UAE honours PM Narendra Modi with Order of Zayed | Photo Credit: PTI

UAE honours PM Narendra Modi with the Order of Zayed- the country's highest civilian honour. According to reports, the honour has been conferred upon for strengthening ties between the UAE and India. Previously, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping have been decorated with the honour. Shortly afterwards, PM Narendra Modi reciprocated the gesture and thanked Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for the honour.

Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces tweeted that UAE President has awarded PM Narendra Modi with the Zayed Medal.

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. — محمد بن زايد (@MohamedBinZayed) April 4, 2019

"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," Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed said in his tweet.

"Thank you, Your Highness Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. I accept this honour with utmost humility. Under your visionary leadership, our strategic ties have reached new heights. This friendship is contributing to the peace and prosperity of our people and planet," PM Modi said.

In January, PM Modi was conferred the first ever Philip Kotler Presidential Award. The award was criticised by the opposition parties which congratulated PM Modi for winning the 'world famous award'.

"I want to congratulate our PM, on winning the world famous “Kotler Presidential Award”! In fact, it's so famous it has no jury, has never been given out before & is backed by an unheard of Aligarh company," Congress president Rahul Gandhi had said in a sarcastic tweet.