Modi–MBZ Meet: Cultural Diplomacy Reshapes India–UAE Ties

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From a Gujarati wooden jhula to Kashmiri pashmina, PM Modi’s gifts to UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed signal a deeper India–UAE partnership beyond geopolitics

By TRH World Desk

New Delhi, January 19, 2026 — When Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and his family at his residence on Lok Kalyan Marg, the optics went far beyond protocol. It was a carefully crafted moment of cultural diplomacy—one that reflects how India-UAE relations have matured into a bond rooted in trust, symbolism, and shared values.

PM Modi’s choice of gifts was deliberate. A royal hand-carved wooden jhula from Gujarat, traditionally central to Indian family life, symbolised togetherness, dialogue, and generational bonding. The gesture resonated powerfully with the UAE’s declaration of 2026 as the Year of Family, subtly aligning Indian cultural ethos with Emirati priorities.

Equally symbolic was the Kashmiri pashmina shawl, presented in an ornate silver box crafted in Telangana—bringing together India’s regional craftsmanship into a single diplomatic message. Soft, lightweight, and timeless, pashmina has long represented refinement and warmth, mirroring the current phase of India–UAE ties. The gifting of Kashmiri saffron—revered globally for its purity and aroma—to Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak further underscored India’s civilisational depth.

This was not merely about heritage. It was strategic storytelling. As the India–UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership expands across energy, defence, trade, fintech, and people-to-people ties, such gestures humanise diplomacy in an increasingly transactional world.

PM Modi’s message on X captured it succinctly: the visit reflects how much importance the UAE places on its friendship with India. In today’s geopolitics, relationships that blend strategy with culture often prove the most enduring.