Our Bureau
New Delhi
In a significant move to bolster bilateral relations, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Defence of the UAE, has arrived in India for a two-day official visit. This marks his first official visit to India as the Crown Prince of Dubai, underscoring the growing strategic ties between India and the UAE.
Sheikh Hamdan’s visit, at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is aimed at strengthening cooperation across vital sectors, including trade, energy, and digital partnerships. He will meet with senior officials in New Delhi, including Prime Minister Modi, External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. A working lunch hosted by Prime Minister Modi on April 8 is expected to have focused on expanding trade and investment opportunities under the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).
The Crown Prince is accompanied by a high-level delegation that includes prominent UAE ministers and business leaders. This delegation includes Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, president of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, and other key ministers such as Mohammad bin Abdullah Al Gergawi and Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri. The visit highlights the UAE’s strategy to build strategic alliances with key international partners to foster growth and innovation.
Following his engagements in New Delhi, Sheikh Hamdan will travel to Mumbai, where he will participate in a business roundtable with top Indian and Emirati business leaders. This interaction is designed to enhance economic and commercial cooperation in both traditional and futuristic areas. The visit comes at a time when the UAE and India are enjoying a robust economic partnership, with bilateral trade exceeding $85 billion following the signing of the CEPA in 2022.
The significance of this visit lies in its potential to further solidify the India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which has been pivotal in driving bilateral relations.
