The Indian community in Abu Dhabi eagerly awaits Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech at the ‘Ahlan Modi’ event scheduled for later today. Gathering at the Zayed City sports stadium where the event will take place, they resound with chants of ‘Ahlan Modi’ and ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’. Notably, the title ‘Ahlan Modi’ roughly translates to ‘Hello Modi’.
Expressing their anticipation, a woman of Indian origin told ANI, “I have come from Ajman. I am very excited to see our dear Prime Minister. We are waiting for him.” Gauri Deshpande and her husband Tushar Deshpande, from Maharashtra, shared their excitement for meeting Prime Minister Modi, remarking that they had been eagerly awaiting this event for a long time. “We are from Maharashtra. We were staying in Abu Dhabi for the last 20 years. We were waiting for this day for very long,” Gauri Deshpande said. “We were anticipating this event for a very long and truly the atmosphere has become reverberating,” Tushar Dehspande added.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s arrival in Abu Dhabi was met with a warm welcome, as he was received by UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The two leaders exchanged handshakes and hugs, and PM Modi also received a guard of honour.
Preparations are underway at Sheikh Zayed Sports Stadium in Abu Dhabi for various cultural performances. The enthusiasm of the Indian diaspora has been remarkable, leading organizers to close registrations last week as the number of attendees exceeded 65,000. The Indian expatriate community, approximately 3.5 million strong, constitutes the largest ethnic community in the UAE, making up roughly 35% of the country’s population.
Key highlights of the event include an exhibition featuring over 700 cultural artists, showcasing the vast diversity of Indian arts and ensuring an inclusive cultural celebration. With active participation from over 150 Indian community groups, the event highlights India’s regional diversity and the integration of thousands of blue-collar workers from across the emirates, creating a rich tapestry of diversity and unity within the event.
