His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Defence, arrived this morning in the Indian capital, New Delhi, leading a high-level delegation for his first official visit to India.
Upon his arrival at Indira Gandhi International Airport, His Highness and the accompanying delegation were warmly welcomed by His Excellency Suresh Gopi, India’s minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, as well as Tourism. An official reception ceremony was conducted in their honor.
Meetings with Indian leadership
During the visit, His Highness will engage with India’s Prime Minister, His Excellency Narendra Modi, and hold discussions with senior officials to explore opportunities for enhancing bilateral cooperation and strengthening partnerships across key strategic sectors.
His Highness is accompanied by a distinguished high-level delegation that features His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, president of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, chairman of Dubai Airports, and chairman and chief executive of Emirates Airline and Group; His Excellency Mohammad bin Abdullah Al Gergawi, UAE minister of Cabinet Affairs; Her Excellency Reem bint Ebrahim Al Hashimy, UAE minister of State for International Cooperation; His Excellency Dr. Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, UAE minister of Sports; His Excellency Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, UAE minister of Economy; His Excellency Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE minister of State for Foreign Trade; and His Excellency Omar bin Sultan Al Olama, UAE minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications. Additionally, the delegation comprises several senior officials and leaders who represent various economic sectors.
Read more: Sheikh Hamdan to visit India, hold high-level talks
Commitment to strategic alliances
This visit underscores the UAE leadership’s unwavering commitment to forging strategic alliances with key international partners. The aim is to foster growth, drive innovation, and promote collaboration across vital sectors.
The UAE and India enjoy a deep-rooted friendship that has flourished since the establishment of the Emirates, a bond that has only grown stronger over the years. Notably, the UAE signed its inaugural Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with India in 2022, propelling bilateral trade between the two nations to exceed $85 billion. This significant milestone has elevated India to the status of the UAE’s largest trading partner, while the UAE stands as India’s third-largest.
Recent high-level visits
In September of last year, Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, made an official visit to India, where he engaged in fruitful discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Furthermore, President Sheikh Mohamed traveled to India in January to participate in a three-day global business summit, during which he also held high-level talks with Mr. Modi. These visits underscore the vital importance of the UAE-India economic partnership within a regional context.
Trans-continental trade corridor initiative
The UAE and India have also formalized an agreement to establish a trans-continental trade corridor. This ambitious corridor aims to link Europe with India by utilizing sea and rail routes that traverse significant portions of the Middle East. The initiative has received strong backing from both the United States and the European Union, particularly during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the UAE in February 2024.
Initially announced in September at the G20 summit in New Delhi, the trade corridor is designed to extend from India across the Arabian Sea to the UAE. From there, it will progress through Saudi Arabia, connecting with Jordan, ultimately reaching Europe. This strategic development further highlights the increasing global significance of the UAE-India economic partnership.
