Public opinion in India has overwhelmingly welcomed the announcement of H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, inviting India as the guest of honour at the 46th meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, OIC, on 1st March.

Indian Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj’s reply to Sheikh Abdullah accepting his invitation to attend the inaugural plenary of the OIC meeting in Abu Dhabi and her expression of thanks to the leadership of the UAE for the invitation dominated news across India on Sunday.

From North to South of India and from West to East, leading newspapers in English and vernacular languages, carried the news of the UAE’s gesture on their front pages. Television stations across India also telecast the invitation as a landmark in India’s growing relations with the UAE.

The Hindustan Times recalled the visit by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, to New Delhi two years ago as chief guest at India’s Republic Day and said the invitation to Swaraj reflects the "close friendship and trust" between the UAE and India.

It quoted Commodore C Uday Bhaskar, Director of the Society for Policy Studies, a leading think tank here as a "significant development" Suhasini Haidar, Diplomatic Editor of 'The Hindu' newspaper wrote that the invitation to the Abu Dhabi meeting was a "major diplomatic success, which reflected the overall improvement in India’s ties with countries in the Muslim world, and in UAE in particular in the areas of security, energy and investment."

Most Indian media quoted WAM reports about Sheikh Abdullah’s invitation to explain the UAE’s action. The Sunday Express called the development a "victory for New Delhi’s improved ties with both Saudi Arabia and the UAE."

We accept Guest Posts

Download the Dubai City Guide iPhone mobile app

DubaiCityGuide.com is owned and managed by Cyber Gear