India and the United Arab of Emirates (UAE) have shared diplomatic ties since 1972.
Dubai’s Crown Prince, Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, arrived in New Delhi Tuesday, marking his first official visit to India. Union Minister of State for Tourism and Petroleum, Suresh Gopi, received the Crown Prince at Palam Airport and was welcomed with a ceremonial guard of honour.
Calling the Crown Prince’s visit a significant milestone in the India-United Arab of Emirates (UAE) relationship, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “Dubai to Delhi! A significant milestone in India-UAE relations. HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai @HamdanMohammed arrived in New Delhi on his first official visit.”
The Crown Prince will be in India from April 8 to 9 at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is set to host a working lunch for him, later today. The two leaders will engage in discussions to strengthen bilateral ties across various sectors, MEA said in a statement.
Earlier, in the day, he also met External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar. In a post on X, Jaishankar expressed warmth upon his arrival and noted he values the positive sentiment of the Crown Prince over the ‘wide-ranging cooperation and vibrant ties’ between the two countries.
Following his engagements in the capital, the Crown Prince will head to Mumbai to participate in a business roundtable with top leaders from both Indian and Emirati business communities. The discussions will center on strengthening trade and investment, with a particular focus on sectors such as infrastructure, energy, fintech, innovation, and sustainability.
Dubai has long been a key hub for India’s commercial and cultural exchanges with the UAE, supported by a large Indian diaspora, many of whom reside in Dubai.
