INDIAN prime minister Narendra Modi and UAE president Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Tuesday (13) held a bilateral meeting after the former reached Abu Dhabi on a two-day visit. Several memorandums of understanding (MoUs) were exchanged during the talks and Modi even called his host "brother".
"Brother, firstly, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to you for your warm welcome. We have met five times in the last seven months, which is very rare. I have also got the opportunity to come here seven times... the way we have progressed in every field, there is a joint partnership between India and UAE in every field," Modi said after meeting Al Nahyan, who received the prime minister at the airport. The two leaders greeted each other with handshakes and embraced warmly.
The visiting leader also received a guard of honour.
He also tweeted about his meeting with the UAE president in which he said in English and Arabic, "Immensely grateful to my brother, HH @MohamedBinZayed, for taking the time to receive me at Abu Dhabi airport. I look forward to a productive visit which will further strength the friendship between India and UAE."
Read: Modi eyes deeper ties with UAE, Qatar ahead of yet another Middle East tour
This is Modi's seventh visit to the UAE since he took over as the PM in 2014. In the last eight months, he visited the Middle Eastern nation thrice, which shows their deepening ties.
Read: Modi invites Indian diaspora members to attend ‘Ahlan Modi’ in Abu Dhabi: ‘Do join’
Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson of India's external affairs ministry took to X, emphasising that Modi's first leg of the visit in the UAE will entail engagements with UAE leadership and community members, and the inauguration of BAPS Hindu Temple in Abu Dhabi.
"Wheels up! PM @narendramodiembarks on a two-country visit to the UAE & Qatar. The first leg of the visit in the UAE entails engagements with UAE leadership & community members, inauguration of @AbuDhabiMandir, and participation as the Guest of Honour at @WorldGovSummit in Dubai," he said.
Apart from meeting Al Nahyan, PM Modi will also attend the World Government Summit 2024, where he will deliver a special keynote address.
"My discussions with Prime Minister His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid on the margins of Summit will focus on strengthening our multifaceted ties with Dubai," the prime minister said about his meeting with the vice president and prime minister and defence minister of the UAE in a statement ahead of his departure.
Activists and supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) clash with police personnel during a protest demanding the resignation of India's Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged NEET examination irregularities in New Delhi on July 20, 2026. India's riot police baton-charged protesters in New Delhi as they tried to march to parliament on July 20, escalating a protest over irregularities in major examinations.Getty Images
A police personnel fires tear gas shells to disperse activists and supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) during a protest demanding the resignation of India's Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged NEET examination irregularities in New Delhi on July 20, 2026. India's riot police baton-charged protesters in New Delhi as they tried to march to parliament on July 20, escalating a protest over irregularities in major examinations.Getty Images
Protesters gather as they take part in a demonstration organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) at Jantar Mantar during the opening day of Parliament's Monsoon Session on July 20, 2026 in New Delhi, India. A mix of protesters gathered in New Delhi on Monday as discontent bubbled over myriad issues, and as Sonam Wangchuk, an activist who was fasting in protest, was forcibly taken to hospital on Sunday. Getty Images
Opposition leaders of the Indian National Congress (INC) party Rahul Gandhi (C back) and his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (C) stage a sit-in protest calling for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's resignation outside the latter's residence in New Delhi on July 21, 2026, a day after police crackdown against the protesting Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) supporters demanding the Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan step down over alleged NEET examination irregularities.Getty Images
Protesters stand amid debris strewn across a road during clashes with police at a demonstration organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on the opening day of Parliament's Monsoon Session on July 20, 2026 in New Delhi, India. A mix of protesters gathered in New Delhi on Monday as discontent bubbled over myriad issues, and as Sonam Wangchuk, an activist who was fasting in protest, was forcibly taken to hospital on Sunday.Getty Images
