Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a warm welcome from United Arab Emirates President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan upon his arrival in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday. A video shared by news agency PTI captured the two leaders hugging, and the Prime Minister was also honored with a Guard of Honour.
During his two-day visit to the Gulf nation, PM Modi is set to engage in extensive discussions with the UAE’s top leaders to further strengthen the bilateral strategic partnership. This visit marks Modi’s seventh to the UAE since 2015.
The Prime Minister, before departing for the UAE, highlighted the significant growth in cooperation between the two nations over the past nine years, spanning various sectors such as trade, investment, defense, security, food, energy security, and education. He expressed anticipation for discussions with President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi.
A key aspect of PM Modi’s visit is the inauguration of the Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) Mandir, marking the first Hindu stone temple in Abu Dhabi. The temple, located in Abu Mureikhah near Al Rahba, covers around 27 acres of land and has been under construction since 2019. The UAE government donated the land for this cultural and religious landmark.
In a statement, PM Modi emphasized that the BAPS temple would stand as a lasting tribute to the shared values of harmony, peace, and tolerance between India and the UAE. The inauguration of this temple is a significant event symbolizing the strong cultural and people-to-people ties between the two nations.
