Before Smit Machchhar, two Indians got top UAE honour. Who are they?

Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar received the UAE's First Class Order of Zayed II for his bravery during a mid-air terror attack. At least two Indians had received the same honour before him. Who are they, and why were they honoured by the UAE?Before Captain Smit Machchhar (centre), former Indian ambassadors Navdeep Singh Suri (L) and Sunjay Sudhir received the UAE's First Class Order of Zayed II. (File/ AI-edit)New Delhi,Oct 28, 2026 11:45 ISTIndian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar, who helped save 174 passengers aboard a FlyDubai flight after being attacked by his Omani co-pilot, has received one of the UAE's most prestigious civilian honours. However, he is not the first Indian to receive the First Class Order of Zayed II.At least two Indians had received the same decoration before him, both for their contributions to strengthening India-UAE relations. Unlike Machchhar, who was recognised for extraordinary bravery, the two earlier recipients were Indian diplomats.On Tuesday, October 27, UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan conferred the First Class Order of Zayed II on Machchhar and other FlyDubai crew members for their actions during the September 30 cockpit terrorist attack by the Omani co-pilot. The awards were presented by Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.The First Class Order of Zayed II is a high-level UAE civilian decoration generally awarded to foreign diplomats, senior officials and distinguished international figures for their service and contributions. The honour is distinct from the Order of Zayed, the UAE's highest civilian decoration, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi received in August 2019.The UAE's First Class Order of Zayed II is named after Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the country's founding president, who ruled from 1971 until his death in 2004. Machchhar was seriously injured when his co-pilot attacked him with a cockpit axe aboard the Dubai-Tel Aviv flight, which reportedly plunged nearly 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds. Despite his injuries, he managed to open the cockpit door, allowing others to overpower the terrorist co-pilot before the aircraft landed safely in western Saudi Arabia.During a video call with PM Modi, Machchhar revealed that he had recited the Hanuman Chalisa during the ordeal. His bravery also drew praise from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, while Israel announced plans to confer a civilian bravery award on him. So, who are the two Indians to recieve the UAE's First Class Order of Zayed II before Machchhar?NAVDEEP SINGH SURI RECEIVED UAE HONOUR IN 2019 The first of the two previously confirmed Indian recipients was Navdeep Singh Suri, who served as India's ambassador to the UAE from December 2016 to September 2019.On September 11, 2019, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that then-President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan had conferred the First Class Order of Zayed II on Suri. The decoration was presented by Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, then UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, during a meeting in Abu Dhabi.According to the UAE government's official statement, Suri was honoured for his contribution to developing and strengthening relations between the two countries.Sheikh Abdullah praised the Indian ambassador's efforts to deepen bilateral cooperation and wished him success in his future assignments.Suri's tenure coincided with a significant expansion of India-UAE relations. The two countries elevated their ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2017, while cooperation expanded in defence, investment, energy and infrastructure.Suri retired from the Indian Foreign Service in September 2019 after a 36-year diplomatic career. He had previously served as India's ambassador to Egypt and high commissioner to Australia. The award came towards the end of his tenure in Abu Dhabi.SUNJAY SUDHIR RECEIVED THE SAME HONOUR IN 2025Six years later, another Indian ambassador received the same decoration. Sunjay Sudhir, who served as India's ambassador to the UAE from November 2021 to September 2025, was conferred the First Class Order of Zayed II on September 17, 2025.The decoration was awarded by UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and presented by Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the country's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs.According to the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sudhir was recognised for strengthening the comprehensive strategic relationship between India and the UAE across several sectors. His tenure saw major developments in economic and educational cooperation.Sudhir played an important role in negotiating and implementing the India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which was signed in February 2022. He also helped facilitate the establishment of IIT Delhi's Abu Dhabi campus and IIM Ahmedabad's Dubai campus.Other initiatives during his tenure included the expansion of UPI and RuPay acceptance in the UAE and cooperation involving investments and technology.Sudhir had previously served as India's high commissioner to the Maldives between 2019 and 2021.WHAT MAKES SMIT MACHCHHAR'S HONOUR DIFFERENT?The two earlier Indian recipients were honoured for diplomatic service. Machchhar and his fellow crew members received the decoration for their courage during an aviation emergency prompted by a terror attack.According to the UAE's official announcement, the recognition acknowledged the crew's efforts to protect passengers and secure the aircraft during the September 30 terror attack.The ceremony was attended by senior UAE leaders, including President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.Machchhar's recognition also follows praise from leaders in India, Israel and the United States. What makes the honour for Captain Machchhar significant is that it recognises an Indian aviation professional whose actions helped avert a potentially catastrophic mid-air terror attack. The other two Indians were honoured for their contributions to India-UAE bilateral ties and diplomacy.- Ends(Written by Sushim Mukul)