E-Paper
He came, met Modi, left: UAE President's ‘3-hour’ Delhi visit that sparked buzz
A three-hour long Delhi visit of UAE President sparked online speculation over its urgency, but a joint statement later detailed the trip's significance.
He came, met PM Modi, and he left. That was how a section of social media users described United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan's visit to New Delhi on Monday, as the brevity of the trip fuelled online speculation.
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan - popularly known as MBZ - landed in New Delhi on Monday evening and departed within a few hours, prompting theories and questions over the purpose and urgency of the visit.
However, a joint statement issued later by India and the UAE suggested that the visit was neither sudden nor unplanned, noting that it took place "at the invitation of" Prime Minister Narendra Modi and resulted in a series of agreed outcomes, which are unlikely to be planned in few hours.
The statement listed the outcomes of the meeting between UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and PM Narendra Modi, both of who “reiterated their unequivocal condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including cross-border terrorism”.
The buzz UAE president's Delhi visit sparked
Some reports said UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan was in Delhi for not more than one hour 45 minutes, while some said departed after a three-hour long visit. Be it an hour, 45 minutes or three hours - the visit that the UAE president paid with his key ministers, sparked buzz online.
“An intriguing visit. State visits usually lasts a day or more. UAE visit had virtually all important ministers. Visit lasted just few hours. Flown in at 4. Departed by 7 or so. Highly usual to say the list. Gives the appearance of extreme importance and urgency," a user wrote on X, echoing the sentiments of many others who were also speculating about the visit online.
“MBZ brought almost everyone that matters in the UAE along with him for a 2-hour visit. Something significant happened yesterday,” another user wrote on X.
The significance of the meeting was later detailed in a joint statement, which also mentioned that the UAE president visited at the invitation of PM Narendra Modi.
Terror condemned, strategic defence pact strengthened
The visit by UAE President and team, in which "terror financers were jointly called out", comes amid the country's deteriorating ties with fellow Gulf country Saudi Arabia, which recently signed a defence agreement with Pakistan. The Pakistan and Saudi Arabia defence agreement considers an attack on one as an aggression against both.
“At the invitation of the Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, President of the United Arab Emirates, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, paid an official visit to India on 19 January 2026. This was the fifth visit of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to India in the last ten years and his third official visit to India as the President of the UAE,” said a press release on pmindia.gov.in.
PM Modi and the UAE President reviewed the full scope of bilateral cooperation between the two countries. They agreed that the India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership has continued to strengthen over the past decade, according to the release.
The statement said the two leaders highlighted deep respect for each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and the importance of strategic autonomy, acknowledging steady and strong bilateral defence and security cooperation as a core pillar of the comprehensive strategic partnership.
PM Modi and the UAE President reiterated their unequivocal condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including cross-border terrorism, and emphasised that no country should provide safe haven to those who finance, plan, support or commit terrorist acts, the release said.
“They agreed to continue cooperation within the framework of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to counter terror financing and strengthen anti-money laundering efforts,” it added.
The release also had a mention of the two leaders welcoming the signing of Letter of Intent towards the conclusion of a Strategic Defence Partnership.
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal also shared a list of 12 outcomes of the meeting between UAE President and PM Modi.
The list carried the above-mentioned Strategic Defence Partnership, as well as the promotion of “bilateral civil nuclear cooperation”; sales and purchase agreement beween Hindustan Petroleum Crorporation Limited (HACL) and the Abu Dhabi National Company Gas (ADNOC Gas) among other Letters of Intents (LoI), Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) and agreements signed.
PM Modi shared a picture with the entire UAE delegation and wrote, “I was delighted to receive His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the United Arab Emirates; His Highness Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan; His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates; His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan; and His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan in India.”
Before departing, MBZ also shared a post on X, saying he was pleased to meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi to “discuss opportunities to further strengthen the deep-rooted and historical ties of cooperation” between the two countries.
“Committed to fostering sustainable development and economic growth, the UAE and India will continue working together to drive progress in future-focused sectors while achieving mutual benefit for our nations and peoples,” MBZ said.
Saudi-UAE tensions
The two Gulf oil states, once close allies, have been at odds over several issues, that mainly stem from growing competition and policy differences rather than open conflict.
Disagreements over oil production within OPEC+, rival economic visions as both push to become the region's main business and investment hub, and diverging approaches to regional issues like Yemen, relations with Iran, and engagement with global powers, are some issues where the two countries have not had echoing views.
On Monday, the Saudi-backed Yemeni government accused the United Arab Emirates of running a secret prison at an airbase near the south Yemeni port city of Mukalla, an allegation denied by Abu Dhabi.
The accusation fueled tensions in a deepening row between the two Gulf oil states.
The allegations were made by Salem Al-Khanbashi, the governor of the eastern Yemeni province of Hadramout, during a rare media trip arranged by the Saudi government which flew international journalists from Riyadh to the Riyan airbase near the Yemeni city of Mukalla, Reuters reported.
