PM Modi breaks protocol to welcome UAE Crown Prince

The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, arrived here on Wednesday to a warm welcome by Prime Minister Narendra Modi who went to the airport to receive the “special friend”.

During Al Nahyan’s three-day trip, his first State visit to India, the two countries will discuss ways to enhance ties in a range of areas such as energy, economy and security and are expected to sign a number of agreements in sectors such as oil, nuclear energy, IT, aerospace, railways and electronics.

“A special welcome for a special friend. PM @narendramodi personally receives HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan,” tweeted the PMO with a photo of the two leaders shaking hands at the Palam Technical Airport.

Modi had visited the UAE in August last year, the first by an Indian Prime Minister after a gap of 34 years, and Al Nahyan had received him at the Abu Dhabi airport.

“This is Sheikh Mohammed’s 1st state visit to India & am glad he is visiting with his family,” Modi tweeted.

“Sheikh Mohammed is a visionary leader. His visit will add new vigour and momentum to comprehensive strategic partnership between India & UAE,” the PM added.

Al Nahyan, also the Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE’s armed forces, is accompanied by a power-packed delegation, which includes several top ministers and over 100 business tycoons and CEOs of top companies. 

Official sources said Modi went to the airport to receive the Crown Prince without any disturbance to the traffic in a compact carcade without an ambulance.  The two leaders will hold detailed deliberations on Thursday, following which both sides are expected to sign a number of agreements to expand cooperation in sectors such as oil nuclear energy, IT, aerospace, railways and electronics. Ways to contain radicalism, stepping up counter-terrorism cooperation and dealing with the ISIS are likely to figure prominently in talks between Al Nahyan and Modi.

The economy of the UAE, a leading producer of oil, has been hit hard by falling crude prices and it is expected that the Gulf nation would like to invest significantly in India’s energy and infrastructure sectors from its sovereign wealth fund of around $800 billion.

India has been eying the fund, being managed by the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, for its infrastructure sector, including railways, ports and roads.  

Soon after the Crown Prince’s arrival, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj called on him and discussed various issues of mutual interest.

“Our honoured guest from across the Arabian Sea. EAM @SushmaSwaraj calls on Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed Al Nahyan,” Swarup tweeted.

Joint production of defence equipment is another key area where both the countries are working hard. Under the initiative, the UAE may make investment for manufacturing such equipment in India and get the products’ supply.

Strengthening existing cooperation in information sharing and counter-terrorism will be another focus area in view of the rising threat of ISIS. The UAE has deported about a dozen Indians with suspected links to the terror group.

Al Nahyan will travel to Mumbai on Friday where he will visit the Bombay Stock Exchange and interact with select industry leaders before departing. A major focus of the visit by the UAE leader will be on significantly enhancing trade volume from current annual figure of $60 billion.