Forty-five years ago, long before today's strategic travels between Abu Dhabi and Delhi, a woman in a white sari with embroidered edges descended from the steps of a Boeing 737 at Abu Dhabi Military Airport; a welcome that was not just a diplomatic ceremony but the beginning of a long-term relationship.

On May 12, 1981, Indira Gandhi became the first Prime Minister of India to visit the UAE; a visit that has now gained attention again as Narendra Modi prepares for his trip to the UAE on May 15.

Upon arrival, Gandhi was warmly welcomed by His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan; a meeting that quickly transcended formalities and turned into important discussions about the future of the region, regional security, and economic cooperation.

At that time, the Iran-Iraq war was ongoing, and both sides discussed the necessity of regional stability and preventing foreign intervention; a topic that has gained new meaning with today's regional tensions.

His Highness Sheikh Zayed spoke of her 'wise leadership' during the meeting and considered India a 'close friend' to the UAE. Gandhi also reiterated India's support for Arab countries and the Palestinian people.

However, this visit was not limited to palaces. Indira Gandhi insisted on meeting ordinary people; from Indian children in Abu Dhabi to migrant families in Dubai. Thousands lined the 20-kilometer route from the airport to the Jumeirah Palace to see her.

In one of the memorable images from this trip, Gandhi stops for a photo that a 10-year-old Indian boy wanted to take; a simple moment that later became part of the shared memory of Indians residing in the UAE.

She also laid the foundation stone for the new 'Indian Islamic Center' and, during a meeting with the Indian community in the UAE, urged them to show the 'true image of India' abroad; a phrase that is still quoted among the older generation of Indian migrants in the UAE.

This visit was not merely symbolic. In those meetings, the two countries agreed on joint investment, cooperation in the steel industry, oil refining, and the expansion of UAE banks in India; decisions that later formed the basis of the extensive economic relations we see today between the two countries.

Now, 45 years later, as Narendra Modi arrives in the UAE to discuss energy, trade, and regional cooperation, many believe that the path leading to the strategic partnership between the two countries today began with that historic visit of Indira Gandhi; a visit that is remembered for a famous sentence: 'I have not come to ask for anything; my goal is to strengthen the old friendship between India and the countries of the region.'

Source: Gulf Times