India, UAE Deepen Nuclear Energy, Tech Partnership Amid $100B Trade Surge

India is aggressively advancing its nuclear power agenda, targeting 100 GW capacity by 2047 with significant private sector involvement enabled by legislative amendments to the Atomic Energy Act and Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, aiming to attract global participation and meet international standards. Asia broadly is witnessing a nuclear energy resurgence, with countries like China, South Korea, and Japan expanding nuclear capacity, and innovative small modular reactors (SMRs) gaining traction for their efficiency and suitability for diverse applications. The strategic partnership between India and the UAE is deepening, focusing on nuclear energy, advanced technology, and resilient supply chains, underscored by over $100 billion in bilateral trade and collaborative projects in fintech, education, defense, and aerospace, with plans to integrate digital currency systems and enhance local currency trade settlement. In the Middle East, Bahrain and the US have signed a civil nuclear cooperation agreement emphasizing SMRs, linking nuclear energy development to the AI boom and broader technological transformation, highlighting the Gulf's ambition to shift from oil dependence to becoming AI and digital export hubs. This regional pivot to nuclear energy is part of a larger strategic vision to support sovereign AI systems and sustainable economic growth, with matured SMR technology poised for significant deployment despite ongoing regulatory processes.