Narendra Modi in UAE Highlights: UPI will help in sending money home more easily, PM tells Indian diaspora

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The hard work of the Indian diaspora is crucial in the economic growth of both India and the UAE, Modi said, before concluding his address at the Ahlan Modi' event.

"...Modi has given a guarantee that in his third term, India will become the third largest economy. Modi ki guarantee yani guarantee pura hone ki guarantee," the prime minister said, at the 'Ahlan Modi' event.

The launch of unified payments interface (UPI) will allow the Indian diaspora to more easily transfer money back home, Prime Minister Modi said.

"Today, the goal of every Indian is to make India a developed country by 2047. What is that country whose economy is progressing rapidly? Our India...Which country has the world's third-largest start-up ecosystem? Our India. Which country reached Mars in its very first attempt? Our India. Which country reached the lunar south pole? Our India. Which country made the record of launching 100 satellites simultaneously? Our India. Which country developed 5G technology on its own and rolled it out the quickest? Our India," the Indian prime minister said.

Shaykh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan had immediately said "yes", when I presented to him the proposal to build a temple in Abu Dhabi on behalf of all of you in 2015, Modi said.

IIT-Delhi's Abu Dhabi campus has launched Master's course, and the a new office of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is being set up in Dubai. These educational institutes will help in imparting quality education to the Indian diaspora, Modi said.

"India and the UAE are partners in each other's progress. Our relationship is based on 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," Modi said.

Modi said he felt he was fortunate to have been awarded with the Order of Zayed, the UAE's highest civilian honour. The title was conferred upon him in 2019.

"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 said, at the 'Ahlan Modi' event.

Modi said he is thankful to his "brother" Shaykh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, for the love that he shown for Indians. "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".

Your energy is resounding, and I am overwhelmed by the love shown by all of you. I want to thank each and every one of you, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told the Indian diaspora.

"You people have scripted history. You belong to people parts of India, and you also reside in different parts of the UAE. Every breath in this stadium is saying India-UAE Dosti Zindabad (Long live India-UAE friendship)," Modi said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has begun addressing the 'Ahlan Modi' event. Stay tuned here for the real-time updates

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived at the Zayed Sports Stadium on February 13 to attend the 'Ahlan Modi' event. He would be addressing members of the Indian diaspora who have gathered at the event.

"I have come here especially to see PM Modi. May God give him long life to serve our country...," said a member of the Indian diaspora in UAE.

"I have come here from Dubai. I am very excited to meet PM Modi. We all Indians are very proud of him," another member added.

(With ANI inputs)

"I have come here from Dubai to meet PM Modi. We are very happy. We have brought Ramcharitmanas, if we get a chance we will gift it to PM Modi...The construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya would not have been possible without PM Modi, so we thank him...," says a member of the Indian diaspora in UAE.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with the first batch of students from the IIT Delhi–Abu Dhabi Campus. Prime Minister said that this not only begins a new chapter in bilateral collaboration between India and the UAE, but also brings the youth from the two countries together.

The opening of a campus of the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi in the UAE was envisioned by the leadership of the countries in February 2022, said a statement by the Ministry of External Affairs.

"The project, a joint collaboration between the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT-D) and Abu Dhabi Department of Education & Knowledge (ADEK), aims to provide quality higher education opportunities to students globally. It would also foster partnerships between the two countries in the fields of next generation technology, research and innovation. The first academic program - a Masters in Energy Transition and Sustainability - commenced this January," it added.

On the ‘Ahlan Modi’ event, Member of Parliament UK, Priti Patel said, “I am here at this great celebration for PM Modi, here in Abu Dhabi. This is a wonderful opportunity, a celebration of our culture here in Abu Dhabi. By being here today, I can share some of this with my friends, and our diaspora community in the UK.”

A large crowd arrived at Zayed Sports Stadium in Abu Dhabi for PM Narendra Modi's 'Ahlan Modi' event. PM Modi will address the Indian diaspora at the event shortly.

The BAPS Hindu Mandir, located in Abu Mureikhah, near Al Rahba off the Dubai-Abu Dhabi Sheikh Zayed Highway, has come up on around 27 acres of land in Abu Dhabi and the work for the structure has been going on since 2019.

The land for the temple was donated by the UAE government.

The UAE has three other Hindu temples that are located in Dubai. The BAPS temple, spread over a large area with stone architecture, will be the largest of all in the Gulf region.

