Watch | PM Modi welcomes UAE president, gifts him Indian artefacts including wooden swing, pashmina shawl & saffron

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally received United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan as he arrived in India on Monday for a brief two-hour visit. Sheikh Mohamed is in New Delhi at the invitation of Prime Minister Modi.

Officials say the visit—though short—is expected to provide an opportunity for both leaders to discuss mutual interests as well as global and regional issues, particularly given evolving geopolitical dynamics in the Middle East.

توجهتُ إلى المطار لاستقبال أخي، صاحب السمو الشيخ محمد بن زايد آل نهيان، رئيس دولة الإمارات العربية المتحدة. تُجسّد زيارته الأهمية التي يوليها لعلاقات الصداقة المتينة بين الهند والإمارات. أتطلع إلى مباحثاتنا.@MohamedBinZayed pic.twitter.com/O5R1tOxjAU

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 19, 2026

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The UAE president’s trip comes at a time when strategic engagement between India and Gulf partners is gaining momentum. New Delhi and Abu Dhabi have built a comprehensive partnership over the years, bolstered by agreements on economic cooperation, investment and energy security.

Watch the video here.

#WATCH | Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi receives President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, at the airport.

(Source: DD News) pic.twitter.com/Qpc0KNwvsp

— ANI (@ANI) January 19, 2026

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Sheikh Mohamed’s visit also follows a recent series of high-level exchanges between Indian and UAE leaders, reflecting a pattern of regular diplomatic engagement that both sides say will continue to strengthen bilateral ties.

A thoughtful exchange steeped in Indian tradition

PM Modi presented the UAE President with a Royal Carved Wooden Jhula, an intricately crafted swing from Gujarat that holds a special place in many traditional Gujarati homes. Hand-carved with floral and traditional motifs, the swing reflects exceptional craftsmanship and symbolises togetherness, conversation and inter-generational bonding in Gujarati culture. The gesture also aligns with the UAE’s designation of 2026 as the Year of Family.

#WATCH | Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and his family at his residence at Lok Kalyan Marg.

PM Modi gifted the President of the UAE a Royal Carved Wooden Jhula (swing), a beautifully… pic.twitter.com/KGePrFmaMh

— ANI (@ANI) January 19, 2026

The Prime Minister also gifted the President a Pashmina shawl, placed in an ornate silver box. Sourced from Kashmir, the shawl is handwoven from fine wool, known for its softness, lightness and warmth. The decorative silver box, crafted in Telangana, adds to the gift’s elegance.

A Pashmina shawl in an ornate silver box was also presented to H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Al Ketbi, along with Kashmiri saffron. Grown in the Kashmir Valley, the saffron is prized for its deep crimson threads and rich aroma, making it one of the region’s most treasured agricultural products.