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 expected to last around two hours.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. According to the ministry of external affairs (MEA), the visit builds on the momentum generated by recent high-level exchanges, including the September 2024 visit of Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the April 2025 visit of Dubai Crown Prince and UAE deputy prime minister Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.Talks between PM Modi and Sheikh Mohamed are scheduled for later in the evening and are expected to focus on advancing the India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, as well as an exchange of views on regional and global issues of mutual interest, the 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 coincides 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)
