Introduction

Since becoming Prime Minister in 2014, Narendra Modi has been honoured by several Muslim-majority states with their top civilian awards. Each recognition coincided with significant diplomatic engagement—state visits, major agreements, infrastructure projects, and aid proposals. This article investigates each such award, pairing it with concurrent Indian outreach—from financial aid and trade deals to defense partnerships and cultural diplomacy—over the period 2014 to 2025. Our aim is to determine whether there is more than symbolism at play: is there a deeper, reciprocal relationship unfolding beneath the surface?

Contents

Introduction

1. Saudi Arabia – April 3, 2016
2. Afghanistan – June 4, 2016
3. Palestine – February 10, 2018
4. Maldives – June 8, 2019
5. United Arab Emirates – August 24, 2019
6. Bahrain – August 24, 2019
7. Egypt – June 25, 2023
8. Kuwait – December 22, 2024

Summary of Awards and Concurrent Outreach
Analysis and Correlations
Expert Perspectives
Conclusion

Modi Receiving civilian awards from Muslim countries

1. Saudi Arabia – April 3, 2016

Modi was awarded the King Abdulaziz Sash by King Salman of Saudi Arabia, during a high-profile visit to Riyadh. India signed five cooperation agreements in labor recruitment, technical standards, financial intelligence, and investment. The visit also covered broader expansion of trade ties and bilateral defense cooperation. At the time, bilateral trade stood around $39 billion, and India struck several significant energy and oil deals with Saudi Aramco.

2. Afghanistan – June 4, 2016

Modi was given the Amir Amanullah Khan Award during his visit to Herat. This award followed closely after he inaugurated the India-funded Salma Dam and the Afghan Parliament building in Kabul—two flagship projects under India’s long-term aid (totaling around $3 billion over two decades). During the same trip, the Chabahar transit corridor deal (involving Iran) and cooperation on the Turkmenistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan–India pipeline were also announced.

3. Palestine – February 10, 2018

On his first official visit to Ramallah, Modi received the Grand Collar of the State of Palestine. This recognition followed India’s pledge of approximately $141 million in development assistance to Palestine—covering infrastructure projects such as schools and libraries. India has long supported Palestine at the UN and through bilateral aid, and this visit underscored sustained diplomatic backing.

4. Maldives – June 8, 2019

Modi was conferred the Most Honourable Order of the Distinguished Rule of Izzuddin during his visit to Malé. This award coincided with the signing of defense, security, and infrastructure deals. India extended a $100 million line of credit, supplied patrol vessels, facilitated training, and provided COVID-19 assistance and disaster relief—all reflecting a deepening partnership following a change in Maldivian leadership.

5. United Arab Emirates – August 24, 2019

Modi received the Order of Zayed during a state visit, marking a milestone in India–UAE ties. Although final agreement on the India–UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement was reached in 2022, the visit initiated far-reaching cooperation in trade, energy, investment, currency settlement mechanisms, and defense.

6. Bahrain – August 24, 2019

Following the UAE visit, Modi also visited Bahrain and was awarded the King Hamad Order of the Renaissance. He laid the foundation stone for the redevelopment of a 200-year-old Hindu temple—an act symbolizing cultural outreach. India and Bahrain signed a cultural exchange program and an MoU to launch RuPay cards via a joint NPCI–BENEFIT venture.

7. Egypt – June 25, 2023

Modi received Egypt’s highest civilian honour, the Order of the Nile, during his first visit to Cairo. The visit focused on expanding trade—which was near $6 billion in 2022–23—and discussed using rupee-based settlements to support Egypt’s foreign exchange reserves. India also announced plans for greater cooperation in energy, technology, and food security, as well as defense and G20 engagement.

8. Kuwait – December 22, 2024

During Modi’s visit—the first by an Indian Prime Minister in 43 years—he received the Order of Mubarak Al-Kabeer. India and Kuwait elevated their relationship to a Strategic Partnership, launching cooperation in pharmaceuticals, IT, fintech, infrastructure, and defense. Bilateral trade reached about $10.4 billion in 2023–24, and over one million Indians reside in Kuwait.

Summary of Awards and Concurrent Outreach

Country	Award & Date	Concurrent Indian Engagement Highlights
Saudi Arabia	King Abdulaziz Sash – Apr 3, 2016	Five MoUs (labor/investment); $39B trade; energy and defense cooperation
Afghanistan	Amir Amanullah Khan – Jun 4, 2016	$3B aid; Salma Dam inauguration; Chabahar corridor deal; Parliament building support
Palestine	Grand Collar – Feb 10, 2018	$141M development aid; cultural and institutional support; UN backing
Maldives	Order of Izzuddin – Jun 8, 2019	$100M LOC; patrol vessels; disaster relief; infrastructure and security deals
UAE	Order of Zayed – Aug 24, 2019	Trade boost ($60B); CEPA deal; energy, investment, and maritime cooperation
Bahrain	Order of Renaissance – Aug 24, 2019	Temple redevelopment; RuPay card launch; cultural and economic ties
Egypt	Order of the Nile – Jun 25, 2023	$6B trade; rupee settlement talks; defense, energy, and G20 cooperation
Kuwait	Mubarak Al-Kabeer – Dec 22, 2024	$10B+ trade; strategic ties in pharma, IT, and defense; diaspora support

Analysis and Correlations

A clear pattern emerges: each award closely aligns with intensified Indian engagement—whether through MoUs, financing, trade pacts, defense agreements, or visits. In every instance, honors were conferred either during official state visits or immediately following major diplomatic push.

While some see this timing as indicative of possible quid‑pro‑quo, expert assessments strongly suggest the real driver is strategic reciprocity. Critics argue these honours are awarded as a gesture of gratitude for projects or diplomacy that served those countries’ interests—in securing energy, infrastructure, security, or diaspora support.

Furthermore, Muslim-majority nations with strained ties to India—such as Pakistan or Turkey—have not issued similar honours, reinforcing the view that these awards reflect strategic alignment rather than cultural or religious bias.

Expert Perspectives

Vijay Chauthaiwale (Foreign Affairs Analyst): Stated that the flurry of awards from Muslim nations “signals the success of Modi’s outreach,” particularly in strengthening ties with Gulf and neighbouring countries outside traditional partners.

Saeed Naqvi (Journalist): Interpreted the honours as “realpolitik gestures”—not expressions of solidarity with Indian Muslims, but calculated actions by foreign governments to secure India’s economic and strategic cooperation.

Dr. Chietigj Bajpaee (War on the Rocks): Described India’s Middle East strategy as “holistic and strategic,” wherein ceremonial gestures may help promotions, but the relationship is cemented by foundational economic and security ties.

Official statements from these countries confirm that the awards were symbolically recognizing both the quality of bilateral relations and the substance of joint undertakings—rather than any direct financial exchange.

Conclusion

From 2014 to 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi received top civilian honours from eight Muslim-majority countries—each coinciding with substantial Indian engagement in those nations. In every case, awards were given after or during major visits tied to investment, infrastructure development, trade treaties, or defense collaboration.

While critics may view the pattern as suspicious, the evidence supports a clearer conclusion: these awards were public acknowledgements of mutually beneficial, interest-driven partnerships, rather than evidence of pay-to-play conduct. The receipts are in oil pipelines, dams, trade volumes, and defense alliances—not in dollar-for-distinction.

In diplomacy, ceremony and substance often travel hand in hand. These awards fall squarely under the ceremonial category, but they are firmly rooted in the soil of strategic partnership.