![Many wore the colours of the Indian flag to mark the occasion](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LCBES7FR7RAZLI5THOTR2DSWH4.jpg?smart=true&auth=89c58fb82e3e2165b4e86df373d5ab9688ca3e01bfe9551f698a1185fce95f8c&width=400&height=225)
![Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, after his speech during the Ahlan Modi event at Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi on February 13. All photos: Pawan Singh / The National](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SWZ7ZHCBKREERPUIRDVTJ42ZVE.jpg?smart=true&auth=820d8ab3f11823af804de82d558924ea05a50b33582f56de407ad21c54850b71&width=400&height=225)
![Mr Modi addresses the crowd at the event](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5AMV2YV7UZESXJKXR7ACM5UAVM.jpg?smart=true&auth=66640c631f1662cbfa43264d79f500ab5d0dcd7c65bac6ace51679acd98005b1&width=400&height=225)
![The Prime Minister of India waves to the crowd after his speech](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XGD2MDF5OVAJJKLCD6Q7M7GXD4.jpg?smart=true&auth=486937589889170902380dcea7f41046353ca81b3063b2b8992934a5b3c5823a&width=400&height=225)
![Thousands packed into the Ahlan Modi event held at Zayed Sports City stadium in Abu Dhabi](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YVVFFWM5YJEJ7EXMG3YGTFD7F4.jpg?smart=true&auth=058e0c5c6483b74e0bb62000a2d96aca93ead03340b1d9877a64fb690bcbf24b&width=400&height=225)
![A colourful parade featuring dancers kept the crowd entertained in the hours leading up to the arrival of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NW5PRB65OVEZXG73QSPT2NYHZ4.jpg?smart=true&auth=ff271edd8a8e00ec3ad32304d9ad69dd365a3c46706178854812e64bd11ee271&width=400&height=225)
![People danced and sang along to popular Bollywood songs](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6L4CQ3JTWFDTTPHFALAJ7WPCDY.jpg?smart=true&auth=5c2ebc224a6e26292c77a1216c98d4f76c76a3b14f26b6f85637296fda0f7bff&width=400&height=225)
![Mr Modi was to address 40,000 citizens at 6pm at the Alhan Modi event at Zayed Sports City in the capital](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LW3ITQK2EFAWLD76ANKOPGWZRY.jpg?smart=true&auth=e7ce6ce4f1dd470657083adbae1059bf424bf1ee77d2b542ca234bac9eab90e7&width=400&height=225)
![It is part of his two-day UAE tour during which he will also speak at the World Governments Summit in Dubai on Wednesday, before inaugurating Abu Dhabi's landmark Hindu temple later that day](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EW6XF3BU4ZA2XGMJODWJI6OLZY.jpg?smart=true&auth=8dccd63dafee228d40c19e002650920a32c71d8e6f032e089d24324b10bb9ddf&width=400&height=225)
![A festival atmosphere at the venue where the Indian Prime Minister was due to speak](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CGOWXU4CDJAK3CJSILFWU5JNWI.jpg?smart=true&auth=854b5dc880f762179e68139db684ef158addfc625fa0cb7d044be26613536713&width=400&height=225)
![Visitors from all over India packed out the venue in Abu Dhabi ahead of Mr Modi's speech at 6pm](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4SGHXDYDCBEVZKK6H3D3A7Z4L4.jpg?smart=true&auth=f15e783a44e79459db006c7aac720244ecf7cc6398c71b19ddd964e50b729fa1&width=400&height=225)
![Indian expats in the Emirates, as well as those who travelled to the UAE to hear the speech, chanted 'Modi, Modi' hours before his arrival](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NDYXS6GHMFFHHLVRSE3FLRHMR4.jpg?smart=true&auth=23236cc577134e68f76aa78183d269105f7865ea03ad42ea970a3974debdd01f&width=400&height=225)
![Many wore the colours of the Indian flag to mark the occasion](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LCBES7FR7RAZLI5THOTR2DSWH4.jpg?smart=true&auth=89c58fb82e3e2165b4e86df373d5ab9688ca3e01bfe9551f698a1185fce95f8c&width=400&height=225)
![Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, after his speech during the Ahlan Modi event at Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi on February 13. All photos: Pawan Singh / The National](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SWZ7ZHCBKREERPUIRDVTJ42ZVE.jpg?smart=true&auth=820d8ab3f11823af804de82d558924ea05a50b33582f56de407ad21c54850b71&width=400&height=225)
![Mr Modi addresses the crowd at the event](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5AMV2YV7UZESXJKXR7ACM5UAVM.jpg?smart=true&auth=66640c631f1662cbfa43264d79f500ab5d0dcd7c65bac6ace51679acd98005b1&width=400&height=225)
![The Prime Minister of India waves to the crowd after his speech](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XGD2MDF5OVAJJKLCD6Q7M7GXD4.jpg?smart=true&auth=486937589889170902380dcea7f41046353ca81b3063b2b8992934a5b3c5823a&width=400&height=225)
![Thousands packed into the Ahlan Modi event held at Zayed Sports City stadium in Abu Dhabi](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YVVFFWM5YJEJ7EXMG3YGTFD7F4.jpg?smart=true&auth=058e0c5c6483b74e0bb62000a2d96aca93ead03340b1d9877a64fb690bcbf24b&width=400&height=225)
![A colourful parade featuring dancers kept the crowd entertained in the hours leading up to the arrival of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NW5PRB65OVEZXG73QSPT2NYHZ4.jpg?smart=true&auth=ff271edd8a8e00ec3ad32304d9ad69dd365a3c46706178854812e64bd11ee271&width=400&height=225)
![People danced and sang along to popular Bollywood songs](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6L4CQ3JTWFDTTPHFALAJ7WPCDY.jpg?smart=true&auth=5c2ebc224a6e26292c77a1216c98d4f76c76a3b14f26b6f85637296fda0f7bff&width=400&height=225)
![Mr Modi was to address 40,000 citizens at 6pm at the Alhan Modi event at Zayed Sports City in the capital](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LW3ITQK2EFAWLD76ANKOPGWZRY.jpg?smart=true&auth=e7ce6ce4f1dd470657083adbae1059bf424bf1ee77d2b542ca234bac9eab90e7&width=400&height=225)
![It is part of his two-day UAE tour during which he will also speak at the World Governments Summit in Dubai on Wednesday, before inaugurating Abu Dhabi's landmark Hindu temple later that day](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EW6XF3BU4ZA2XGMJODWJI6OLZY.jpg?smart=true&auth=8dccd63dafee228d40c19e002650920a32c71d8e6f032e089d24324b10bb9ddf&width=400&height=225)
![A festival atmosphere at the venue where the Indian Prime Minister was due to speak](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CGOWXU4CDJAK3CJSILFWU5JNWI.jpg?smart=true&auth=854b5dc880f762179e68139db684ef158addfc625fa0cb7d044be26613536713&width=400&height=225)
![Visitors from all over India packed out the venue in Abu Dhabi ahead of Mr Modi's speech at 6pm](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4SGHXDYDCBEVZKK6H3D3A7Z4L4.jpg?smart=true&auth=f15e783a44e79459db006c7aac720244ecf7cc6398c71b19ddd964e50b729fa1&width=400&height=225)
![Indian expats in the Emirates, as well as those who travelled to the UAE to hear the speech, chanted 'Modi, Modi' hours before his arrival](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NDYXS6GHMFFHHLVRSE3FLRHMR4.jpg?smart=true&auth=23236cc577134e68f76aa78183d269105f7865ea03ad42ea970a3974debdd01f&width=400&height=225)
![Many wore the colours of the Indian flag to mark the occasion](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LCBES7FR7RAZLI5THOTR2DSWH4.jpg?smart=true&auth=89c58fb82e3e2165b4e86df373d5ab9688ca3e01bfe9551f698a1185fce95f8c&width=400&height=225)
Modi hails 'historic bond' between UAE and India at Ahlan Modi event in Abu Dhabi
India's Prime Minister praises Indian expats for creating history in the Emirates as he prepares to inaugurate Abu Dhabi's first Hindu temple on Wednesday
![Ramola Talwar Badam](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F5ef0cfa3-a931-4bee-a429-a6e926cfab98.png?smart=true&auth=8bd0c965d9bb14cf66195518e8cc461c939674357be28fde76d5e3597d39b95d&width=70&height=70)
Ramola Talwar Badam
February 13, 2024
- Listen In English
- Listen In Arabic