Blitz Bureau
IN a significant display of growing maritime cooperation between India and the United Arab Emirates, the Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) Shoor visited Abu Dhabi for a weeklong participation in two major defence exhibitions. The advanced Offshore Patrol Vessel arrived on February 15 to join the Naval Defence Exhibition & Conference (NAVDEX 2025) and International Defence Exhibition (iDEX 2025), running through February 21.
The India Pavilion displayed cuttingedge defence technologies, including advanced warships, guided missile systems, precision-guided munitions, electronic warfare systems, and AIdriven defence solutions. Leading defence public sector undertakings (DPSUs) such as Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL), Munitions India Limited (MIL), BEML Limited, Yantra India Limited (YIL), and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) participated, along with startups under the iDEX initiative, reflecting India’s expanding defence capabilities.
The visit of Shoor serves multiple strategic objectives, beyond showcasing India’s maritime capabilities, it advances the country’s SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) initiative, aimed at fostering maritime safety and economic development across the region.
Commanding Officer DIG Dushyant Kumar highlighted the visit’s technical achievements, noting successful demonstrations of the ship’s remotely operated life Buoy system to UAE Navy representatives. “These interactions allow us to share expertise while learning from our counterparts’ operational strategies,” Kumar said. The delegation conducted extensive meetings with UAE maritime agencies, focusing on strengthening coordination in areas including search and rescue operations, environmental protection, and anti-piracy measures.
This goodwill visit of ICGS shoor comes at a time of expanding defence relationships between India and the UAE. The ICGS Shoor’s presence at these prestigious defence exhibitions signals India’s growing influence in international maritime affairs and its dedication to fostering strategic partnerships in the region.
