Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to pay an official visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from February 13-14 during which he will inaugurate the first Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi. This will be PM Modi's seventh visit to the UAE since 2015 and his third in the last eight months.
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The BAPS Mandir sits on 27 acres of land gifted by the UAE leadership. In 2015, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, donated 13.5 acres of land for the construction of the Mandir. The UAE Government, during its Year of Tolerance, allocated a further 13.5 acres of land in January 2019.
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The magnificent structure is located in the Abu Mureikhah district of Abu Dhabi. It stands as a testament to the enduring friendship between India and the UAE, embodying the spirit of cultural harmony and collaboration, the Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) said in a statement.
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The BAPS Hindu Mandir will become the first traditional Hindu stone temple in the Middle East. The inauguration of the temple will be celebrated through the ‘Festival of Harmony’ – a series of uplifting programmes and community events focussed on strengthening faith, mobilising community service, and inspiring harmony among people of all generations and backgrounds.
Ahead of Modi's visit to inaugurate the first Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi, Indian envoy to the UAE Sunjay Sudhir described it as a testament to the enduring cultural, social, and economic ties between India and the Gulf region. During the visit, the Indian Prime Minister will hold bilateral meetings with His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the UAE, to discuss ways to deepen the strategic partnership between the two countries.
