Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum of Dubai, who also serves as the UAE’s Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister, is on a two-day official visit to India.
First Visit To India
This is the Crown Prince's first visit to India and this visit comes at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The goal of this visit is to boost cooperation between the two countries in key areas such as trade, investment, defence, clean energy, and emerging technologies, reflecting the growing engagement in recent years.In a post on X, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal described the visit as a “significant milestone” in India-UAE relations. Sheikh Hamdan is accompanied by senior UAE ministers and a high-level business delegation. He was received at Palam Airport in New Delhi by Minister of State for Tourism and Petroleum & Natural Gas Suresh Gopi. A ceremonial guard of honour was presented, and a musical performance was held to mark the occasion.
High-level meetings
Prime Minister Modi will host a working lunch in honour of the Crown Prince. The two leaders will hold discussions aimed at expanding cooperation across key strategic sectors. Sheikh Hamdan is also scheduled to meet with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. These meetings will cover regional security, defence collaboration, technology partnerships, and opportunities for economic growth in sectors such as clean energy and infrastructure.
Business engagement in Mumbai
After completing his business engagements in New Delhi, the Crown Prince will travel to Mumbai. He will attend a business roundtable featuring Indian and Emirati business leaders. The agenda includes enhancing trade and investment, with a focus on energy, infrastructure, fintech, innovation, and sustainability.