At the heart of New Delhi’s diplomatic circuit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi rolled out the red carpet for UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and family. The intimate reception at Lok Kalyan Marg featured thoughtful gifts rooted in India’s cultural mosaic, setting a tone of friendship and shared values.
The centerpiece was a regal wooden swing from Gujarat, meticulously hand-carved with floral patterns and traditional designs. In Gujarati households, the jhula fosters family conversations and bonds across generations, making it an apt present especially as UAE gears up for its ‘Year of Family’ in 2026.
PM Modi also gifted Sheikh Mohamed a luxurious Kashmiri pashmina shawl, preserved in a beautifully engraved silver box from Telangana artisans. This lightweight yet insulating shawl showcases Kashmir’s heritage of handloom excellence.
For Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Al Ketbi, the gifts included a matching pashmina in silver packaging and premium Kashmiri saffron in another ornate box. The saffron’s rich aroma and color make it a global delicacy from Kashmir’s fertile fields.
The visit holds strategic importance against a backdrop of international volatility: US tussles with China and Russia, Iran’s precarious situation, and emerging UAE-Saudi tensions. India-UAE ties provide a beacon of reliability.
Trade figures tell a compelling story— bilateral exchanges crossed $100.06 billion in the current fiscal year, up 19.6%. This momentum spans energy security, defense pacts, tech innovations, and massive investments.
The relationship’s pinnacle was evident when PM Modi received the Order of Zayed in 2019. Today’s exchange of heirloom gifts reinforces a partnership that transcends commerce, embracing cultural synergy and long-term vision.
