Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai, will embark on his first official visit to India tomorrow, April 8. This two-day visit follows an official invitation extended by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as confirmed by the Dubai Media Office.

During this significant visit, Sheikh Hamdan is scheduled to engage in discussions with senior Indian officials aimed at enhancing bilateral cooperation and strengthening partnerships across various strategic sectors. Prime Minister Modi will host a working lunch for Sheikh Hamdan and is expected to meet with Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

On the second day of the trip, Sheikh Hamdan will travel to Mumbai, where he will participate in a business roundtable with prominent business leaders from both the UAE and India. This visit highlights the UAE’s ongoing strategy to build strategic alliances with key international partners to foster growth, drive innovation, and enhance collaboration across vital sectors.

In recent years, the relationship between the UAE and India has strengthened significantly under the leadership of Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and Prime Minister Modi. The UAE President received a warm welcome in India in 2024, where he attended the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit as the chief guest. Additionally, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan visited India on September 8 of the previous year, where he discussed various areas of bilateral cooperation with Modi.

Dubai has been a crucial hub for India’s commercial, cultural, and people-to-people exchanges with the UAE. As of 2024, the Indian population in the UAE has reached nearly 4 million, underscoring the deep-rooted ties between the two nations.