Abu Dhabi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a high-profile welcome from the United Arab Emirates on Friday when UAE Air Force F-16 fighter jets escorted his aircraft as it entered the country’s airspace before landing in Abu Dhabi. The gesture was widely viewed as a symbol of the strong diplomatic and strategic ties shared between India and the UAE.
According to India Today, two F-16 Block 60 “Desert Falcon” fighter aircraft accompanied Air India One during its approach to Abu Dhabi. Videos of the escort quickly surfaced online, showing the fighter jets flying alongside the Prime Minister’s aircraft in a ceremonial display.
PM Modi’s UAE visit marked the first stop of his five-nation diplomatic tour. Upon arrival in Abu Dhabi, he was welcomed by UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and was accorded a ceremonial reception and guard of honour at the airport.
As reported by PTI and several media outlets, the visit comes at a time of heightened tensions in West Asia and growing concerns over global energy security. During bilateral discussions, India and the UAE focused on expanding cooperation in trade, investment, energy and strategic partnerships.
India Today reported that PM Modi thanked the UAE leadership for the “special gesture” and described the UAE as his “second home.” He also highlighted the strong people-to-people ties between the two countries, noting that millions of Indians live and work in the Gulf nation.
The discussions between both sides also led to agreements related to Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), strategic petroleum reserves and infrastructure investment. Officials said the visit is expected to further deepen economic and strategic engagement between New Delhi and Abu Dhabi amid ongoing global geopolitical and energy challenges.