First Class Order of Zayed II:
Indian Pilot Smit Machchhar recently received the UAE’s First Class Order of Zayed II for his bravery in protecting 174 passengers aboard a Flydubai flight during an alleged attack by his Omani co-pilot.
- First Class Order of Zayed II is one of the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE’s) prestigious civilian decorations.
- It is named after Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the country’s founding President.
- It is generally awarded to foreign diplomats, senior officials, and distinguished international figures whose work has made a significant contribution to the country or its international relations.
- Two former Indian ambassadors to the UAE, Navdeep Singh Suri and Sunjay Sudhir, were previously awarded the same decoration for their contributions to strengthening bilateral relations.
