PM Modi Visiting UAE, Qatar This Week: From Hindu Temple Inauguration to Bilateral Talks, What’s On His Agenda – News18

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will make a two-day official visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from February 13 to 14, 2024. Following his UAE visit, the prime minister will head to Doha, Qatar on the afternoon of February 14.

The prime minister is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with the President of UAE, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in what will be his seventh visit to the country since 2015 and the third in the last eight months.

Prime Minister Modi’s UAE Schedule

According to the official press release of the Ministry of External Affairs, the two leaders will discuss ways to further deepen, expand and strengthen the strategic partnership between the countries and exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual interest.

In a significant development, PM Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the BAPS Mandir, the first Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi during his visit. He will also address the Indian community in the UAE at an event in Zayed Sports city in Abu Dhabi.

He will also meet with the Vice President of UAE, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum as well as the Prime Minister and Defence Minister of the country.

PM Modi will also participate in the World Government Summit 2024 that is to be conducted in Dubai, as Guest of Honour and will deliver a special keynote address at the Summit.

Following the Prime Minister’s visit to UAE in August 2015, bilateral relations between the two countries have been elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Both countries signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in February 2022 and a Local Currency Settlement (LCS) System in July 2023 in order to promote the use of Indian Rupee and AED for cross-border transactions.

The two countries are among each other’s top trading partners with a bilateral trade of about US$ 85 billion in 2022-23. UAE is also among the top 4 investors in India in terms of foreign direct investments in 2022-23, as per the press release by the External Affairs Ministry.

PM Modi to Visit Qatar After UAE

While addressing the media on Monday, Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra said, ” After completing his UAE visit, on February 14, PM will travel to Doha, Qatar on 14th February afternoon. During the visit PM Modi will hold bilateral with Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad, the Amir of Qatar and high dignitaries in Qatar.”

He further said that this will be PM’s 2nd visit to Qatar and that strong bilateral trade between India and Qatar, currently stands at $20 Billion.

In a big diplomatic win for India, the eight Indian Navy veterans who were sentenced to death in Qatar were released on Monday, February 12. Seven of the eight have returned to India, the Ministry of External Affairs informed.

The seven Navy veterans, who returned to India on Monday, are Captain Navtej Singh Gill, Captain Saurabh Vasisht, Commander Purnendu Tiwari, Captain Birendra Kumar Verma, Commander Sugunakar Pakala, Commander Sanjeev Gupta, Commander Amit Nagpal, and Sailor Ragesh. They were working for a private company named Dahra Global company.