The India Story| Is India prioritising UAE and the Gulf as crucial neighbours?

Facing heightened tensions with Pakistan and recent challenges in relations with Maldives, India is actively rekindling historical connections with the UAE and the Gulf region to build stronger diplomatic ties and enhance regional stability amid evolving geopolitical dynamics.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the UAE in February 2024 will be his seventh since 2015 when he became the first Indian Prime Minister in 34 years to visit the Gulf country. The highlight of his visit will be his address to the Indian diaspora in Abu Dhabi on February 13. The event has been named 'Ahlan Modi,' or 'Hello Modi,' and according to organisers, it will be the biggest-ever diaspora event addressed by the Indian Prime Minister. Listen in to Dr Nishi Singh, Ahlan Modi’s communication director on why the event will be special.

Weeks after the grand opening of the Ram temple in Ayodhya on January 22, PM Modi will travel to the UAE for the unveiling of another Hindu temple on February 14. What is special about this Hindu mandir, and why is PM Modi’s trip to Abu Dhabi for the inauguration significant? Swami Brahmavihari Das, the driving force behind the construction of the UAE's first Hindu temple, explains.