Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, arrived in New Delhi on Monday for his inaugural two-day visit to India. This visit is intended to enhance bilateral relations across various sectors. Welcomed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House, Sheikh Khaled’s arrival on Sunday followed a formal invitation from Modi.
The External Affairs Ministry highlighted this diplomatic occasion with photographs of the warm reception, describing Sheikh Khaled as a “close friend.” MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal tweeted about the friendly welcome extended by PM Modi to Sheikh Khaled.
During his visit, Sheikh Khaled is scheduled to meet President Droupadi Murmu and pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat. Accompanied by UAE ministers and a business delegation, this visit marks Sheikh Khaled’s first official trip to India as Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, one of the seven emirates in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Following his engagements in Delhi, Sheikh Khaled will head to Mumbai to attend a business forum, where prominent business figures from both nations will convene on Tuesday.
Following PM Modi’s visit to the UAE in August 2015, the India-UAE relationship was upgraded to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The Ministry of External Affairs noted that this partnership has grown significantly, encompassing politics, trade, investment, energy, technology, education, and culture. In February 2022, the countries signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), and in July 2023, introduced a Local Currency Settlement (LCS) System to streamline transactions in Indian Rupees and UAE Dirhams.
The bilateral trade between India and the UAE reached approximately USD 85 billion in 2022-23, with the UAE being one of the top foreign direct investors in India.
