Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Tuesday for his seventh visit to the nation, where he is expected to be celebrated by tens of thousands of Indian expatriates. The visit comes as Modi gears up for elections in India in the coming months.
Upon landing in Abu Dhabi, Modi was greeted by Emirati President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, whom he has referred to as his brother. The two leaders held a meeting during which they signed bilateral agreements between their countries. In a statement from Modi's office, it was highlighted that the cooperation between India and the UAE in various sectors, including trade and investment, defense and security, food and energy security, and education, has grown significantly in recent years. The statement emphasized the strong cultural and people-to-people connections between the two nations.
While there was no immediate readout from the UAE on the discussions held during the meeting, Tuesday night saw a massive gathering of Indians at the Zayed Sports City Stadium in Abu Dhabi to witness Modi's address. Only Indian nationals were permitted to attend the event, as announced by the organizers.
Meanwhile, back in India, farmers staged protests, clashing with the police and attempting to break barricades as they demanded guaranteed crop prices. These ongoing protests pose a significant challenge for Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party as they prepare for the upcoming elections. However, despite the challenges, Modi is widely expected to secure a third term as India's Prime Minister.
The presence of over 3.5 million Indian expatriates in the UAE, out of a total population of over 9 million, underscores the strong economic and historic ties between the two nations. From traditional spice trading and gold smuggling to today's annual bilateral trade worth tens of billions of dollars, the UAE and India share a robust economic relationship. In 2022, the countries signed a free trade deal aimed at doubling their bilateral trade to $100 billion. Moreover, India remains a key buyer of Emirati oil, while the UAE seeks to boost its local industries. To facilitate trade, the nations have also agreed to settle some payments in rupees, reducing transaction costs by avoiding the need for US dollars.
The visit by Modi not only highlights the economic ties between the UAE and India but also sheds light on the Emirates' realpolitik foreign policy. The UAE has welcomed Modi, particularly as Muslims in India face increasing attacks by Hindu nationalist groups. In 2019, Modi was honored with the UAE's top civilian award, despite controversy surrounding his decision to strip statehood from the Muslim-majority region of Kashmir. This demonstrates the pragmatic approach taken by the UAE in its relations with India.
Modi's visit to the UAE will also include an address at the World Governments Summit in Dubai and the inauguration of a new stone-carved Hindu temple near Abu Dhabi. Following his visit to the UAE, the Indian Prime Minister will travel to Qatar as part of his diplomatic engagements in the region.
Overall, Modi's trip to the UAE underscores the deep-rooted economic and cultural ties between the two nations. With a focus on enhancing trade and cooperation in various sectors, as well as further strengthening people-to-people connections, the visit is expected to deepen the already robust relationship between India and the UAE.
