Dubai– Extending his “heartfelt gratitude” to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Indian government, and the people of India, Crown Prince of Dubai Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said on Thursday that the two nations are setting a global benchmark for successful partnerships.
The Crown Prince, who also serves as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), returned home earlier in the day after concluding a successful two-day official visit to India—his first to the country.
“As I conclude my visit to India, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as well as to the government and people of India, for their warm welcome and generous hospitality. The UAE and India share civilizational ties that span centuries. Today, we move forward in a spirit of partnership, working toward a brighter future that reflects our shared values and serves the mutual interests of our peoples,” Sheikh Hamdan posted on X (formerly Twitter) Thursday evening.
“From Abu Dhabi to New Delhi, and Dubai to Mumbai, we are building lasting bridges of friendship and cooperation, guided by a common ambition and a bold vision that transcends borders—setting a benchmark for successful global partnerships,” he added.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Modi hosted a working lunch for the Crown Prince at his official residence, Lok Kalyan Marg, and conveyed his warm regards to UAE President Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and UAE Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Modi also extended his best wishes to the Crown Prince on the birth of his daughter, Hind bint Hamdan, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
During their meeting, the Crown Prince presented Prime Minister Modi with a replica of his grandfather Sheikh Rashid’s bisht—a traditional embroidered cloak worn over the kandura by Arab men—as a symbol of the historic and enduring political friendship between the two nations.
The leaders discussed ways to further enhance the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between India and the UAE, along with the strong cultural and people-to-people ties that bind India and Dubai.
“Glad to meet HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai. Dubai has played a key role in advancing the India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. This special visit reaffirms our deep-rooted friendship and paves the way for even stronger collaboration in the future,” Prime Minister Modi posted on X following the meeting.
The Crown Prince also met with India’s Defense Minister Rajnath Singh to explore avenues for deepening defense and security cooperation under the framework of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
“For India, the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with the UAE is of immense priority. In the coming years, we are eager to work closely in areas such as defense cooperation, co-production and co-development projects, innovation, and technology. Both India and the UAE are committed to working towards peace and prosperity in the region,” Singh posted on X.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, during his meeting with the Crown Prince, highlighted the remarkable deepening and broadening of bilateral relations across various sectors in recent years.
In a symbolic gesture, the Crown Prince also presented an original newspaper article covering the heroic efforts of his father, Dubai Ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, in rescuing passengers from Indian Airlines Flight 421 during a hijacking in August 1984.
Later, the Crown Prince participated in a high-level business meeting in Mumbai, where he met with Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal.
According to the MEA, the two discussed the impact of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) on the rapid growth of bilateral trade. Goyal welcomed the signing of milestone MoUs and new announcements made during the business event, expressing confidence that these developments will further boost economic cooperation to unprecedented levels.
Particular emphasis was placed on the progress of the Virtual Trade Corridor (VTC), which has played a key role in facilitating trade between the two countries and is also viewed as a building block of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC). (Source: IANS)
