FEB 13, 2024 : When Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, he was greeted with great enthusiasm. President of the United Arab Emirates Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan greeted PM Modi. The two leaders gave each other hugs and handshakes. A guard of honour was also presented to Prime Minister Modi. At the “Ahlan Modi” event, PM Modi will speak to the Indian diaspora in the interim. On Wednesday, he will also officially open the BAPS Hindu Temple in Abu Dhabi. With over 65,000 people attending the Ahlan Modi event, the Indian diaspora in the UAE has been anticipating PM Modi’s arrival with great anticipation.With 3.5 million members, the Indian expat community is the largest ethnic group in the United Arab Emirates, making up around 35% of the total population. Jitendra Vaidya, the leader of the Ahlan Modi initiative and president of the Indian People Forum, expressed his excitement and expectation for the historic occasion. “People are already waiting at each gate of this stadium even though our gates have not yet opened. “I can assure you that ‘Ahlan Modi’ will be regarded as a historic occasion anytime people recall a public appearance by PM Modi outside of the nation,” he remarked. “Over 800 participants will perform here today,” he continued, adding that the programmes will begin at roughly noon (local time). We considered inviting celebrities to the “Ahlan Modi” event, but when PM Modi learned about it, he remarked, “Your people are celebrities.” Volunteering at the ‘Ahlan Modi’ event and an Indian diaspora resident, Ved Prakash Gupta underlined that this is a significant turning point in India-UAE ties. “…this marks a significant turning point in India-UAE relations…We are a group of 1500 individuals working in several departments.Despite yesterday’s intense downpour, the weather is clear today.Everyone is looking forward to PM Modi…For Indians, this is a proud time,” he remarked. The Prime Minister posted on social networking site X prior to his departure, expressing his excitement for his upcoming meeting with his “brother,” the President of the United Arab Emirates, with whom he gets along well. According to a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs Minister, this is also the PM’s third visit to the Gulf nation in the previous eight months. The Prime Minister said in a statement prior to his departure, “My discussions with Prime Minister His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid on the margins of Summit will focus on strengthening our multifaceted ties with Dubai.” On Wednesday, he will also open Abu Dhabi’s first Hindu temple.“The BAPS temple will be an enduring tribute to the values of harmony, peace and tolerance, which both India and the UAE share,” the prime minister stated. With over 65,000 registrations, the ‘Ahlan Modi’ or ‘Hello Modi’ event hosted by the Indian community in Abu Dhabi has garnered unparalleled attention, demonstrating the huge response from the Indian expatriate community. From February 13–14, PM Modi will visit the United Arab Emirates; he will then travel to Doha.
