An F-16 Block 60 ‘Desert Falcon’ escorted PM Modi’s aircraft into Abu Dhabi airspace
Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a special welcome from the United Arab Emirates on Friday as an F-16 Block 60 ‘Desert Falcon’ fighter jet escorted his aircraft into Abu Dhabi during his state visit.
Visuals released after his arrival showed the UAE Air Force fighter jet accompanying PM Modi’s custom-modified Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, which uses the call sign ‘Air India One’ when the Prime Minister is on board.
PM Modi’s aircraft being escorted into Abu Dhabi by UAE Air Force F-16 Block 60 ‘Desert Falcon’ fighters. pic.twitter.com/rsTfVMWaEq
— Shiv Aroor (@ShivAroor) May 15, 2026
PM Modi landed in Abu Dhabi amid rising global energy concerns triggered by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. He was welcomed by UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and was accorded a ceremonial guard of honour upon arrival.
#WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi being accorded a guard of honour, as he lands in Abu Dhabi, UAE, on the first leg of his 5-nation visit.
(Video Source: DD) pic.twitter.com/WQbb3SkgD1
— ANI (@ANI) May 15, 2026
The one-day visit comes at a significant time, with India witnessing a fuel price hike and global oil markets facing volatility due to tensions in West Asia.
Sources said energy security is expected to dominate discussions between the two leaders. India and the UAE are likely to sign two major memorandums of understanding related to Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cooperation and Strategic Petroleum Reserves.
The agreements are expected to strengthen India’s energy security framework and deepen strategic ties between New Delhi and Abu Dhabi.
Apart from energy cooperation, the talks will also focus on trade, investment and people-to-people relations between the two countries.
The UAE remains India’s third-largest trade partner and one of the country’s biggest investment sources over the last two decades.
The welfare of the Indian diaspora, which numbers more than 4.5 million in the UAE, is also expected to be discussed during the visit.
After concluding his UAE visit, PM Modi will continue his multi-nation diplomatic tour with visits to the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway and Italy.
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