got UAE citizenship Jaishankar also provided a list of 135 countries whose citizenship Indians acquired. To a specific query, he said, according to information, five Indian nationals obtained citizenship of the United Arab Emirates during the last three years.