'Long Live India-UAE Friendship…': PM at 'Ahlan Modi' Event in Abu Dhabi | Top Quotes

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said what India and United Arab Emirates have achieved in terms of community integration, is a model for the whole world. Amid loud cheers, he said now that the “historic moment” of inaugurating a Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi is here, the friendship between the two countries will live long and continue to prosper.

“Today in Abu Dhabi, you have created a new history. You have come here from all corners of the UAE and different states of India. But everyone’s heart is connected. At this historic stadium, every heartbeat, every breath, every voice says ‘Long live India-UAE friendship…” said the prime minister during the ‘Ahlan Modi’ event at the Zayed Sports City Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

“Today’s memory will be with me forever because I have come here to meet members of my family,” he said. “I have come here with a message of your brothers and sisters from over 140 crore Indians that India is proud of you,” he said.

Recalling his first visit to Abu Dhabi in 2015, Modi said he was new to the central government at that time and it was the first UAE visit by any Indian PM in three decades. “In 10 years since, it is my seventh visit to the UAE,” he said.

The PM said the Indian diaspora in UAE can now send money home through the unified payments interface, or UPI, with the launch of the RuPay card agreement that has helped the Arab nation to develop a domestic card called ‘JIVAN’.

He further spoke about India’s journey towards a developed country by 2047. He said the country’s economy had progressed rapidly, it had the third largest startup ecosystem in the world, and had reached the never-before-explored south pole of the moon.

“Today, the goal of every Indian is to make India a developed country by 2047. What is that country whose economy is progressing rapidly? Hamara Bharat (our India)… which country has the world’s third-largest start-up ecosystem? Hamara Bharat. Which country reached Mars in its very first attempt? Hamara Bharat. Which country reached the lunar south pole? Hamara Bharat. Which country made the record of launching 100 satellites simultaneously? Hamara Bharat. Which country developed 5G technology on its own and rolled it out the quickest? Hamara Bharat.”

Here are some top quotes from PM Modi’s address to the Indian diaspora in Abu Dhabi:

• ON RELATIONSHIP WITH UAE PRESIDENT: Calling him his “brother”, Modi said he shared a special bond with UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed al Nahyan. He thanked the president for organising the event and for his unmatched contribution to the Hindu BAPS Mandir in Abu Dhabi, which will be inaugurated on Wednesday (February 14). “His Excellency’s love for the Indian community is admirable. I thank my brother (Sheikh) Mohammed bin Zayed for this event, which would not have been possible without his support. Whenever I meet him, he praises all the Indians living here and lauds your contribution to UAE’s growth,” he said. The PM said the relationship between the two countries is only getting stronger by the day. “When I came here for the first time in 2015 and proposed a temple here in Abu Dhabi, he agreed instantly and the historic day is here now,” he added.
• ON UPI: Modi said Indians in UAE will soon be able to send money via UPI platforms. “There is a digital revolution in India, which is being praised by the whole world… We are trying so that you also benefit from this… We are sharing the RuPay card pact with UAE… This has helped UAE develop a domestic card, which they have named ‘JIVAN’,” he said, adding that UPI is soon going to start in UAE that will help with seamless payments across accounts in UAE and India.
• ON INDIA-UAE MODEL: Modi said the “flag of friendship” between the two countries is flying high in space as well. “The UAE’s astronaut at the International Space Station (ISS) sent Independence Day wishes to India from there. Our relationship is of talent, innovation and culture,” he said, adding that both the nations are growing together. The UAE is India’s third largest trade partner and seventh largest investor, he added. “Both the countries are cooperating a lot in Ease of Living and Ease of Doing Business. Even today, the MoUs that were signed between us are taking forward this commitment. We are integrating our financial system. In the field of technology and innovation, India and UAE partnership is strengthening continuously. In the area of community and culture, what India-UAE has achieved is a model for the world…”
• ON INDIA AS ‘VISHWA BANDHU’: Modi said India’s voice is now heard on every major platform in the world, especially when there is a crisis. “…Today the world is looking at India as a vishwa bandhu. Today, India’s voice is heard on every major platform of the world. Wherever there is a crisis, the name of India comes among the first countries to reach there. Today’s strong India stands with its people at every step…”
• ON ‘HAMARA BHARAT’: Modi said the goal of every Indian is to make their country a developed nation by 2047. India, he said, is progressing at every stage from infrastructure to tourism and sports to space. “Today, the goal of every Indian is to make India a developed country by 2047. What is that country whose economy is progressing rapidly? Our India…Which country has the world’s third-largest start-up ecosystem? Our India. Which country reached Mars in its very first attempt? Our India. Which country reached the lunar south pole? Our India. Which country made the record of launching 100 satellites simultaneously? Our India. Which country developed 5G technology on its own and rolled it out the quickest? Our India.”
• ON MODI’S GUARANTEE: The PM also made a strong pitch for the BJP-led government at the Centre, ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. He said: “…Modi has given a guarantee that in his third term, India will become the third largest economy. Modi ki guarantee yani guarantee poora hone ki guarantee (Modi’s guarantee means a guarantee of fulfilling every guarantee).”
• ON EDUCATION: At the ‘Ahlan Modi’ event in Abu Dhabi, Modi also spoke about the academic part of India’s relationship with the UAE. “…more than 1.5 lakh Indian students are studying in UAE schools… master’s course was started at the IIT-Delhi campus here last month and a new CBSE office will be opened soon in Dubai. These institutions will be helpful in providing the best education to the Indian community here,” he added.

Modi earlier held a bilateral meeting with the UAE President, during which they reviewed the strategic partnership, discussed new areas of cooperation and witnessed the signing of several key agreements, including a bilateral investment treaty.

In a special and warm gesture, he was received at the airport by the president, and the two leaders hugged each other. He was later given a guard of honour. “Had an excellent meeting with my brother HH @MohamedBinZayed. India-UAE friendship is growing stronger and stronger, greatly benefitting the people of our nations,” he tweeted.

The two leaders welcomed the deepening of the comprehensive strategic partnership across sectors, including trade and investment, digital infrastructure, fintech, energy, infrastructure, culture and people-to-people ties. Discussions also covered regional and global issues, the ministry of external affairs said in a statement.

“I thank you for this grand welcome of me and my team. As you said, I feel that whenever I have come here, I have always felt that I have come to my home and family,” Modi said in his opening remarks at the bilateral meeting with the UAE President. “We have met five times in the last seven months. Today, there is a mutual partnership between India and UAE in every sector,” he added.

The two leaders also witnessed the exchange of eight agreements, including a bilateral investment treaty (BIT), MoU on cooperation in the field of electrical interconnection and trade and an intergovernmental framework agreement between India and UAE on the India-Middle East Economic Corridor.

Modi will be inaugurating the Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) Mandir, the first Hindu stone temple in Abu Dhabi, on Wednesday. He said the construction of the temple in Abu Dhabi would not be possible without the support from the UAE’s leadership.

This is the third visit of the prime minister to the UAE and the fifth meeting between the two leaders during the past eight months, which reflects the depth of the bilateral partnership, the MEA said on X.

(With PTI inputs)