UAE prepares for arrival of Indian PM

The visit, if it materialises, will be in line with Modi’s strategy of addressing meets in countries that have substantial Indian diaspora and is likely to include a meeting of the prime minister with the expat community in Dubai. Members of a variety of Indian associations for the Sikhs, the Bohri Muslims, the Kerala Muslim Cultural Centre, Indian Community Welfare Committee (ICWC), the Jains – have volunteered to participate in the organisational work.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit the UAE for two days in August, an official has told local media.

The prime minister is expected to arrive in Abu Dhabi on August 16 and visit Dubai the next day. “A visit of this nature will cover Abu Dhabi and Dubai”, the official said. A website and a Facebook page has been set up for this.

According to the Dubai-based Khaleej Times, Mr. Modi was also keen to discuss more investment in India, as well as a revival of the India-GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) free trade agreement. But it would appear that such diplomatic unease could be put aside as Modi and his counterparts in the GCC focus on building relations in order to boost trade and investment – especially between India and the UAE.

India was UAE’s largest non-oil trading partner in 2014.

According to official data, UAE is the second largest export destination of India with an amount of over $30 billion for the year 2013-14. Erstwhile Indian PM Manmohan Singh was expected to visit the UAE back in 2010 but the plans fell through.