Prime Minister Modi embarked on a diplomatic journey to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar on a crisp Tuesday morning, commencing a two-day official visit. The focal point of his itinerary is the inauguration of the inaugural Hindu temple, ‘BAPs mandir,’ in the vibrant city of Abu Dhabi. Expressing his anticipation, he took to X, previously known as Twitter, stating, “I am eager to meet my brother, HH@MohamedBinZayed.”
Given the extensive collaborative efforts between these nations, this marks Modi’s eighth visit to the UAE, signifying its paramount role in fortifying the bilateral relations. Notably, this visit represents Modi’s second venture into Qatar since the year 2014.
The visit unfolds subsequent to the Emir of Qatar’s declaration on Sunday to release eight former Indian Navy sailors, formerly incarcerated on charges of suspected espionage, with imposing prison sentences. Applauding this development, India’s foreign ministry conveyed in the morning, “The Government of India welcomes the release of eight Indian nationals working for the Dahra Global company who were detained in Qatar.”
In addition to engaging with the top echelons of India’s closest strategic allies in West Asia, the Prime Minister is slated to address an expansive audience comprising the Indian diaspora preceding the “Ahlan Modi” event, scheduled at the Zayed Sports City Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
As per the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the bilateral meeting between PM Modi and the President of the United Arab Emirates will encompass discussions on augmenting economic ties across various domains. These encompass facets such as energy security, trade in energy resources, development of ports, railways, and maritime logistics, along with digital infrastructure, capital flows, and fintech connectivity.
Highlighting the nine-year continuum of cooperation with the UAE, the PM’s statement preceding the visit accentuated the manifold growth in sectors like trade and investment, defense and security, food and energy security, and education. The statement emphasized the robust cultural and people-to-people connections that have burgeoned over the years.
The Prime Minister underscored the historically close and amicable ties with Qatar, remarking on the deepening multifaceted relations. He elaborated on the strengthening of high-level political exchanges, burgeoning trade and investment, reinforced energy partnerships, and collaboration in cultural and educational realms. The statement concluded with a nod to the substantial presence of a robust Indian community exceeding 800,000 individuals in Doha, serving as a testament to the resilient people-to-people bonds.
