Prime Minister Narendra Modi commenced a two-day official journey to the UAE and Qatar from New Delhi on Tuesday morning.
Before his departure, the Prime Minister took to the social media platform X to express his anticipation of meeting his “brother,” the President of the UAE, with whom he shares a strong bond.
Randhir Jaiswal, the Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson, utilized X to underscore that PM Modi’s first leg of the trip in the UAE will involve engagements with UAE leadership and community members, as well as the inauguration of the BAPS Hindu Temple in Abu Dhabi.
“Wheels up! PM @narendramodi embarks on a two-country visit to the UAE & Qatar. The first leg of the visit in the UAE entails engagements with UAE leadership & community members, inauguration of @AbuDhabiMandir, and participation as the Guest of Honour at @WorldGovSummit in Dubai,” he stated.
During his time in the UAE, PM Modi is scheduled to meet with the UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, whom he previously met in Gujarat during the ‘Vibrant Gujarat 2024’ event on January 9. He will also engage with the Vice President, Prime Minister, and Defence Minister of the UAE, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
Prime Minister Modi posted on X, “Eager to meet my brother, @MohamedBinZayed. Over the next two days, I will be visiting UAE and Qatar to attend various programmes, which will deepen India’s bilateral relations with these nations.”
During their bilateral discussions, PM Modi and the UAE President are expected to focus on bolstering ties in various economic sectors, including energy security, trade, transportation, digital infrastructure, and financial connectivity, as per the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
The Prime Minister also highlighted the significance of the visit, stating that it will be his seventh to the UAE since assuming office in 2015, demonstrating the importance India places on its friendship with the UAE. “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,” the Prime Minister said in a statement ahead of his departure.
Additionally, PM Modi will address the World Government Summit 2024, where he will deliver a keynote address, and he will inaugurate the first Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi, emphasizing its significance as a symbol of harmony, peace, and tolerance shared by both India and the UAE.
Furthermore, PM Modi will engage with the Indian diaspora in Abu Dhabi at the Zayed Sports City Stadium, with the ‘Ahlan Modi’ or ‘Hello Modi’ event generating substantial interest, as evidenced by over 65,000 registrations received from the Indian expatriate community.
Following his visit to the UAE from February 13-14, PM Modi will proceed to Doha. Authorities in Qatar on Monday released eight former Indian Navy personnel who were jailed by a court in the Gulf country.
In Qatar, PM Modi is set to hold bilateral meetings with the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and other prominent dignitaries, as announced by Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra during a special briefing on PM Modi’s visit to the UAE.