Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been conferred the prestigious Zayed medal by President of the UAE Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The prestigious award was presented to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for giving “a big boost” to bilateral relations between both the countries.

The crown prince of Abu Dhabi Mohamed Bin Zayed tweeted, “We have historical and comprehensive strategic ties with India, reinforced by the pivotal role of my dear friend, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who gave these relations a big boost. In appreciation of his efforts, the UAE President grants him the Zayed Medal.”

The ‘Order of Zayed’ is the highest civil decoration instituted by the UAE. It consists of a collar cantered by a medallion bearing the name ‘Zayed’ – the founding father of the United Arab Emirates. In the past, this award has been conferred to the likes of Russian President Vladimir Putin, then US President George W Bush, Nicholas Sarkozy when he was President of France, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Chinese President Xi Jinping and the UK’s Queen Elizabeth II.