Modi leaves for UAE to inaugurate first Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi

NEW DELHI: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday embarked on a three-day official visit to the UAE and Qatar during which he will inaugurate the first Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi.
This will be Modi’s seventh visit to the UAE and second visit to Qatar since 2014.
Over the last nine years, India’s cooperation with UAE in diverse sectors such as trade and investment, defence and security, food and energy security and education has grown manifold, Modi said in a departure statement adding “our cultural and people-to-people connect is stronger than ever.”
During his stay in the UAE, Modi will hold talks with Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of UAE, in Abu Dhabi on taking forward bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership.
At the invitation of His Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, PM and Defence Minister of UAE and ruler of Dubai, the Indian PM said he would address the gathering of world leaders at the World Government Summit in Dubai on 14 February.
Modi said his discussions with UAE on the margins of the Summit will focus on strengthening our multifaceted ties with Dubai.
“During the visit, I will also inaugurate the first Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi. The BAPS temple will be an enduring tribute to the values of harmony, peace and tolerance, which both India and the UAE share,” he said.
UAE is one of India’s key trade and diplomatic partners and the ties between them were elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The two countries also inked a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in February 2022 and a Local Currency Settlement System in July 2023 to promote cross-border transactions.
India-UAE bilateral trade was to the tune of about USD 85 billion in 2022-23. The two countries are among each other’s top trading partners with a bilateral trade of about US$ 85 billion in 2022-23. UAE is also among the top four investors in India in terms of foreign direct investments in 2022-23.
About 3.5 million strong Indian community forms the largest expatriate group in the UAE.
In Doha, Modi said he would meet Qatar’s Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and other high dignitaries in that country.
India and Qatar enjoy historically close and friendly relations and in recent years, the multifaceted bilateral ties have continued to deepen in all spheres including high-level political exchanges, trade and investment energy partnership and cooperation in culture and education.
Qatar is host to over 800,000 strong Indian community in Doha which Modi said “is a testament to our strong people-to-people ties.”