‘Friend of India’ rises in UAE, Indians welcome appointment of Sheikh Mohammed as new President

The appointment of Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan because the president of the UAE will give a giant fillip to the India-UAE strategic ties and take them to the subsequent stage as the brand new chief is a “true friend” of India and has nice regard for Indians, based on distinguished Indians residing on this key oil-rich Gulf nation.

Rulers within the United Arab Emirates introduced on Saturday Uthat they appointed Sheikh Mohammed as the brand new president, a day after the loss of life of his half-brother and the UAE’s President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

The Indian tricolour flew at half-mast on the Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi to mourn the loss of life of Sheikh Khalifa.

The ascension of 61-year-old Sheikh Mohammed as the brand new president has stuffed Indians right here with pleasure who hailed the brand new chief for his shut hyperlinks with the Indian neighborhood.

Sheikh Mohammed has met Prime Minister Narendra Modi a number of instances. He visited India in 2016 and 2017, whereas Modi visited the UAE in 2015, 2018 and 2019.

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Their most up-to-date engagement was throughout a web-based summit on February 16, witnessing the signing of agreements in New Delhi, together with the UAE-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).

“My best wishes to the Ruler of Abu Dhabi H.H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on being elected as the new President of the UAE. I am confident that under his dynamic and visionary leadership, our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership will continue to deepen,” Prime Minister Modi tweeted.

My greatest needs to the Ruler of Abu Dhabi H.H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on being elected as the brand new President of the UAE. I’m assured that beneath his dynamic and visionary management, our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership will proceed to deepen. @MohamedBinZayed

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 14, 2022

Surender Singh Kandhari, founder and chairman of the Dubai-based Al Dobowi Group, says Sheikh Mohammed has been an in depth good friend of Modi and “a true friend of India.” According to him, the brand new chief’s imaginative and prescient and strategy in direction of progress and prosperity haven’t any bounds and India and the UAE are on the pinnacle of the most effective relationship as each international locations see development and progress as a part of the long run.

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“We have even closer ties now as the free trade agreement has been signed, which will bring the trade to 100 billion dollars,” he mentioned.

“Sheikh Mohammed has great regard for Indians as we work towards progress and prosperity. Sanctioning the Hindu Mandir and now Sikh Gurudwara in Abu Dhabi are signs of tolerance and coexistence,” says Kandhari.

Chandrashekhar Bhatia of the Maharashtra Business Forum mentioned the loss of life of Sheikh Khalifa has left the Indian neighborhood unhappy.

“However, we are happy that Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan is the new President as he has strengthened India-UAE relations and will definitely take bilateral ties to another level,” mentioned Bhatia.

Senior member of the Indian neighborhood and Chairman of the ITL-Cosmos Group, Ram Buxani, recalled his assembly with Sheikh Mohammed throughout which he mentioned he found “royalty with so much humility and simplicity.” “When I was introduced to him for the first time, the person told His Highness (Sheikh Mohammed) that I have been in the UAE for a very long time,” he mentioned.

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“When I told him about my years in the UAE, he was pleasantly surprised that I had lived in the UAE before he was born. Immediately changing the subject, he asked how many grandchildren I have.

“I told him the number. In a very informal and jovial manner, he replied, “oh here also, you are ahead of me,” he mentioned.

Buxani has yet another grandchild than Sheikh Mohammed.

He says the finalisation of the CEPA signed between India and the UAE will likely be attributed to the efforts led by Sheikh Mohammed.

“Having assumed the presidential position and also becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi will have far-fetched effects on Indo-UAE relations,” says Buxani.

Dawood bin Ozair, the Chief Executive Officer of Blue Star International FZCO, referred to as Sheikh Mohammad as an incredible visionary chief.

“Right from the time of HH Late Sheikh Zayed he was playing key roles. As a Crown Prince he helped HH Sheikh Khalifa not only in governance of Abu Dbabi but also in international relationships with neighbours, Arabs and globally,” Dawood mentioned.

“He developed cordial relationships with other Emirates and worked shoulder to shoulder with HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid, the Prime Minister & Ruler of Dubai. Their leadership is a great blessing to the Emirates, India and the Arab world,” Dawood mentioned.

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