UAE to Establish India House and Declare Yoga a Competitive Sport
The UAE and India are strengthening cultural ties with plans to build India House in Abu Dhabi as a hub for art, culture, and student exchanges. Both nations are also working to officially recognize yoga as a competitive sport in the UAE, which would be a first in the Gulf. These initiatives follow high-level meetings of the India-UAE Cultural Council, highlighting the deepening strategic partnership beyond trade.
The UAE is set to establish India House, a new cultural landmark in Abu Dhabi, to serve as a center for promoting Indian art, culture, and student exchanges, and to highlight the shared history between the two nations. The project, expected to be realized within a couple of years, was discussed during the second Joint Steering Committee Meeting of the India-UAE Cultural Council in Abu Dhabi, which included representatives from various Indian ministries and UAE leadership. In addition, the UAE is preparing to officially recognize yoga as a competitive sport, reflecting its popularity in the country and its large Indian community. This move would make the UAE the first Gulf country to grant yoga full sporting status, with a national framework under development through the UAE Yoga Committee. India House is envisioned as both a platform for showcasing India’s artistic heritage and contemporary creativity, and as a hub for yoga training. The initiatives underscore the importance of cultural diplomacy in the broader India-UAE strategic partnership, building on previous high-level meetings and a 2022 cultural MoU. Further discussions around these projects included collaborations with academic and cultural institutions in Abu Dhabi, reinforcing the commitment to people-to-people ties, especially among youth.
