UAE confers its highest civilian honour, the Zayed Medal, on Prime Minister Narendra Modi

On 4 April 2019 the United Arab Emirates announced that it would award Prime Minister Narendra Modi the Zayed Medal, the country’s highest civilian honour, in recognition of his role in strengthening relations between the two countries.

The announcement

The award was announced by Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, who described Narendra Modi as his “dear friend” and said the honour was conferred by the UAE President in appreciation of his efforts to deepen the strategic partnership between India and the UAE. The medal, named after the UAE’s founder Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, is given to kings, presidents and heads of state; earlier recipients include Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Queen Elizabeth II.

The background

Narendra Modi’s visit to the UAE in August 2015 was the first by an Indian Prime Minister in 34 years, and he went again in February 2018. Sheikh Mohamed was the chief guest at India’s Republic Day parade in January 2017, when the two countries signed a comprehensive strategic partnership. The UAE is one of India’s largest trading partners and home to more than three million Indians.

What happened next

The medal was presented to Narendra Modi in Abu Dhabi on 24 August 2019, during a visit in which he also launched the RuPay card in the UAE. Sheikh Mohamed became President of the UAE in May 2022, and the two countries signed a comprehensive economic partnership agreement that took effect the same month.

See also: the Varanasi Lok Sabha constituency, which Narendra Modi represents.

Originally published on 4 April 2019. Rewritten on 9 October 2026, with the background and what happened next added.

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