PM Modi Welcomes UAE President in New Delhi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally welcomed United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at New Delhi's airport on Monday, January 19, 2026, during the UAE leader's brief official visit to India, highlighting the deepening strategic partnership between the two nations.

The visit, lasting approximately two hours, marked a gesture of close personal ties, as Modi deviated from standard protocol to greet Al Nahyan with a warm hug upon his arrival. The leaders later met at Modi's official residence at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg in the evening, where they discussed ways to expand cooperation across key areas. Officials indicated that the talks would cover trade, investment, defense industry collaboration, energy initiatives, and regional security concerns, particularly amid ongoing instability in West Asia, including tensions between Iran and the United States, the situation in Gaza, and the conflict in Yemen.

In a post on X shortly after the arrival, Modi described Al Nahyan as a close friend, writing, "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...