Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Apr 8: External affairs minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday extended a warm welcome to the Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE deputy prime minister Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who arrived in India for his first official visit.

Taking to social media platform X, Jaishankar wrote, “Delighted to welcome Crown Prince of Dubai and DPM & minister of defence of UAE HH Sheikh Hamdan Mohammed, at the start of his first official visit to India. Value his positive sentiments for our wide-ranging cooperation and vibrant ties.”

This landmark visit underlines the growing strategic partnership between India and the UAE. The Crown Prince, accompanied by a high-level delegation of ministers, senior officials, and top business leaders, is set to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, EAM Jaishankar, and defence minister Rajnath Singh.

The discussions are expected to centre around deepening bilateral cooperation in defence, trade, investment, and cultural engagement.

After his engagements in Delhi, the Crown Prince will head to Mumbai to attend a business roundtable with prominent Indian and Emirati industrialists. The interaction aims to further enhance commercial ties, particularly in emerging sectors.

In a statement, the ministry of external affairs said, “Traditionally, Dubai has played an important role in India's commercial, cultural and people-to-people exchanges with the UAE.

Majority of India's around 4.3 million diasporas in the UAE reside and work in Dubai. The visit of His Highness the Crown Prince will further solidify the India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and strengthen our multifaceted ties with Dubai.”

Notably, EAM Jaishankar had personally extended the invitation to Sheikh Hamdan during his official visit to the UAE in January this year, reaffirming the robust diplomatic rapport between the two nations.