New Delhi, India – A 1998-batch officer of the Indian Foreign Service, Dr. Mittal brings more than two decades of diplomatic experience. He has served twice in the Prime Minister’s Office, making him a trusted figure in India’s top diplomatic and strategic circles. In 2021, he was instrumental in establishing India’s first official diplomatic contact with the Taliban and has played a crucial role in defending Indian interests on global platforms.
From 2020 to 2022, Dr. Mittal served as India’s Ambassador to Qatar, where he managed complex bilateral engagements, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic and amid shifting regional dynamics in the Gulf. His leadership during this period was pivotal in advancing India’s ties with Doha while safeguarding the interests of Indian nationals.
Dr. Mittal will succeed Sunjay Sudhir, the current Ambassador to the UAE, who is set to retire in September. His appointment comes at a time when India–UAE relations are at an all-time high, with growing cooperation in energy, trade, technology, and security.
The UAE is among India’s closest strategic partners in West Asia, serving as a key energy supplier and home to more than 3.5 million Indian nationals, one of the largest expatriate communities in the region. Diplomatic relations between India and the UAE, established in 1972, have deepened significantly over the past decade.
The partnership gained new momentum following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s landmark 2015 visit to the Emirates, the first by an Indian Prime Minister in over three decades. Since then, Modi has visited the UAE seven times in nine years, underscoring the importance of bilateral ties. In February 2024, he inaugurated the BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi, an event widely regarded as a symbol of cultural and interfaith harmony. Earlier, in December 2023, Modi also visited Dubai to attend COP-28.
With Dr. Mittal’s appointment, New Delhi is expected to further strengthen cooperation with Abu Dhabi in priority areas such as renewable energy, investment, maritime security, defence, and regional stability.
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