Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Abu Dhabi on Friday to a special ceremonial welcome, with UAE fighter jets escorting his aircraft as it entered the country’s airspace.
Visuals shared on X showed the UAE’s F-16 fighter jets accompanying the Prime Minister’s plane before landing in Abu Dhabi. Modi is on an official visit to the United Arab Emirates at the invitation of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Ceremonial welcome in Abu Dhabi
The Ministry of External Affairs shared details of the reception shortly after Modi landed in the UAE capital. The visit is expected to focus on strengthening bilateral ties between India and the UAE across sectors including trade, investment, energy and technology
Also Read | Why Xi Jinping brought up the ‘Thucydides Trap’ during Trump summit —here’s all we know
In a post on X, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “PM @narendramodi lands in Abu Dhabi to a special gesture. F-16s of the UAE Air Force escorted his aircraft in Abu Dhabi airspace.”
PM Modis aircraft being escorted into Abu Dhabi by UAE Air Force F-16 Block 60 ˜Desert Falcon fighters. pic.twitter.com/rsTfVMWaEq
— Shiv Aroor (@ShivAroor) May 15, 2026
The fighter jet escort is being seen as a mark of the close ties between the two countries and the personal rapport between Prime Minister Modi and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Focus on India-UAE ties
During the visit, the two leaders are expected to discuss ways to deepen cooperation in several strategic sectors. India and the UAE have significantly expanded economic and diplomatic ties in recent years, with both countries maintaining regular high-level engagements.
Also Read | Boeing deal, Taiwan tensions dominate day 2 of Trump’s China trip
Modi has visited the UAE multiple times since 2015, and the two nations have signed agreements covering trade, infrastructure, renewable energy and fintech cooperation.
The Prime Minister’s visit comes shortly after attending the G7 Summit outreach sessions in Canada. From Abu Dhabi, he is also expected to participate in official meetings and engagements aimed at boosting India-UAE partnership further.
