PM Modi welcomes Amir of Qatar at airport for two-day visit; meet with President Murmu ahead

In a rare and warm gesture of hospitality, Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally went to the airport on Monday to receive Amir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, who arrived in New Delhi for a two-day state visit. The Amir’s visit is scheduled to include a meeting with President Droupadi Murmu and bilateral talks with Modi on February 18.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also met with the Amir later in the evening, upon his arrival.

This visit comes at the invitation of Prime Minister Modi and marks the Amir's second state visit to India. His first visit took place in March 2015, as previously noted by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). The visit aims to further solidify and enhance the growing relationship between the two countries.


India and Qatar have long-standing, deep-rooted ties founded on friendship, trust, and mutual respect. These bonds have grown stronger in recent years, particularly in the fields of trade, investment, energy, technology, culture, and people-to-people exchanges.

Strengthening bilateral relations

The Indian community in Qatar plays an integral role in the country’s development and forms the largest expatriate group. Their contributions to Qatar’s growth are greatly appreciated, with the MEA highlighting their positive impact on Qatar's progress.

The Amir of Qatar’s state visit, accompanied by a high-level delegation of ministers, senior officials, and business leaders, aims to provide further momentum to this multifaceted and thriving partnership.

On Tuesday morning, a ceremonial welcome will be held for the Amir at Rashtrapati Bhawan, followed by his talks with Modi at Hyderabad House. The discussions will cover various aspects of bilateral relations, as outlined by the MEA earlier.

Later in the day, the two sides are scheduled to exchange memoranda of understanding (MoUs), further strengthening ties between India and Qatar. The Amir will then meet President Murmu to conclude his official engagements.