The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has bestowed the Prime Minister of India with the highly valued ZAYED Medal. This prestigious award signifies a strengthening bond and strategic cooperation between the two countries, underlining a continually evolving friendship. Recently, UAE took the initiative of inviting India as the “Guest of Honour” for the 46th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) held in Abu Dhabi. It’s worth noting that this is the first time that India has been bestowed with such an honor by the OIC.
About the Zayed Medal
The Zayed Medal, also known as The Order of Zayed, is awarded to Heads of Governments or States for their significant contributions to international relations with the UAE. The award borrows its name from Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who is the founding father of the United Arab Emirates.
The central element of the decoration is a collar adorned with a medallion carrying the name ‘Zayed’. This award, above all, signifies a close relationship and shared vision between the recipient’s country and the UAE.
Past Recipients of the Zayed Medal
The Zayed Medal hasn’t been limited to any specific region or country. Instead, it has witnessed recipients from all around the world. Russian President Vladimir Putin, former US President George W Bush, former French President Nicholas Sarkozy, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and UK’s Queen Elizabeth II are some of the esteemed individuals that have been honored with this award in the past, highlighting the global outreach of this renowned decoration.
Fact-check: Zayed Medal and its Honorees
Before we continue further into the discussion, let’s briefly look at some facts about the Zayed Medal:
| Medal Name | Named After | Purpose | First Recipient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zayed Medal | Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan | Recognize contributions to international relations with UAE | Unknown |
India’s Involvement and Honour at the OIC
The story of India’s increasing engagement with the Islamic world, especially as represented by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), provides a fascinating backdrop to the Zayed Medal award. It was a significant event when India was invited as a “Guest of Honour” to attend the 46th Session of the OIC’s Council of Foreign Ministers. Invitations like these underline an enhanced level of acceptance, recognition, and collaboration between India and the Islamic nations, further foreshadowing greater cooperation in the future.