India to Host Second India–Arab Foreign Ministers’ Meeting After 10-Year Gap

India is set to host the second India–Arab Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (IAFMM) in New Delhi on Saturday, January 31, marking a major diplomatic engagement with the Arab world after a decade-long hiatus.

The meeting will be co-chaired by India and the United Arab Emirates and will bring together foreign ministers from Arab League member states along with the organisation’s secretary general, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.

The first IAFMM was held in Bahrain in 2016, when ministers identified five priority areas for cooperation: economy, energy, education, media and culture. The upcoming meeting is expected to build on this framework and expand political and strategic cooperation.

Strengthening Institutional Ties

The India–Arab Foreign Ministers’ Meeting is the highest institutional mechanism guiding relations between India and the Arab world. The partnership was formally established in 2002 through a memorandum of understanding between India and the League of Arab States (LAS).

A Memorandum of Cooperation to create the Arab–India Cooperation Forum was signed in 2008 and revised in 2013 to streamline its structure. India currently holds observer status in the LAS, which comprises 22 member states.

This will be the first time New Delhi is hosting the IAFMM. Representatives from all 22 Arab countries are expected to attend, including foreign ministers, ministers of state, senior officials and Arab League representatives.

The meeting follows the fourth India–Arab Senior Officials’ Meeting, held on January 30.

Strategic and Regional Significance

Around 15 Arab foreign ministers are expected to participate, officials said. Among those likely to attend is Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hasan al-Shaybani, which would mark the first ministerial-level engagement between India and Syria since the formation of the new government in Damascus.

An Indian diplomat visited Syria in mid-2025, marking India’s first formal outreach since President Ahmed al-Sharaa took office.

The meeting is also taking place amid shifting regional dynamics, including tensions between Saudi Arabia and the UAE over Yemen, Saudi Arabia’s growing engagement with Pakistan and Turkiye, and the UAE’s closer ties with Israel.

Focus on Palestine

Palestinian Foreign Minister Varsen Aghabekian Shahin described the meeting as an important platform for discussing key regional issues, including the situation in Palestine.

She said India’s balanced relations with both Israel and Palestine position it to play a constructive role in promoting dialogue and adherence to international law.

“India is an important player, and we believe that several aspects of the conflict will be discussed,” Shahin said, according to ANI.

She added that India could help advance recognition and dialogue between both sides, given its longstanding diplomatic ties and support for international norms.

Outlook

Officials said the second IAFMM is expected to reinforce India’s engagement with the Arab world across political, economic and cultural domains, while addressing pressing regional and global challenges.

The meeting reflects India’s growing role in West Asia and its efforts to strengthen partnerships with key regional stakeholders.