Abu Dhabi: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to arrive in the UAE on Saturday evening to bolster a deepening social and economic friendship between India and the UAE.
Modi’s high-level engagements include bilateral meetings with top UAE leaders and a keynote address at the World Government Summit in Dubai on Sunday, in which India is the guest country.
At the invitation of the leadership of the UAE, I will be addressing the 6th edition of the @WorldGovSummit in Dubai, where India is the Guest Country of Honour. https://t.co/Kq3smWsJp9
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 8, 2018
Both nations are expected to sign 12 to 14 agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoUs) during his swing through the country.
Modi’s UAE stopover comes after a historic first visit by an Indian prime minister to Palestine as part of a four-nation tour also covering Jordan and Oman.
Landed in Amman. I thank His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan for facilitating the transit: PM @narendramodi pic.twitter.com/padkgjKAR9
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) February 9, 2018
He is expected to have bilateral talks with Shaikh Mohammad bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, on Saturday evening, followed by a signing ceremony of agreements and MoUs and a banquet hosted by Shaikh Mohammad bin Zayed in honour of Modi.
The Indian prime minister is also expected to meet Shaikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on Sunday in Dubai.
“You will see new areas of co-operation and engagements between both nations (during the visit),” Navdeep Singh Suri, Indian Ambassador to the UAE, told Gulf News in an interview.
Modi is expected to visit Wahat Al Karama, the UAE martyrs’ memorial in Abu Dhabi, and pay his respects to the fallen heroes on Sunday morning before leaving for Dubai.
The premier will interact with the Indian community at Dubai Opera on Sunday morning where he is scheduled to participate in a ground-breaking ceremony of the first Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi through livestreaming.
Modi will also meet with Arab CEOs in Dubai before he leaves for Oman to conclude his visit to the region.