Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Monday at the Delhi airport. The meeting is expected to underline the importance of New Delhi’s partnership with Abu Dhabi.
What is PM Modi expected to discuss with the UAE President?
According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the UAE President’s visit is scheduled to last less than two hours. Despite the brief duration, the two leaders are expected to hold wide-ranging discussions on bilateral and regional issues.
The visit comes amid strained Iran–US relations, ongoing tensions between Saudi Arabia and the UAE over Yemen, and a fragile political situation in Gaza. Officials familiar with the visit said discussions on trade and investment, defence industrial cooperation, and energy partnerships are likely to feature high on the agenda.
Both countries are also expected to review their growing economic and strategic engagement.
PM Modi warmly welcomes President Al Nahyan
Prime Minister Narendra Modi later received UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and his family at his official residence on Lok Kalyan Marg in New Delhi. The Ministry of External Affairs said the visit, undertaken at PM Modi’s invitation, builds on the strong momentum created by recent high-level engagements between the two countries.
In a post on X, Prime Minister Modi said the UAE leader’s visit underscored the value he places on the India-UAE partnership. “Went to the airport to welcome my brother, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE. His visit illustrates the importance he attaches to a strong India–UAE friendship. Looking forward to our discussions,” the Prime Minister wrote.
Went to the airport to welcome my brother, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE. His visit illustrates the importance he attaches to a strong India-UAE friendship. Looking forward to our discussions.@MohamedBinZayed pic.twitter.com/Os3FRvVrBc
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 19, 2026
The UAE President’s visit to India is expected to last around two hours, during which he will hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Modi later this evening. Monday’s trip marks Sheikh Mohamed’s third official visit to India since assuming office as UAE President and his fifth visit to the country in the past decade.
UAE President’s third visit
Since becoming President of the UAE, this marks Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s third official visit to India. He has visited the country five times in total. India maintains close diplomatic ties with both Riyadh and Abu Dhabi, even as the two Gulf nations increasingly compete for strategic influence in West Asia and Africa, particularly amid ongoing instability in Yemen.
India and the UAE also share a strong energy partnership, marked by long-term energy supply agreements, the MEA said.
