PM Modi conferred with UAE’s highest civilian honour

Hailing Prime Minister Narendra Modi as an 'international statesman', the United Arab Emirates announced its decision to confer the nation's highest civilian honour on him. Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al Nahyan, credited PM Modi for giving India's relations with the UAE a 'big boost'. UAE also said that India's ties with the Islamic world are at their best. Other recipients of the award have included Russia President Vladimir Putin, US President George W. Bush, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, and German premier Angela Merkel.