New Delhi: Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Defence of the United Arab Emirates, will embark on a two-day official visit to India beginning Tuesday, at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Monday.
This marks Sheikh Hamdan’s first official visit to India in his capacity as the Crown Prince of Dubai. He will be accompanied by several ministers, senior government officials, and a high-level business delegation.
Prime Minister Modi will host a working lunch in honour of the visiting dignitary on Tuesday. During his stay in Delhi, the Crown Prince is also scheduled to meet with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
Following his engagements in Delhi, Sheikh Hamdan will travel to Mumbai, where he is expected to take part in a business roundtable alongside prominent business leaders from both nations. The interaction is aimed at bolstering economic and commercial ties between India and the UAE, spanning traditional sectors as well as emerging areas of collaboration.
The MEA noted that Dubai has historically played a pivotal role in enhancing India's commercial, cultural, and people-to-people ties with the UAE. A significant portion of the approximately 4.3 million Indian diaspora in the UAE lives and works in Dubai. The Crown Prince’s visit is expected to further reinforce the India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and deepen multifaceted engagement with Dubai.
The invitation for the visit was originally extended by Prime Minister Modi through External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar during his official trip to the UAE from January 27 to 29 this year.
With IANS inputs