New Delhi, Jan 19: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday received United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the Delhi airport, underlining the importance New Delhi attaches to the visit.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the UAE President’s visit to the national capital will last less than two hours. Despite the brief duration, Al Nahyan and Modi are scheduled to hold wide-ranging talks covering key areas of bilateral cooperation.
The visit comes amid heightened tensions in the Middle East, including a sharp deterioration in Iran–US relations, ongoing strains between Saudi Arabia and the UAE over Yemen, and an unsettled political situation in Gaza. Regional developments are expected to figure prominently in the discussions.
Officials familiar with the visit said that trade and investment, defence industry cooperation, and energy initiatives are likely to be high on the agenda. The two leaders are also expected to review progress in bilateral ties following the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) signed in 2022, which has led to a significant rise in trade and people-to-people exchanges.
This is Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s third official visit to India since assuming office as President of the UAE, and his fifth visit to the country over the past decade.
India and the UAE share a close strategic partnership, with cooperation spanning commerce, energy, defence, and regional security.
