Indians in UAE gear up for Modi's visit

Thousands of Indian expatriates in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are planning a grand public reception for Prime Minister Narendra Modi who will be on a two-day official visit here this month, a media report said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is to visit the UAE on August 16-17, in the first visit by an Indian prime minister to the Gulf nation in 34 years.

"The news has brought together thousands of Indians from different walks of life. Several Indian associations have volunteered to participate in the organisational work. Indians have responded in huge numbers already," B.R. Shetty, chairman of NMC Health Care, one of the largest private healthcare providers in the UAE, was quoted as saying in Gulf News.

There are nearly 2.6 million Indians in the UAE - the highest among all expat communities there.

An organising committee called "Namo" has been formed in Dubai to oversee various arrangements to be made for the public reception for Modi at the Dubai Cricket Association (DCA) stadium on August 17, the report added.

Although no entry fee will be charged for the audience, people need to log on to www.namoindubai.ae, to register themselves for the event.

"This is important so that we get an idea of the numbers and also on account of the security arrangements," K .Kumar, convener of the Indian Community Welfare Committee (ICWC) in Dubai, was quoted as saying.

Modi's visit is widely seen as an acknowledgement of the Indian community's achievements and contributions in this part of the world.

"After 34 years, an Indian prime minister is making this effort and it is widely appreciated by the Indian diaspora," said Ram Buxani, president of the ITL group and one of the members of the organising committee.

Incidentally, Buxani was also a member of the organising committee three decades ago when former Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi' visited the UAE in 1981.

Modi will arrive in Abu Dhabi on August 16 and will visit Dubai the next day.

The visit is expected to further boost the economic, cultural and social ties between India and the Arab country.