UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Makes Brief but Strategic Visit to India Amid Regional Turmoil

United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan arrived in New Delhi on Monday for a short, two-hour visit to India, underscoring the close and steadily deepening ties between the two countries. Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally welcomed him on arrival, describing the visit as a reflection of the strong friendship and shared vision that define India–UAE relations.

This marks Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed’s third official visit to India since assuming the presidency of the UAE, and his fifth visit overall. Sharing photographs from the airport reception, Prime Minister Modi wrote that he had gone to receive “my brother, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan,” and expressed his eagerness for their discussions.

The visit comes at a time of heightened instability in the Middle East. Tensions have sharply escalated following widespread protests in Iran, which have reportedly claimed at least 5,000 lives. The United States has issued strong warnings to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and has openly called for a change in leadership. Washington has also deployed an aircraft carrier to the region, fuelling speculation about the possibility of military action against the Islamic Republic.

Iran, for its part, has warned of retaliation in the event of any US attack. Beyond Iran, friction has also been mounting between Saudi Arabia and the UAE over developments in Yemen, adding another layer of complexity to the regional landscape. Against this backdrop, discussions between Prime Minister Modi and President Al Nahyan are expected to focus significantly on the evolving situation in the Middle East.

In an official statement, the Ministry of External Affairs said the UAE President’s visit would provide both countries with an opportunity to explore new dimensions of their strategic partnership. The MEA added that the two leaders would also exchange views on regional and global issues, as well as matters of mutual interest, noting that India and the UAE share a high degree of convergence on many such topics.

Despite its brief duration, the visit is being seen as diplomatically significant, reflecting the importance both nations attach to close coordination at a time of regional uncertainty and global geopolitical shifts.