New Delhi: Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince Sheikh Khalid bin Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan arrived in India on Sunday for a two-day official visit. This marks his first visit to the country, where he received a warm welcome in Delhi.
During his visit, Crown Prince Al Nahyan will hold discussions on enhancing bilateral relations with India, focusing on key areas such as energy and connectivity, against the backdrop of rising tensions in West Asia.
Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince receives grand welcome in India
Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal welcomed the Crown Prince at the airport. The Ministry of External Affairs’ spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, shared the information of Al Nahyan’s arrival on X.
He said, “His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi arrived in Delhi on his first official visit to India. Warmly received by @CimGOI @piyushgoyal and accorded a ceremonial welcome.”
🇮🇳-🇦🇪| A new milestone in a historic relationship.
His Highness Shk Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi arrived in Delhi on his first official visit to India.
Warmly received by @CimGOI @piyushgoyal and accorded a ceremonial welcome. pic.twitter.com/ZDDDDP6ppw
— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) September 8, 2024
Accompanying the Crown Prince are several ministers from the UAE government and a business delegation. After his meetings in Delhi, Al Nahyan is scheduled to travel to Mumbai.
Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince’s Mumbai schedule
In Mumbai, top business leaders from both India and the UAE will participate in high-level discussions aimed at exploring business and investment opportunities.
The Indian Foreign Ministry has highlighted that this visit will boost the already strong ties between the two nations, with potential new partnerships emerging in various sectors. Crown Prince Al Nahyan’s visit follows years of strengthening ties between India and the UAE, which began to intensify after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s historic visit to the UAE in August 2015.
Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince will meet PM Modi on this day
On Monday, Prime Minister Modi is set to meet the Crown Prince to discuss ways to enhance cooperation between the two nations. Relations between India and the UAE have reached a new level, with both countries sharing a comprehensive strategic partnership. In 2022-23, the bilateral trade between India and the UAE amounted to approximately US$ 85 billion, placing them among each other’s top trading partners.
In addition to trade, the UAE is one of India’s leading foreign investors. The UAE ranked among the top four investors in India in 2022-23, further deepening economic ties. With approximately 3.5 million Indians residing in the UAE, the relationship between the two countries is bolstered by strong people-to-people connections.
In 2023, the UAE was also invited as a special guest country to the G20 summit, which was chaired by India.