PM Modi's UAE Visit: A Vegetarian Feast at President Al Nahyan's Banquet; See Menu

President of the UAE Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed al Nahyan hosted a banquet in honor of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, and the menu was entirely vegetarian.

The meal, which was served at the Qasr-al-Watan presidential palace in Abu Dhabi, began with a wheat and dates salad served with local organic vegetables. This was followed by grilled vegetables with masala sauce as starters. For the main course, the dignitaries were served black lentils and local harees (wheat) along with cauliflower and carrot tandoori. A variety of local seasonal fruits were served for desserts.

A note on the menu card for the banquet read, "All meals are vegetarian and prepared with vegetable oils, and contain no dairy or egg products."

PM Modi was accorded a ceremonial welcome upon his arrival at the presidential palace. Thanking the UAE president, PM Modi said, "The respect you gave me, there is no other proof of affinity than this like a brother meeting his brother."

He added that he will attend the COP-28 Summit in the UAE and that India-UAE bilateral trade has grown by 20 percent, with both the countries achieving $85 billion in trade. "We will soon achieve the target of $100 billion," he said.

Before meeting the UAE president, PM Modi held a meeting with the UN climate conference's president-designate Sultan Al Jaber.

The vegetarian meal served to PM Modi is a sign of the close ties between India and the UAE. The two countries have a long history of cooperation, and their relationship has grown stronger in recent years. The vegetarian meal is also a nod to PM Modi's personal beliefs. He is a vegetarian, and he has often spoken about the importance of sustainable food practices.

The banquet was a symbol of the strong ties between India and the UAE, and it was a chance for the two leaders to discuss their shared goals for the future.