Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on Saturday honoured conferred the "Order of Zayed", the UAE's highest civilian award for his contribution to boost ties between the two nations. “Humbled to be conferred the ‘Order of Zayed’ a short while ago. More than an individual, this award is for India’s cultural ethos and is dedicated to 130 crore Indians. I thank the UAE Government for this honour,” Modi tweeted.
Several world leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, Queen Elizabeth II and Chinese President Xi Jinping have in the past been honoured with the award. "The award in the name of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founding father of the UAE, acquires special significance as it was awarded to Prime Minister Modi in the year of the birth centenary of Sheikh Zayed," Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement ahead of his ongoing visit to the UAE.
India and the UAE enjoy warm, close and multi-faceted relations underpinned by cultural, religious and economic linkages which, during the prime minister's previous visit to the UAE in August 2015, stood elevated to a comprehensive strategic partnership, it said. The award to Modi was announced in April this year.
Receiving Modi, Crown Prince Mohamed Bin Zayed told the Indian PM “I am so grateful that my brother is coming to his second home.
