Prime Minister Narendra Modi will begin his two-day UAE visit today where he is expected to participate in the World Government Summit 2024, inaugurate the first Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi and address the 'Ahlan Modi', besides attending official meetings. In a press briefing on Monday, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said that PM Modi will visit UAE on February 13 and 14, following which he will travel to Doha in Qatar. The Doha visit comes days after the release of eight Indian Navy officials who were jailed in Qatar. UAE is one of India's key trade diplomatic partners, and experts say that PM Modi's latest visit is meant to shore up business, defense and cultural ties with its Middle Eastern neighbour. According to a press release on the PM visit, the Ministry of External Affairs said that India and UAE 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 4 investors in India in terms of foreign direct investments in 2022-23," it said. “Modi is not going to travel widely this year before the election,” said Viraj Solanki, a researcher at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, told Reuters. “The fact that he is willing to go to the UAE shows how important this relationship is for India.” What does PM's schedule look like? In UAE, Modi will meet with the UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, whom he had met with in Gujarat during the 'Vibrant Gujarat 2024' in January 9. The two leaders had shared good rapport, with PM Modi greeting the President of UAE as "my brother." Welcome to India my brother, HH @MohamedBinZayed. It’s an honour to have you visit us. pic.twitter.com/Oj7zslR5oq — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 9, 2024 PM Modi will also meet Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who is the Vice President, Prime Minister and Defence Minister of UAE. World Government Summit 2024 The Prime Minister is scheduled to attend the World Government Summit 2024 on the Vice President's invitation. The theme of this year's Summit in Dubai is 'Shaping Future Governments', and will comprise six main ideas namely 'Government Acceleration and Transformation', 'Artificial Intelligence and The Next Frontiers', 'Reimagining Development and Future Economies', 'Future Societies and Education', 'Sustainability and The New Global Shifts', and 'Urbanisation and Global Health Priorities'. PM Modi has been invited as the Guest of Honour and will deliver a special keynote address at the Summit, as per the MEA release. Abu Dhabi Hindu temple inauguration The BAPS Hindu Mandir, the first of its kind in Abu Dhabi, will be inaugurated in a grand ceremony on February 14. PM Modi will participate in the ceremony at 6 pm IST. Following this, he will address the Indian community at the 'Ahlan Modi' event in Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi. Live Webcast of Dedication Assembly of BAPS Hindu Mandir, Abu Dhabi, UAE pic.twitter.com/fRhsHeYcJb — BAPS (@BAPS) February 12, 2024 Speaking to Reuters, Pujya Brahmavihari Swami, who oversaw the construction of the temple, praised Sheikh Mohammed and Modi for their cooperation.“The leadership of the UAE . has been so generous and supported us," he said, adding, "The leadership of India, the prime minister, he thinks not just of trade, he thinks beyond — that the exchange of culture, the exchange of values, is equally important.” More than 3.5 million Indians call the UAE home, making them the largest group of people in the country, including Emirati citizens.
