‘Ahlan Modi’: PM highlights UPI, temple & bonhomie with ‘brother’ MBZ in address to diaspora

PM Modi addressed the Indian diaspora at Zayed Sports Stadium in Abu Dhabi on February 13

Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the upcoming rollout of unified payments interface (UPI) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the inauguration of the country's first Hindu temple and his bonhomie with "brother" Shaykh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in his address to the Indian diaspora on February 13.

The 'Ahlan Modi (Welcome Modi)' event was organised in Abu Dhabi on the first day of Modi's two-day official visit to the UAE. Before the event, Modi and Al Nahyan or MBZ, the president of the Emirates, witnessed the signing of an array of pacts related to trade, connectivity and investment between the two sides.

Modi, while addressing the Indian diaspora, stressed that India and the UAE are "strong partners", and the partnership is forged on the basis of "talent, culture and progress".

"Today, the UAE is India's third largest trade partner. It is the seventh biggest investor. Both of our countries are cooperating towards ease of living and ease of doing business," he said.

Modi also mentioned the significance of the launch of UPI RuPay card service in the UAE earlier today, and reiterated that UPI payments will "commence very soon" in the Emirates.

The enabling of UPI payments will make it "more easy for you to send money back home", Modi told members of the Indian diaspora.

'Brother' MBZ

Modi, throughout his speech, addressed Al Nahyan or MBZ as his "brother", who has shown love and admiration for Indians.

"In 2015, when I presented to him the proposal to build a temple in Abu Dhabi on behalf of all of you, he immediately said 'yes' to it. Now the time has come to inaugurate this grand (BAPS) temple," he said.

The temple would be inaugurated by Modi on February 14, and it would be opened up for the public from March 1 onwards.

"I remember when I first came to the UAE in 2015 on an official visit, the then crown prince and current president Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan had welcomed me personally along with his five brothers," he said.

"This is my seventh visit to the UAE in the last 10 years, bur brother Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan welcomes me with the same warmness as he did the first time," Modi added.

The prime minister added that he was also fortunate to have been awarded with the 'Order of Zayed', the UAE's highest civilian honour. The title was conferred upon him in 2019.