H.H. Sheikh Hamdan begins official visit to India

His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and the UAE's Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister, has landed in India for an official visit.

Sheikh Hamdan and his accompanying delegation were welcomed by Indian minister Suresh Gopi upon touch down and accorded a ceremonial guard of honour. 

According to Dubai Media Office, Sheikh Hamdan will hold high-level discussions with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and top government officials.

It's aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation across vital sectors.

The visit underscores the UAE leadership’s strategy of building strategic alliances with key international partners to foster growth, drive innovation and enhance collaboration in vital sectors.

حمدان بن محمد يستعرض ثُلة من حرس الشرف الذين اصطفوا لتحية سموه لدى وصوله إلى العاصمة الهندية pic.twitter.com/HgmuJYQchV

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) April 8, 2025

Hamdan bin Mohammed arrives in New Delhi on official visit to India pic.twitter.com/UqA7I4d84y

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) April 8, 2025

Dubai and India have shared strong trade relations, touching $45.4 billion (AED 165 billion) in 2023, and non-oil trade volume at $54.2 billion (AED 199 billion) the same year.

Over the past five years, Indian investments in Dubai has reached AED15 billion, while Dubai’s investments in India touched AED17.2 billion.

In 2024 alone, 16,623 new Indian companies joined the Dubai Chamber of Commerce bringing the total to over 70,000 Indian companies

DP World has operated in India for over 20 years. In January 2024, it signed a $3 billion (AED 11 billion) agreement to expand operations in Gujarat.

In the tourism sector, Dubai welcomed 3.14 million visitors from South Asia with India accounting for the largest share in 2024.

Emirates Airline has served India since 1985. Currently, it operates 167 weekly flights, connecting Dubai to nine Indian cities.