In 1972, the UAE established an embassy in New Delhi. Coming just a few months after the UAE was formed, the move was a sign of just how important the links between the two countries were.
A few years later in 1975, the late President Sheikh Zayed cemented these ties with a historic visit to the country. In this photo from the visit, we can see Sheikh Zayed sitting with the Indian prime minister Indira Ghandi.
During the trip, cultural and other agreements were signed. Almost 10 years later, Gandhi was assassinated by two of her bodyguards.
Sheikh Zayed would visit India several more times and Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, has just completed a three-day visit where he was chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations.
Today, more than 2.5 million Indians live in the UAE. They are the largest ethnic group in the country, representing a sign of the enduring bond between the two nations.
* John Dennehy