LIVE | 'Bharat-UAE Dosti Zindabad': PM Addresses Massive Gathering at Ahlan Modi Event

PM Modi UAE Visit LIVE: Hailing India-UAE relationship, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday showered praise on UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and his empathy shown towards Indians, be it providing vaccination to the diaspora or giving a green light to build a temple on any land back in 2015, at Ahlan Modi event at the Zayed Sports City Stadium in Abu Dhabi. Earlier in the day, PM Modi had landed in Abu Dhabi for a two-day visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar. Breaking protocol, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan personally received PM Modi and shared a hug, felicitating him with a Guard of Honour. 

In a big boost to the bilateral ties in the field of fintech, PM Modi and MBZ launched the UPI RuPay card service in UAE. The Prime Minister will inaugurate the Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha Mandir, also known as the BAPS Hindu Temple, in Abu Dhabi on February 14. On the same day, the PM will be addressing a gathering of world leaders at the World Government Summit in Dubai.

PM Modi Tells Audience: UAE, India Scripting History Together

‘’UAE is India's third Largest Trade Partner And seventh biggest investor. Both countries are cooperating in the space of ‘Ease of Doing Business’ and Ease of Living'. Today we had talked along these lines during the bilateral meet'', said PM Modi.

PM Modi Tells Audience: Both You and I Will Remember This Moment Forever

At the 'Ahlan Modi' event in Abu Dhabi, PM Modi says, "I have come to meet my family members. I have brought the fragrance of the soil where you were born and have brought the message of 140 crore people. The message is that Bharat is proud of you..."

Massive Turnout For PM Modi's Event

Rousing welcome for PM Modi as over 65,000 present in the stadium chant “Modi Hai Toh Mumkin Hai.”

Zayed Sports City Stadium Gears Up For Ahlan Modi Event

With chants of ‘Modi, Modi’ echoing through the stadium, people from all across India and Indians staying in UAE have gathered in the stadium as PM Modi is slated to address the event shortly.

On 'Ahlan Modi' event, Member of Parliament UK, Priti Patel says, "...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 am able to share some of this with my friends, and our diaspora community in the UK..."

PM Modi Greets Indian Diaspora at Abu Dhabi Hotel

Members of the Indian diaspora raise slogans of 'Modi-Modi, Modi Hai to Mumkin Hai and Bharat Mata ki Jai' as Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives at a hotel in Abu Dhabi, UAE

“We Have Cooperation Across All Sectors”, PM Modi Thanks UAE President

PM Modi thanked UAE Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for coming to the Vibrant Gujarat Summit. “Your love for India and your vision for UAE is reflecting in the fact that you have been overseeing the BAPS Temple project.,” said PM Modi, adding, “Without your cooperation and love, the Indian diaspora event would not have been successful.”

Live Updates: PM Modi Arrives in UAE

Breaking protocol, UAE Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan personally received the Indian Prime Minister and welcomed him with the Guard of Honour. PM Modi and Al Nahyan will be holding bi-lateral talks. Subsequently, PM Modi will be addressing the Indian diaspora. This meet also comes in the background of UAE and India increasing their cooperation in the field of fintech.

PM Modi in UAE

The Ahlan Modi event has been organised by Indian expatriates to the UAE, who constitute 30 percent of the local populace. The Alan Modi event will feature the participation of 150 Indian community groups. 

PM Modi will interact with Indian diaspora at 6:30 pm today at the Ahlan Modi event.

The Ahlan Modi event will showcase India's rich cultural diversity with an exhibition of over 700 artists. 

Over 2,500 people will attend the Ahlan Modi event in the UAE, in spite of inclement weather conditions. More than 65,000 people had registered for Ahlan Modi. However, following the directives of the UAE authorities, the number of attendees has been limited.

The Ahlan Modi event will be held at the Zayed Sports City Stadium in Abu Dhabi on February 13.

This will be PM Modi's seventh visit to the UAE since 2015 and third in the last eight months. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has departed for the UAE for his two-day visit to the Gulf.

Here is PM Modi's full statement ahead of his visit to UAE and Qatar 

"I am travelling to the United Arab Emirates on an Official Visit from 13-14 February and to Qatar from 14-15 February. This will be my seventh visit to the UAE and second visit to Qatar since 2014.

Over the last nine years, our cooperation with UAE in diverse sectors such as trade and investment, defence and security, food and energy security and education has grown manifold. Our cultural and people-to-people connect is stronger than ever.

I look forward to meeting His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of UAE, in Abu Dhabi and hold wide-ranging discussions on taking forward our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. I had the privilege of hosting His Highness recently in Gujarat, where he was the Chief Guest at the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2024.

At the invitation of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, PM and Defence Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, I will be addressing the gathering of world leaders at the World Government Summit in Dubai on 14 Feb 2024.  My discussions with Prime Minister His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid on the margins of Summit will focus on strengthening our multifaceted ties with Dubai.

During the visit, I will also inaugurate the first Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi. The BAPS temple will be an enduring tribute to the values of harmony, peace and tolerance, which both India and the UAE share.

I will address the members of the Indian Community from all the Emirates of the UAE at a special event in Abu Dhabi. 

In Qatar, I am looking forward to meeting His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Amir, under whose leadership Qatar continues to witness tremendous growth and transformation. I am also looking forward to meeting other high dignitaries in Qatar."

India and Qatar enjoy historically close and friendly relations. In recent years, our multifaceted ties have continued to deepen in all spheres including high level political exchanges, growing trade and investment between two countries, strengthening of our energy partnership, and cooperation in culture and education. The presence of over 800,000 strong Indian community in Doha is a testament to our strong people-to-people ties."