Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UAE President Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan jointly unveiled the Unified Payments Services (UPI) RuPay card service in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday. A video circulating on social media captured the moment President Al Nahyan made a payment using a plastic card bearing his name, signifying the official launch of the service.
During their discussions, Modi extended congratulations to President Al Nahyan on the launch of the UAE’s domestic card, JAYWAN, which operates on the digital RuPay credit and debit card framework. The leaders witnessed a transaction conducted with the JAYWAN card, demonstrating the practical implementation of their collaboration. Throughout their meeting, Modi and Al Nahyan engaged in comprehensive discussions, reviewing the strategic partnership between their nations. They explored new avenues of cooperation and oversaw the signing of several agreements, including a bilateral investment treaty aimed at facilitating further investments in both countries.
In a gesture highlighting the close ties between India and the UAE, President Al Nahyan personally welcomed Prime Minister Modi at the airport, where the two leaders exchanged a warm embrace. Modi expressed his gratitude on social media, thanking President Al Nahyan for the reception.
“Deeply appreciative of my brother, HH @MohamedBinZayed, for taking the time to greet me at Abu Dhabi airport,” Modi shared on X.
In his departure statement ahead of the visit, Modi underscored the remarkable growth in cooperation between India and the UAE across various sectors such as trade, investment, defense, security, food, energy security, and education over the past nine years. He emphasized the strengthened cultural and people-to-people connections between the two nations.
Additionally, the leaders discussed enhancing their partnership in the energy sector, acknowledging the UAE’s role as a significant source of crude oil and LPG for India. They recognized India’s increasing involvement in long-term contracts for LNG, further solidifying energy cooperation between the two nations.
