PM Modi Welcomes Qatar’s Amir at Delhi Airport, Strengthening Bilateral Ties

New Delhi, February 17, 2025 – In a rare gesture, Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally received Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, the Amir of the State of Qatar, at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi on Monday. The Amir arrived for a two-day state visit to India, which will run from February 17 to 18.

Taking to social media, PM Modi shared a message saying, “Went to the airport to welcome my brother, Amir of Qatar H.H. Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani. Wishing him a fruitful stay in India and looking forward to our meeting tomorrow.” This personal welcome underscored the warmth of bilateral relations between India and Qatar.

During his visit, the Amir is scheduled to hold high-level discussions with PM Modi, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, and President Droupadi Murmu. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) noted that the visit would “further enhance the growing multifaceted partnership” between the two nations.

Accompanying the Amir is a high-level Qatari delegation, which includes ministers, senior officials, and business leaders. On Tuesday, PM Modi will meet Sheikh Tamim to discuss various aspects of their bilateral relationship, including trade, investment, energy, and technology.

The two countries are set to sign several memorandums of understanding (MoUs) covering diverse sectors, further solidifying their cooperation. Notably, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Ministry of Commerce are organizing a joint business forum in New Delhi on Tuesday. The forum will bring together business leaders, policymakers, and industry stakeholders from both countries to explore investment opportunities and technological partnerships.

Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal is scheduled to deliver the inaugural address at the forum, where the shared vision of India and Qatar for long-term economic cooperation will be highlighted. The event emphasizes the mutual commitment to fostering trade, investment, and innovation across key sectors.

This visit marks Sheikh Tamim’s second state visit to India, the first being in March 2015. Bilateral relations between India and Qatar have steadily strengthened in recent years, particularly in trade, investment, energy, technology, culture, and people-to-people connections.

The MEA also highlighted the significant role of the Indian expatriate community in Qatar, noting that Indians form the largest expatriate group in the country and are highly valued for their contributions to Qatar’s development and progress.

As the visit continues, both nations are expected to build on their robust ties, marking a significant step toward deeper collaboration on multiple fronts.