PM Modi welcomes UAE President, presents carved wooden swing, Pashmina shawls
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New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday presented a range of traditional Indian gifts to UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan as he welcomed the visiting leader and his family at his residence, Lok Kalyan Marg, in New Delhi.
Among the gifts was a royal carved wooden jhula (swing) from Gujarat, intricately hand-carved with floral and traditional motifs that reflect India’s rich artisanal heritage. The wooden swing, a central feature in many Gujarati households, symbolises togetherness, dialogue and intergenerational bonding. The gift also aligns with the UAE’s declaration of 2026 as the ‘Year of Family’.
Prime Minister Modi also presented the UAE President with a Pashmina shawl from Kashmir, known for its softness, lightness and warmth, crafted from fine hand-spun wool. The shawl was placed in an ornate silver box made in Telangana, together representing India’s handloom and handicraft traditions.
A similar Pashmina shawl in an ornate silver box was gifted to Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Al Ketbi. She was also presented with Kashmiri saffron, housed in a decorative silver box. Grown in the Kashmir Valley, the saffron is prized for its deep crimson strands and distinctive aroma.
Earlier, in a special gesture, Prime Minister Modi personally travelled to the Delhi airport to welcome Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the start of his third official visit to India since assuming office. Both leaders travelled together in the same car from the airport, highlighting their longstanding friendship and the strong, multi-dimensional partnership between India and the UAE. This marks the UAE President’s fifth visit to India in the past decade.
“Went to the airport to welcome my brother, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE. His visit illustrates the importance he attaches to a strong India-UAE friendship. Looking forward to our discussions,” the Prime Minister posted on X.
The visit builds on the momentum created by recent high-level exchanges, including the visit of Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, in September 2024, and Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence and Crown Prince of Dubai, in April 2025.
Ahead of the visit, the Ministry of External Affairs said India and the UAE share warm, close and multi-faceted relations anchored in strong political, cultural and economic ties. The two countries are among each other’s top trading and investment partners, supported by initiatives such as the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, the Local Currency Settlement system and the Bilateral Investment Treaty. The partnership also includes robust cooperation in the energy sector, with long-term supply arrangements.
The MEA added that the visit would allow both leaders to chart new areas of cooperation under the India–UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest, where both sides share a high degree of convergence.
With IANS inputs
