Village of Ghungrana celebrates as native son becomes top envoy

Chandigarh, Sep 26, 2026: The government of Canada has named Punjabi-origin Sikh diplomat Angad Singh Dhillon as its new Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The announcement, made by Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand, has triggered widespread joy among members of the Punjabi diaspora in Canada and around the world. Dhillon will succeed Radha Krishna Pandey as Canada's top diplomat in the UAE.

A statement released by the Canadian government indicated that this move forms part of a wider reshuffle within the country's diplomatic ranks, which also saw Carmen Sorger appointed as the new ambassador to Cuba. Dhillon's family hails from Ghungrana village in Punjab's Ludhiana district, and news of his selection to one of Canada's most prominent diplomatic postings in the Gulf has led to celebrations breaking out in his ancestral village.

The UAE holds considerable importance for Canada as a partner in trade, investment, energy and regional diplomatic affairs. In his new role, Dhillon will be tasked with deepening bilateral cooperation and safeguarding Canadian interests across the Gulf region. Commenting on the appointment, Foreign Minister Anand noted that the incoming envoy would play a key part in furthering Canada's global interests and reinforcing ties with its international partners.

Notably, Dhillon had most recently been serving as Director of Operations and Stakeholder Relations within the office of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. In his capacity as one of the prime minister's trusted advisers, he played a substantial role in rebuilding Canada's diplomatic engagement with major partners such as India and China and reviving high-level dialogue between them. He has also previously served as chief of staff to two federal cabinet ministers, during which time he represented Canada at major international platforms including the G7, G20, the UN General Assembly and APEC.