ABU DHABI: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday after concluding his visit to Germany, where he attended the G7 Summit.
During his visit to the UAE, Modi expressed his condolences on the death of former UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who passed away last month.
“In a very special gesture, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and members of the Royal family came all the way to the airport to meet PM Modi” said Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperon Arindam Bagchi.
At the airport, the leaders were seen hugging and greeting each other.
The prime minister also took the opportunity to congratulate Sheikh Mohammed on his election as the new President of the UAE, the Ministry of External Affairs said.
This was the prime minister’s first visit since the two countries signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement earlier this year.
India-UAE trade is valued at $59 billion, making the UAE India’s third largest trading partner for the year 2019-20 after China and the US, according to the Indian foreign ministry.
The UAE is India’s third largest export destination, with nearly $16 billion clocked in 2020-21.
The two countries also enjoy strong trade and cultural ties, with Indians making up 35 percent of the UAE’s 10 million population, the biggest expatriate community.