Apart from meeting with the UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, PM Modi will also attend the World Government Summit 2024, where he will deliver a special keynote address. The Prime Minister will also address the Indian diaspora in Abu Dhabi and will inaugurate the first Hindu temple there.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on February 13 witnessed the exchange of following:

- Bilateral Investment Treaty: This agreement will be a key enabler for further promoting investments in both countries. India has signed both a Bilateral Investment Treaty and a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with UAE.

- MoU on cooperation in the field of electrical interconnection and trade: This opens new areas of collaboration in the field of energy, including energy security and energy trade.

- An Intergovernmental Framework Agreement between India and UAE on the India-Middle East Economic Corridor : This would build on previous understandings and cooperation on this matter and foster India and the UAE cooperation furthering regional connectivity.

- MoU on cooperation in Digital Infrastructure Projects: This will create a framework for a wide ranging cooperation, including investment cooperation, in the digital infrastructure sector and also facilitate sharing of technical knowledge, skills and expertise.

- Cooperation protocol between the National Archives of the two countries: This protocol will shape extensive bilateral cooperation in this field including restoration and preservation of archival material.

- MoU for cooperation in the field of heritage and museums: This would foster engagement between the two countries aimed at supporting of the Maritime Heritage Complex at Lothal, Gujarat.

- Agreement on interlinking of the instant payment platforms - UPI (India) and AANI (UAE): This will facilitate seamless cross-border transactions between the two countries. This follows the MoU on interlinking payment and messaging systems signed in July last year during PM’s visit to Abu Dhabi.

- Agreement on inter-linking domestic debit/credit cards - RuPay (India) with JAYWAN (UAE): An important step in building financial sector cooperation, this will enhance the universal acceptance of RuPay across the UAE.

The Indian diaspora in Abu Dhabi is eagerly awaiting the address by PM Modi at the 'Ahlan Modi' event later today. The diaspora has gathered at the Zayed City sports stadium, where the event is slated to be held, and chanted the slogans of 'Ahlan Modi' and 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai'.

PM Modi arrived in Abu Dhabi at around 4 pm IST amid a rousing welcome.

PM Modi and UAE President Nahyan held a bilateral meeting and several Memorandum of Understanding (MOUs) were exchanged in their presence.

"Brother, firstly, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to you for your warm welcome. We have met five times in the last seven months, which is very rare," said PM Modi in the meeting with UAE President.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, and Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra were among the Indian delegations present in the meeting.

"The construction of BAPS (Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha) temple here would not have been possible without your support...," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said during the meeting with UAE President.

PM Modi is slated to inaugurate the iconic BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi on February 14.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan introduced UPI RuPay card service in Abu Dhabi.

Prime Minister Modi thanked UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for accepting his invitation to attend the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2024. During the meeting with the UAE President, he said that UAE President's presence at the Summit in Gujarat took the event to new heights.

"Immensely grateful to my brother, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, for taking the time to receive me at Abu Dhabi airport. I look forward to a productive visit which will further strength the friendship between India and UAE," PM Modi wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

During his meeting with UAE President, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "I thank you for the warm welcome. Whenever I come here to meet you, I always feel I have come to meet my family. We've met 5 times in the last 7 months, it's very rare and reflects our close relationship..."

After his arrival in UAE, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a meeting with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi.

The UAE population as per UAE Government data was 92,82,410 in 2020 a large proportion of whom are immigrants from foreign countries including India. The approximate break-up of Indian immigrants in UAE is as follows:

- 65 percent belong to the blue-collar category (employed mostly in construction companies, municipalities, agricultural farms)

- 20 percent belong to the white collar non-professionals (clerical staff, shop assistants, salesmen, accountants, among others) and 15 percent are professionals and businessmen.

Indian expatriate community is the largest ethnic community in UAE constituting roughly 30 per cent of the country’s population. The number of resident Indian nationals is estimated to be 3.5 million in 2021 as per UAE records. Approximately 20 percent of the diaspora is in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and rest in six Northern Emirates including Dubai.

A member of the Indian diaspora and a volunteer at the 'Ahlan Modi' event expressed enthusiasm for the upcoming event. "This is a major milestone in India-UAE relations... Everyone is eagerly waiting for PM Modi... It is a proud moment for Indians," he said.

