Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has embarked on a two-day visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where he will inaugurate the first Hindu temple, ‘BAPS Mandir,’ in Abu Dhabi. His itinerary also includes addressing the Indian diaspora and holding meetings with top UAE leadership.
Modi departed from New Delhi at 11:30 am and is expected to arrive in Abu Dhabi around 4 pm. The Ministry of External Affairs of India has highlighted the significance of the visit, noting its importance in strengthening bilateral ties with one of India’s closest strategic partners in West Asia.
During his visit, Modi will meet Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (MBZ), with whom he previously interacted in December last year during his visit to Gujarat. The two leaders are expected to discuss and potentially finalize agreements in various sectors to enhance cooperation between India and the UAE.
In a statement before his departure, Modi said that India and the UAE are working across diverse sectors such as trade, investment, defence, security, food, energy security, and education. He also highlighted the “strong cultural and people-to-people connections” between the two nations.
“I look forward to meeting His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of UAE, in Abu Dhabi and holding wide-ranging discussions on taking forward our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. I had the privilege of hosting His Highness recently in Gujarat, where he was the Chief Guest at the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2024,” Modi stated before his departure.
