PM Modi Becomes First Leader To Get Top Honours From 5 Of 6 Gulf Nations. Which Are They?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred with Oman’s highest national award, The First Class of the Order of Oman, during his two-day visit to the Gulf nation. The prestigious award conferred to PM Modi made

him one of the internationally decorated leaders.

The Order of Oman is the highest national honour awarded by the Sultanate of Oman to foreign heads of state and distinguished global leaders. This is the latest addition to PM Modi’s distinguished list of highest civilian awards from foreign nations, including recent honours such as Ethiopia’s Great Honour Nishan of Ethiopia and Kuwait’s Order of Mubarak Al-Kabeer.

The Indian PM said the award was a symbol of affection and trust between the people of India and Oman and dedicated the honour to the ancestors of both nations who laid the foundations of this relationship by travelling from Mandvi to Muscat.

This recognition is PM Modi’s 29th international award since he assumed office in May 2014, reflecting the growing global respect for India’s leadership and diplomatic presence. He is now the first global leader to receive top civilian honours from five out of six Gulf countries.

Which Awards PM Modi Received In Gulf Nations?

• Saudi Arabia (Order of King Abdulaziz): The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia conferred its highest civilian honour to Prime Minister Modi in April 2016 during his visit to the country. The award is named after Abdulaziz Al Saud, the founder of the modern Saudi state.
• United Arab Emirates (Order of Zayed): During his visit to the UAE in August 2019, PM Modi was conferred the country’s top civilian honour by Abu Dhabi’s crown prince, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in recognition of his pivotal role in building the strategic relationship between the two countries.
• Bahrain (King Hamad Order of the Renaissance): Soon after his UAE visit in 2019, PM Modi went to Bahrain – the first visit by an Indian leader at the time. He was honoured with “The King Hamad Order of the Renaissance”, the country’s top civilian award, as he held talks with King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.
• Kuwait (Order of Mubarak Al Kabeer): PM Modi was conferred with Kuwait’s highest civilian honour, the ‘Mubarak Al-Kabeer Order’, in a ceremony held today at Bayan Palace by Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah in December 2024. He joined the likes of US presidents Bill Clinton and George Bush and UK royal King Charles III with this award.
• Oman (Order of Oman): Sultan Haitham bin Tarik conferred the prestigious First Class of the Order of Oman to PM Modi on Thursday for his contributions to strengthening bilateral ties. This places Prime Minister Modi among an exclusive group of world leaders and global icons, including Queen Elizabeth II and South Africa’s Nelson Mandela.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the only global leader who has received top civilian honours from five out of six Gulf countries. Qatar is the only nation that is yet to award any civilian honour to PM Modi, even as the two countries continue diplomatic engagements.