NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday personally received UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the airport in New Delhi, a special gesture asserting the close ties between the two countries, as the visiting leader arrived for a brief but high-level official visit. MBZ’s visit, undertaken at the invitation of Prime Minister Modi, comes amid heightened developments in West Asia.Taking to social media platform X, the Prime Minister said, “Went to the airport to welcome my brother, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE. His visit illustrates the importance he attaches to a strong India-UAE friendship. Looking forward to our discussions.”The PM later welcomed the UAE president and his family at his official residence on Lok Kalyan Marg.As part of the traditional Indian welcome, PM Modi presented a series of cultural gifts to the visiting dignitaries. President MBZ was gifted a Royal Carved Wooden Jhula (swing) from Gujarat, intricately hand-carved with floral and traditional designs. The jhula, a central fixture in many Gujarati homes, symbolizes togetherness, conversation, and intergenerational bonding, resonating with the UAE’s declaration of 2026 as the Year of Family.In addition, PM Modi presented a handmade Kashmiri Pashmina shawl in an ornate silver box from Telangana, representing India’s rich handloom and handicraft tradition. A similar Pashmina shawl was gifted to Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Al Ketbi, accompanied by Kashmiri saffron in an ornate silver box, prized for its deep crimson strands and intense aroma.
What the two leaders discussed
The ministry of external affairs in a media briefing gave the details of the meeting between the two leaders, which according to foreign secretary “extended beyond the scheduled hours” and happened in both “restricted and expanded format.”The meeting was scheduled for 2 hours, but went well past 3 hours, termed “subtantive” in terms of the outcome and also setting the tone and direction of India-UAE ties in the near future. The entourage of MBZ included the members of Royal families of both Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and senior ministers and officials of UAE government, reflecting on the importance of the visit.Talks between PM Modi and president Nahyan focused on advancing the India-UAE partnership, as well as an exchange of views on regional and global issues of mutual interest, the MEA said. Multiple agreements have been signed and agreed upon between the two countries ranging from nuclear and energy cooperation to railways and space. The leaders also discussed taking the bilateral trade between India and UAE to $200 billion by 2032. They also identified AI as a priority sector. The two sides also decided on establishing the “House of India” in Abu Dhabi. This will be a unique cultural space which will have a state of the art museum reflective of India’s ancient culture, and a lasting symbol of India-UAE partnership, foreign secretary said. UAE has one of the largest Indian diaspora in the world, close to 4.5 million people from India currently living and working in the Middle Eastern nation. The Prime Minister expressed his deep appreciation to the UAE president for looking after the interest of the Indian community. Both leaders also discussed the issues in the Middle East and expressed full support for all efforts to promote peace, security, stability, and prosperity in the region. They also unequivocally condemned the cross border terrorism, and for perpetrators, supporters and financiers of all acts of terrorism to be brought to justice. MBZ also expressed support for India’s chairmanship of BRICS grouping this year, and also confirmed UAE high level participation in the AI impact summit that will be held next week, MEA said. This marks Sheikh Mohamed’s third official visit to India since assuming office as UAE President, and his fifth visit to the country in the past decade, reflecting the frequency of top-level engagement between New Delhi and Abu Dhabi.The visit coincided with ongoing diplomatic activity related to West Asia, with the United States preparing to move to the next phase of its Gaza Peace Plan, which includes the proposed National Committee for the administration of Gaza. Prime Minister Modi has been invited by US President Donald Trump to be part of the Gaza Peace Board, according to a White House statement.India and the UAE have seen sustained engagement across political, economic and defence domains in recent months. Earlier this month, Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi visited the UAE to strengthen military cooperation, while external affairs minister S Jaishankar travelled to Abu Dhabi in December for the India-UAE joint commission Meeting and strategic dialogue.India and the UAE share strong political, economic and people-to-people ties, supported by frameworks such as the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), the Local Currency Settlement system and a Bilateral Investment Treaty. The two countries also cooperate closely at multilateral forums including the UN, BRICS, I2U2 and the UAE-France-India trilateral.According to the MEA, Sheikh Mohamed’s short visit provides an opportunity for both leaders to review progress in bilateral ties and identify new areas of cooperation amid evolving regional dynamics.(With inputs from agency)