From Smit Machchhar To Navdeep Suri: Indians Who Received UAE's Prestigious Awards

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan awarded the "First Class Order of Zayed II" to Indian-origin pilot Smit Machchhar and his crew members on Tuesday. They received the award for their incredible valour in saving the lives of 174 passengers aboard the Flydubai flight from a crash attempt by the co-pilot on September 30. Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum presented the award to Machchhar.

During the September 30 crash attempt, Smit was seriously injured after his co-pilot attacked him aboard a Dubai-Tel Aviv flight. Despite being severely injured, Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door, which allowed the passengers to intervene and overpower the co-pilot. The flight subsequently landed in Saudi Arabia, where he underwent skull reconstruction surgery at a hospital in Tabuk.

Terror was met with courage. Courage was met with honour. President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed embraces Captain Smit Machchhar, hero of flydubai Flight FZ1073, honoured with the Order of Zayed II. In the UAE, bravery knows no nationality. Heroes are treated as heroes. 🇦🇪🇮🇳 https://t.co/338raPFbyZ

— Mona Alhmoudi، منى الحمودي (@monaalhmoudi) October 27, 2026

Is Smit Machchhar The First Indian To Receive UAE’s Top Honour?

No, Machchhar is not the first Indian to be awarded UAE's prestigious honour. Previously, Navdeep Singh Suri and Sunjay Sudhir, former Indian ambassadors to the UAE, have received the same recognition for their contribution in strengthening bilateral relations with the country.

UAE President confers the First Class Order of Zayed II on the flydubai crew members involved in September’s in-flight incident, in recognition of their courageous efforts to ensure the safety of passengers. The honours were presented by Hamdan bin Mohammed, who commended the crew’s actions and sense of responsibility.

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) October 27, 2026

Navdeep Singh Suri Awarded UAE Honour in 2019

The first Indian to receive the UAE's top honour was Navdeep Singh Suri. He was India's ambassador to the UAE from December 2016 to September 2019. Former UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan honoured Suri in September 2019 for efforts to strengthen bilateral ties between the two countries. The award was given near the end of Suri's tenure working in Abu Dhabi. 

After a 36-year diplomatic career, Navdeep retired from the Indian Foreign Service in September 2019. Besides the UAE, he has also served as India's ambassador to Egypt and high commissioner to Australia.

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Sunjay Sudhir Received The Same Honour Six Years Later

Another Indian ambassador, Sunjay Sudhir, received the same award in 2025. The First Class Order of Zayed II honour was conferred on him in September 2025 by UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for his remarkable contribution in strengthening strategic relations between the two countries.

His milestones include facilitating the establishment of IIT Delhi's Abu Dhabi campus and IIM Ahmedabad's Dubai campus, expansion of UPI and RuPay in the UAE, and cooperation involving investments and technology. Previously, he served as India's high commissioner to the Maldives between 2019 and 2021.

What Is The First Class Order of Zayed II Honour?

The First Class Order of Zayed II is the UAE's highly prestigious medal given to honour exceptional people. Named after the country's founding president, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the honour is given to foreign diplomats, senior officials, and other distinguished individuals for their remarkable contributions.

However, it is different from the Order of Zayed, the UAE's highest civilian order. In August 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi received the award for his efforts to strengthen the long-standing friendship between India and the UAE through bilateral strategic ties.