India PM in UAE seeking closer strategic partnership

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived here Sunday for a two-day visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), as both countries seek to find common fields in regional politics, energy ties and regional security.

On his first leg, Modi was invited to tour the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi where the Indian prime minister took a selfie with UAE Minister of Culture, Youth and Social Development Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al-Nahyan UAE Minister of State for foreign affairs Anwar Al-Gargash and and posted it on his social media channels.

Later in the evening Modi was scheduled to visit the labors camp Mussafah where 29,000 Indian workers reside.

In an interview with Dubai daily Gulf news, Modi said both countries shall discuss ways to expand ties beyond pure commercial bonds.

The last time an Indian PM visited the UAE was in 1981, while UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid AL-Maktoum visited India the last time in 2010 and 2007 for high-level talks.

In official statements published ahead of the encounter, Modi and UAE foreign minister Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed said both countries shall seek a strategic partnership between the two countries which go beyond pure economic ties.

Current trade balance between the UAE and India reached in 2014 of around 60 billion dollars. Sheikh Abdullah said the visit gave proof of growing diplomatic, economic, energy and defence cooperation between India and the Gulf Arab state, a major oil supplier.

According to UAE state news agency WAM, the UAE is the 3rd highest preferred country for Indian expatriates, also called non-resident Indians.

Modi's official visit will lead him and his entourage to Dubai on Monday where he will address 51,000 pre-registered Indian expats in the Dubai cricket stadium.