A marching band from the UAE’s defence forces will join the parade on Republic Day, the first time Arab soldiers will be marching in New Delhi.

After the French marching band joined the parade in 2016 in honour of Francois Hollande, the practice has caught the fancy of others as well. With UAE crown prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan preparing to be the chief guest this year, the visiting dignitary who is also the deputy supreme commander of the armed forces, will bring a contingent to match the music and rhythm of India’s numerous military bands who put up a spectacular show on that day.

Sheikh Mohammed’s visit will be an opportunity for India and the UAE, who have grown closer in the past few years, to upgrade their bilateral relationship to a “strategic partnership”.

On 20 January 2017, India and the UAE will hold the first strategic dialogue, with minister of state M J Akbar and Anwar Mohammed Gargash, minister of state for foreign affairs of the UAE.