India, EU to sign Free Trade Agreement by year-end
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday held a trilateral meeting with European Council President Antonio Costa and Von der Leyen on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Évian, France.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted the President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and his family at his residence at Lok Kalyan Marg in New Delhi today.
#WATCH | Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and his family at his residence at Lok Kalyan Marg.PM Modi gifted the President of the UAE a Royal Carved Wooden Jhula (swing), a beautifully… pic.twitter.com/KGePrFmaMh— ANI (@ANI) January 19, 2026
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PM Modi presented traditional Indian gifts to the President of the UAE, including a ‘Royal Carved Wooden Jhula.’ While the detailed floral and traditional designs on the hand-carved swing highlight skilled craftsmanship, the swing itself symbolises togetherness, conversation and bonding across generations. Moreover, it resonates with the United Arab Emirates’ declaration of 2026 as the Year of Family.
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During the meet, PM Modi also presented a Pashmina Shawl from Kashmir in a decorative silver box to the UAE President and Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Al Ketbi, showcasing India’s rich tradition of handloom and handicraft. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Al Ketbi was also gifted Kashmiri Saffron in an ornate silver box.
‘Welcome my brother’: PM Modi received Sheikh Al Nahyan at airport
Earlier today, PM Modi received the UAE at the airport upon his arrival at the Delhi airport. The two leaders travelled in the same car as they departed from the airport.
#WATCH | Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, travel in the same car as they depart from the airport.(Source: DD News) pic.twitter.com/dYLZ2AdSb1— ANI (@ANI) January 19, 2026
In a post on X, PM Modi wrote: “Went to the airport to welcome my brother, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE. His visit illustrates the importance he attaches to a strong India-UAE friendship. Looking forward to our discussions.”
Went to the airport to welcome my brother, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE. His visit illustrates the importance he attaches to a strong India-UAE friendship. Looking forward to our discussions.@MohamedBinZayed pic.twitter.com/Os3FRvVrBc
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 19, 2026
Dynamic India-UAE bilateral ties
The President of the United Arab Emirates has come for an official visit to India at the invitation of PM Modi. This will be his third official visit to India since assuming office as President of the UAE, and his fifth visit to India over the past decade.
As per the Ministry of External Affairs, the visit will further strengthen the bilateral partnership that has picked up pace following recent high-level exchanges, including the visit of Sheikh Al Nahyan in September 2024, and the visit of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE and Crown Prince of Dubai in April last year.
India and the UAE share warm, close, and multi-faceted relations, underpinned by strong political, cultural, and economic ties. The two countries are among each other’s top trading and investment partners, bolstered by the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), the Local Currency Settlement (LCS) system, and the Bilateral Investment Treaty. India and the UAE also enjoy a robust energy partnership, including long-term energy supply arrangements.
The MEA suggests that the UAE President’s visit to India will pave way for new frontiers for the India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. It will also enable an exchange of views on regional and global issues of mutual interest, where India and the UAE share a high degree of convergence.
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