PM Modi Welcomes UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed on India Visit

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

PM Modi personally received UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed in Delhi.
The visit underscores the growing depth of the India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Leaders are expected to discuss bilateral cooperation and global issues of mutual interest.

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday warmly welcomed Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the Delhi airport, underlining the close and evolving ties between India and the United Arab Emirates. The rare personal Reception by the Prime Minister highlighted the significance New Delhi attaches to its partnership with Abu Dhabi.

Sharing the moment on X, PM Modi described the UAE President as “my brother” and said the visit reflects the importance Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed places on strengthening India-UAE friendship.

Third Official Visit as UAE President

This marks Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed’s third official visit to India since assuming office as UAE President, and his fifth visit to the country in the past decade. The frequency of high-level exchanges points to the sustained momentum in bilateral engagement.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the visit builds on recent interactions between the two nations’ leaderships.

Recent High-Level Engagements

The MEA noted that the visit follows several significant exchanges, including the September 2024 visit of Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, and the April 2025 visit of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Crown Prince of Dubai.

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These visits have helped deepen cooperation across political, economic and strategic domains.

Strong Economic and Strategic Ties

India and the UAE share a broad-based relationship anchored in strong political trust, cultural linkages and expanding economic cooperation. The two countries are among each other’s top trading and investment partners, supported by frameworks such as the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), the Local Currency Settlement system and the Bilateral Investment Treaty.

The partnership also includes robust energy cooperation, with long-term supply arrangements forming a key pillar of bilateral ties.

Talks to Focus on New Frontiers

The MEA said the visit will allow both leaders to chart new frontiers in the India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Discussions are also expected to cover regional and global developments where the two sides share a high degree of convergence.

The visit reinforces the growing strategic alignment between India and the UAE amid shifting regional and global dynamics.