During a brief but important three-hour visit to Delhi’s airport, Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally welcomed UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, highlighting the close relationship between the two leaders.
Images released by Prime Minister Modi showed the Indian leader and his visitor traveling in the same vehicle off the airport as they gave each other a heartfelt embrace. In a post on X, PM Modi referred to the gesture as “my brother,” emphasizing the UAE President’s dedication to strengthening India-UAE relations.
The remarkable relationship between the leaders of the two countries, which is based on regular high-level contacts, is symbolized by this airport reception. The fact that the UAE President’s trip to India just took three hours is evidence of how important and urgent their talks were given the current state of the region. To further personalize the diplomatic encounter, PM Modi included pictures of their automobile journey and embrace.
The visit’s date coincides with rising tensions in West Asia, where tensions between the US and Iran are still high, Gaza is still unstable, and the Yemeni conflict—which directly involves Saudi Arabia and the UAE—shows no signs of ending. The strategic importance of India-UAE discussions is increased by this context, as both countries negotiate common interests in commerce, energy security, and counterterrorism.
Riding the wave of recent engagements, the visit took place at PM Modi’s invitation, according to the Ministry of External Affairs. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, visited in September 2024, and Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince and Deputy Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, who is also the Minister of Defense, visited in April 2025.
This is Sheikh Mohamed’s third official visit to India since assuming the presidency of the United Arab Emirates, and his fifth in the last ten years. Such consistency is indicative of a strong framework of bilateral relations that has developed under both leaders and includes defense cooperation, cultural exchanges, and business collaborations.
The visit coincides with US President Donald Trump’s plans to launch Phase 2 of the Gaza Peace Plan, which exacerbates the regional backdrop. The goal of this project is to establish a National Committee for Gaza’s governance, which might change alliances and attract important Gulf nations like the United Arab Emirates.
In this unstable environment, where New Delhi must manage relations with Iran, Israel, and Arab nations while defending its oil imports and foreign labor force, India’s outreach to the UAE becomes even more crucial. With yearly bilateral trade above £50 billion, the UAE is India’s third-largest economic partner and a crucial base for Indian investments and remittances.
India’s intention to strengthen this cooperation in the face of global uncertainties is indicated by PM Modi’s hands-on welcome, which eschewed procedure for a familial airport meet. The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), a rival to China’s Belt and Road Initiative, was probably discussed along with collaborative ventures in semiconductors, green energy, and artificial intelligence.
With the UAE recently acquiring Indian BrahMos missiles and expanding cooperation in unmanned systems, defense ties also serve as a pillar. In the face of Houthi threats in the Red Sea, increased military exercises and technological transfers were made possible by the visit of the UAE’s defense minister in April 2025.
Sheikh Mohamed’s brief visit belied its depth as he left after productive discussions, strengthening a connection that has no geographical boundaries. In addition to humanizing diplomacy, this episode presents India as a stabilizing factor among the turmoil in West Asia.
