Piyush Goyal Hails Captain Smit Machchhar's UAE Honour
Synopsis
Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal celebrated Captain Smit Machchhar and the flydubai crew receiving the UAE's First Class Order of Zayed II, presented by Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, calling it a proud moment for India.
Key Takeaways
Captain Smit Machchhar and his flydubai crew received the UAE's First Class Order of Zayed II .
The honour was presented by Crown Prince H.H.
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum , Dubai's Deputy Prime Minister.
Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal publicly congratulated the crew on 28 October 2026 . flydubai is a Dubai government-owned carrier with significant operations across South Asia and India .
The recognition highlights the deep professional and people-to-people ties between India and the UAE , built on frameworks including the 2022 CEPA .
An Indian aviator has been recognised at the highest levels of the UAE — and Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal wants the country to know about it. On Wednesday, 28 October 2026, Goyal took to X to congratulate Captain Smit Machchhar and his flydubai crew on receiving the UAE's prestigious First Class Order of Zayed II, presented by Crown Prince H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum.
Goyal wrote: 'Proud to see Captain Smit Machchhar and the flydubai crew honoured with the UAE's prestigious First Class Order of Zayed II, presented by Crown Prince H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum. Captain Smit and his team embody the true spirit of duty, precision and valour, making us all proud.'
The Order of Zayed II — What It Means
The First Class Order of Zayed II is among the UAE's most distinguished national honours, named after the country's founding father Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. It is conferred by senior members of the royal family and typically recognises exceptional service, courage, or contribution to the UAE. That it was presented personally by Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum — Dubai's Deputy Prime Minister and one of the UAE's most prominent public figures — underlines the weight the honour carries. The specific circumstances of the award have not been officially detailed, but the recognition of an entire crew alongside their captain signals a collective act of distinction in the line of duty.Captain Smit Machchhar and flydubai
flydubai, the Dubai government-owned low-cost carrier, operates an extensive network spanning the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia, with India featuring prominently among its key markets. An Indian national commanding one of its aircraft and earning a UAE state honour speaks to the deep professional integration between the two countries' aviation ecosystems. The Gulf has long been home to one of India's largest diaspora communities, and moments like this resonate far beyond the cockpit.India-UAE Ties and the People Behind the Numbers
Goyal's enthusiastic response is not incidental. As Commerce Minister, he has been a central figure in advancing India-UAE bilateral relations, including the landmark Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) signed in February 2022 — one of the fastest-concluded trade deals in India's history. The two countries have steadily deepened people-to-people ties alongside trade and investment linkages since roughly 2015. When a senior minister publicly celebrates an Indian professional's foreign honour, it stitches the human story into that larger strategic narrative. Captain Machchhar's recognition is, in that sense, both personal and emblematic — proof that the India-UAE relationship is lived by real people at 35,000 feet, not just drafted in treaty rooms.Point of View
Who architected the India-UAE CEPA, this post reinforces a consistent narrative: the bilateral relationship delivers tangible dignity and recognition to ordinary Indians working abroad. It also keeps the UAE partnership visible in the domestic conversation ahead of what will likely be a busy diplomatic calendar between New Delhi and Abu Dhabi. The spotlight on an aviation crew, rather than a businessman or diplomat, is a deliberate choice — it broadens the story's appeal to the Gulf diaspora and the wider Indian middle class.
NationPress
28 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Captain Smit Machchhar?
Captain Smit Machchhar is an Indian national serving as a pilot with flydubai , the Dubai government-owned low-cost carrier. He and his crew were awarded the UAE's First Class Order of Zayed II by Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum.
What is the First Class Order of Zayed II?
The First Class Order of Zayed II is one of the UAE's most prestigious national honours, named after the country's founding father Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan . It is typically conferred for exceptional service, courage, or distinguished contribution to the UAE.
Who presented the Order of Zayed II to the flydubai crew?
The award was presented by Crown Prince H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum , who also serves as Dubai's Deputy Prime Minister and is one of the UAE's most prominent figures.
Why did Piyush Goyal congratulate Captain Smit Machchhar?
Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal congratulated the crew saying they 'embody the true spirit of duty, precision and valour,' framing the recognition as a moment of national pride for India.
What is flydubai and its connection to India?
flydubai is a Dubai government-owned low-cost airline operating across the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia . India is among its key markets, and the carrier employs a significant number of Indian aviation professionals.
