Context

• The 18th BRICS Summit will be held in New Delhi on 12–13 September 2026 under India’s chairship.
• The UAE, a full BRICS member since January 2024, stresses that BRICS should deliver tangible economic benefits rather than remain limited to political declarations.
• BRICS can strengthen economic resilience amid geopolitical tensions, trade restrictions and global supply-chain disruptions.

India’s 2026 BRICS Priorities

• India’s chairship focuses on four pillars:
• Resilience – strengthening economies against external shocks and supply-chain disruptions.
• Innovation – promoting technology, digital cooperation and knowledge-sharing.
• Cooperation – deepening trade, investment and institutional partnerships.
• Sustainability – advancing climate-resilient development and sustainable finance.
• Greater emphasis is needed on practical implementation, stronger representation of the Global South and reform of global economic governance.
• BRICS can facilitate diversification of supply chains, investment flows, technology partnerships and connectivity among member economies.

Development Finance and the NDB

• The New Development Bank (NDB) is a key BRICS institution for converting cooperation into development outcomes.
• It has approved more than $40 billion in financing for infrastructure and sustainable-development projects.
• Greater use of the NDB can support:
• Infrastructure and connectivity.
• Renewable energy and energy transition.
• Climate-resilient development.
• Sustainable urbanisation.
• Stronger BRICS financial mechanisms can provide developing economies with alternatives to traditional sources of development finance.

UAE–India: Model of Practical Cooperation

• India–UAE relations demonstrate how BRICS cooperation can generate concrete economic gains.
• The India–UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) has facilitated trade and investment.
• Non-oil bilateral trade increased by 17% in 2025 to over $76 billion; both countries aim for $200 billion by 2032.
• Cooperation extends beyond trade to investment, technology, education, tourism and people-to-people exchanges.
• The partnership illustrates that successful economic cooperation requires links between governments, businesses, investors, universities and innovators.

Role of the UAE and Way Forward

• The UAE can act as a connector between BRICS economies because of its strategic location, logistics network, ports, airports and financial centres.
• Nearly 79% of UAE GDP came from non-oil activities in 2025, reflecting economic diversification.
• Its sovereign wealth assets exceed $2.9 trillion and it has concluded 38 Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements.
• BRICS should prioritise:
• Easier trade and investment procedures.
• Resilient and diversified supply chains.
• Physical and digital connectivity.
• Greater development financing through the NDB.
• Technology, innovation and green-economy partnerships.
• Stronger business-to-business and people-to-people cooperation.
• The focus should shift from declarations to measurable, implementation-oriented outcomes.

Conclusion

• BRICS can evolve from a grouping for economic coordination into a platform for inclusive growth and shared prosperity.
• India’s 2026 chairship and the UAE–India partnership provide an opportunity to make BRICS more practical, resilient, sustainable and responsive to the priorities of the Global South.