At a time when diplomacy is widely regarded as transactional, the deeply personal relationship between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) stands out as something of an old-world construct.
It is a bond where trust and credibility outweigh diplomatic reciprocity and protocol, where a convergence of strategic interests is bolstered by regular interactions to lay the foundations of one of India’s most dynamic and consequential bilateral relationships.
Much of this is on display during Mr. Modi’s ongoing visit to the UAE for the third time in barely eight months. He had made a bilateral visit in July 2023 followed by one for COP28 in November, where he was given the rare honour of being the only visiting dignitary to address the ceremonial opening session. Sheikh Mohamed was in Delhi in September for the G-20 Summit as one of India’s special invitees, returning in January 2024 to participate in the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit as chief guest.
