Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said the UAE leader’s visit to India was short, but extremely substantive. The UAE President’s visit lasted for a few hours. UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan arrived in New Delhi for a brief, yet crucial visit, on Monday. Al Nahyan was received by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at an airport in New Delhi. The West Asian leader’s visit to India comes amid heightened tensions in West Asia. In a notable gesture, PM Modi personally received UAE President at the airport and the two leaders also shared a ride as they left from the airport.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, in a press briefing, said the UAE leader’s visit to India was short, but extremely substantive. The UAE President’s visit to New Delhi lasted for a few hours. “This was a short but extremely substantive visit. His Highness was received at the airport personally by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a special gesture that is characteristic of the extremely warm and close relationship the two leaders share,” Misri told the briefing.
PM Modi, in a post on X, said that the UAE leader’s visit to India “illustrates the importance he attaches to a strong India-UAE friendship.” “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 prime minister’s social media post read.
PM Modi later welcomed Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and his family at his official residence at Lok Kalyan Marg in the national capital. Misri said that that the two leaders held discussions in both restricted and expanded formats, with delegation members engaging with each other. “A number of documents were also exchanged in the presence of the leaders. The importance of this visit can be gauged by the composition of the delegation accompanying the UAE President,” he added.
Monday’s visit is Sheikh Mohamed’s third official visit to India since assuming office as President of the United Arab Emirates, and his fifth visit to the country in the past decade. Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented traditional Indian gifts to the UAE President and his family. The prime minister gifted the UAE President a Royal Carved Wooden Jhula (swing), a Pashmina Shawl in an ornate silver box, and Kashmiri Saffron. The hand-carved wooden swing features intricate floral and traditional motifs, reflecting Gujarat’s rich artisanal heritage. In Gujarati culture, the jhula symbolises togetherness, dialogue and bonds across generations. He also gifted him a Pashmina Shawl in an ornate silver box. The Pashmina shawl comes from Kashmir and is made by hand from very fine wool, making it soft, light and warm.
