Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be conferred the Zayed Medal, the highest civilian honour of United Arab Emirates (UAE), making him the first Indian Prime Minister to be so honoured.

Announcing the award, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces Shaikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan said that the award is being given to his “dear friend” PM Modi in appreciation for his efforts that led to a big boost in the historical ties between India and the UAE.

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“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,” the Crown Prince said in a tweet.

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

The honour will be conferred by UAE President Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Zayed Medal, or the Order of Zayed, is the highest decoration awarded to kings, presidents and heads of states.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki were the recipients of the honour in 2018. It was first awarded in 1995 to Crown Prince Naruhito of Japan.

Former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Queen Elizabeth II are among the notable recipients.

This is the third time in the last five years that the Prime Minister becomes the recipient of the highest civilian honour of a West Asian country.

On 3 April 2016, PM Modi became the first Indian Prime Minister to be honoured with the Order of Abdulaziz Al Saud – the highest civilian award of Saudi Arabia. PM Modi was awarded in the Member Special Class category of the award, which is the highest among its six classes.

In 2018 Palestine conferred the Grand Collar of The State of Palestine, its highest civilian honour for foreign dignitaries, on PM Modi during the latter’s visit to the country on 10 February.