Landmark agreements, cultural diplomacy, and business initiatives mark first official visit of UAE Crown Prince to India
His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, was on his first official visit to India from April 8–9, 2025.
He was warmly welcomed in New Delhi by Shri Suresh Gopi, Minister of State for Tourism and Petroleum and Natural Gas, and received a ceremonial Guard of Honour upon arrival. The Crown Prince is accompanied by a high-level delegation of Ministers, senior officials, and business leaders.
Key diplomatic and economic announcements signal a new era in India-UAE partnership
During his visit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted a working lunch for the Crown Prince at his official residence in Lok Kalyan Marg, conveying heartfelt regards to UAE President Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Dubai Ruler Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum. PM Modi also congratulated Sheikh Hamdan on the birth of his daughter, Hind bint Hamdan. In a symbolic gesture of friendship, the Crown Prince presented PM Modi with a replica of his grandfather Sheikh Rashid’s bisht.
The two leaders discussed expanding the India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, highlighting cultural ties and people-to-people connections. Sheikh Hamdan also met with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, discussing enhanced cooperation in strategic defence and security.
Education, trade, defence, and diaspora welfare among visit highlights
Key discussions were also held with External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, where Sheikh Hamdan presented an original newspaper article from 1984 highlighting his father’s heroic efforts during the Indian Airlines Flight 421 hijack crisis. In Mumbai, the Crown Prince met with Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal at a high-level business event, reviewing the progress of CEPA, bilateral trade, and the Virtual Trade Corridor (VTC) initiative—a stepping stone for IMEEC.
Several landmark announcements were made during the visit:
- IIM Ahmedabad’s first overseas campus in Dubai, with an MBA program starting September 2025.
- First international campus of Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) at Expo City Dubai.
- Launch of Bharat Mart’s 3-D model and commencement of construction in Dubai.
- Allocation of land for a 100-bed India-UAE Friendship Hospital in Dubai.
- Development of ship-repair clusters at Kochi and Vadinar in partnership with Cochin Shipyard and Drydocks World.
- Establishment of India Office of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce.
These initiatives reinforce India’s educational and healthcare contributions to the region, benefitting the 4.3 million Indian diaspora in the UAE and 9 million in the Gulf. The IIM-A and IIFT campuses follow the 2023 launch of IIT’s first overseas campus in Abu Dhabi, bolstering educational diplomacy.
India’s role as a global healthcare hub for UAE citizens was recognized with the Friendship Hospital, which will serve low-income Indian workers in Dubai. Meanwhile, the Bharat Mart and VTC-MAITRI platforms underscore India’s drive to boost non-oil trade with UAE, expected to cross $97 billion, inching closer to the $100 billion target.
The India Office of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce will strengthen bilateral investment, with Indian firms already leading in Dubai’s tourism, healthcare, retail, education, and entertainment sectors.
