Modi to visit UAE on Aug 16

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit UAE on August 16 and 17, making him the first Indian PM to be at the Middle-East in 34 years.

Modi will first visit Abu Dabi and will be meeting UAE leadership to discuss about investment, trade opportunities in India and revival of the India-GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) free trade agreement as well as cooperation on terrorism.

Then Modi will fly to



Dubai on August 17, where he will address the Indian community at the Dubai sports city cricket stadium. Dubai is home to more than 2 million Indians, and about 40,000 Indians are expected for the public meeting. The Indian community is planning a grand reception for PM Modi.

The last time an Indian PM who visited UAE was Indira Gandhi in 1981, while former President Pratibha Patil made a 5-day state visit in 2010.