Multiple MOUs were signed during UAE President's visit to Gujarat this year. These were namely for investment cooperation in the following -- innovative healthcare projects, renewable energy sector, food park development.

The two leaders reviewed the efforts from both sides to strengthen the strong economic and commercial cooperation and explore new areas of collaboration. They noted that the UAE is the fourth largest investor in India in 2022-23, compared to ranking seventh in 2021-22. They welcomed the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA)’s progress in establishing a presence in Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City), a financial free zone in Gujarat.

Ahead of PM Modi's scheduled visit to UAE, the country has been witnessing massive rainfall, prompting authorities to call private sector firms to avoid unnecessary movement.

Taking to social media, X, the UAE's Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) asked firms to look after the health and safety of their workers. "Necessary measures need to be taken by companies to ensure outdoor work, if necessary to resume, complies with the occupational health and safety requirements. Companies must also ensure the health and safety of workers commuting to and from outdoor work locations," a post by MoHRE said on X.

- Prime Minister Narendra Modi will arrive in Abu Dhabi at 4pm IST, Feb 13 for a two-day visit

- Bilateral talks with President of UAE Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan

- Meeting with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and PM of UAE

- Ahlan Modi event in PM's honour, with interaction with the Indian community in UAE

- Keynote address by PM Modi at World Government Summit 2024 as Guest of Honour

- PM Modi to inaugurate the BAPS Hindu temple

As PM Modi gears up to interact with the Indian diaspora at the 'Ahlan Modi' event in Abu Dhabi's Zayed Sports City Stadium, here are some interesting facts about the event.

- The 'Ahlan Modi' event garnered immense enthusiasm within the Indian diaspora, leading organisers to close registrations last week with a turnout exceeding 65,000 attendees.

- About 500 buses will be in operation, supported by more than 1,000 volunteers at the venue.

- A major attraction of the event will be an exhibition by over 700 cultural artists, providing a vivid portrayal of the extensive diversity within Indian arts.

- The event will also see the active involvement of over 150 Indian community groups, highlighting the diverse regional cultures of India and the inclusion of numerous blue-collar workers from various emirates.

-The foundation stone was laid by PM Modi in 2017. The UAE Government allocated another 13.5 acres in January 2019.

- There are prayer halls, a visitor centre, and thematic gardens among other spaces inside the temple.

- It has around 100 sensors installed in its foundation. Also, there are more sensors in various other areas to check seismic activity and more.

- Like the Ayodhya Ram Mandir, iron and steel have not been used to build this temple.

India and UAE are among each other’s top trading partners with a bilateral trade of about $85 billion in 2022-23. The UAE is also among the top four investors in India in terms of foreign direct investments in 2022-23.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the Indian diaspora for their efforts to deepen India’s engagement with the world. He said he looks forward to being among UAE’s Indian diaspora at the Ahlan Modi programme.

The Prime Minister said on X, "We are very proud of our diaspora and their efforts to deepen India’s engagement with the world. This evening, I look forward to being among UAE’s Indian diaspora at the Ahlan Modi programme! Do join this memorable occasion."

India and UAE enjoy warm, close and multi-faceted relations underpinned by strong political, cultural and economic linkages. Following the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to UAE in August 2015, bilateral relations between the two countries have been elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Both countries signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in February 2022 and a Local Currency Settlement (LCS) System in July 2023 to promote the use of Indian Rupee and AED for cross-border transactions.

As PM Modi is set to inaugurate the first Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi during his UAE visit, Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra said that around 2000-5000 devotees are expected to visit the temple on that day. The inauguration will take place on February 14.

The inauguration programme of BAPS temple is one the key parts of PM Modi's UAE visit, he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the 'Ahlan Modi' event at Zayed Sports City Stadium. The key highlights of the event include an exhibition by over 700 cultural artists, bringing to life the vast diversity of Indian arts.

Reportedly, more than 65,000 people registered for the grand event.

Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit, UAE ambassador to India Abdulnasser Jamal Alshaali said, "Such visits are very important in keeping the momentum in the relationship...This tells you how important the relationship is and making sure progress is being achieved...Cultural harmony is very important, it is a testament to acceptance, tolerance and co-existence. There is no other place like the UAE that could stand tall for its values when it comes to its values of acceptance of all ethnicities..."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the UAE follows the visit of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to India. The UAE President was recently in Gujarat as the Chief Guest at the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2024.