UAE Delegation visits ICG facilities to strengthen regional maritime security
VINOD BHAT
NEW DELHI, Jan 28: A high-level delegation of the United Arab Emirates National Guard Command (UAE NGC) is on an official visit to India from January 26 to 31, 2026, with the objective of strengthening training cooperation and capacity-building initiatives with the Indian Coast Guard (ICG).
The delegation is led by Brigadier Staff Khalid Obaid Thani Al Shamsi, Acting Commander, Coast Guard Group, UAE. According to the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Indian Coast Guard, Commandant Amit Uniyal, the visit reflects the growing strategic partnership between India and the UAE in the maritime security domain and aims to translate existing agreements into tangible outcomes.
During the visit, Brigadier Al Shamsi paid a courtesy call on the Director General, Indian Coast Guard, at New Delhi. This was followed by a bilateral meeting co-chaired by the Deputy Director General (Operations & Coastal Security), ICG, and the Acting Commander of the UAE National Guard Command.
“As per the Indian Coast Guard PRO, the discussions focused on modalities for enhancing mutual cooperation and further strengthening professional ties between the two maritime agencies,” the statement said.
The deliberations placed special emphasis on training collaboration, professional exchanges, and capacity-building initiatives across core Coast Guard functions, including maritime safety, coastal security, pollution response, and search and rescue operations.
As part of the programme, the UAE delegation is scheduled to visit key Indian Coast Guard training establishments in Chennai, notably the Regional Marine Pollution Response Centre (RMPRC) and the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC).
According to the PRO, these visits are intended to familiarise the delegation with the training infrastructure, operational procedures, and curriculum offered by the Indian Coast Guard. The ICG regularly conducts specialised courses for personnel from Friendly Foreign Countries, covering critical areas such as Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Cooperation (OPRC), MRCC operations, and Maritime Search and Rescue (SAR).
Officials noted that the exposure will help identify new avenues for structured training engagement and institutional collaboration between the two forces, particularly in addressing shared maritime challenges in the region.
“The visit underscores the shared commitment of India and the UAE to operationalise the Memorandum of Understanding through structured training engagement and institutional cooperation,” the PRO said, adding that such engagements would further strengthen bilateral maritime cooperation, while contributing to maritime safety and security in the wider region.
The Indian Coast Guard reiterated that the growing cooperation with the UAE National Guard Command reflects India’s role as a reliable partner in regional maritime capacity building and security cooperation.
