World

Modi addresses thousands of Indian expats at Dubai cricket stadium

Modi discusses 'cooperation' with oil-rich UAE during 2-day visit, first by an Indian premier in more than 3 decades

Afp August 17, 2015

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, Prime Minister of the (UAE) and ruler of Dubai meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi before a meeting in Dubai. Modi is on a two-day visit, the first by an Indian premier in more than three decades, during which he discussed "cooperation" with oil-rich UAE. PHOTO: AFP/HO/WAM

DUBAI: Tens of thousands of Indian expats in Dubai feted their Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a cricket stadium in Dubai at the end of a visit aimed at boosting economic ties.

Braving high temperatures and humidity, they filled the 25,000-seat stadium waving Indian flags as their premier gave a speech in Hindi, drawing loud applause. Thousands of others watched on giant screens outside the Dubai Cricket Stadium in the economic hub of the United Arab Emirates, where Indians, many of them labourers, account for about 30% of the eight-million population.

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi (3rd-L) and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (2nd-R) sitting for food in Abu Dhabi. PHOTO: AFP

Modi is the first Indian premier to visit the UAE in more than three decades. The late Indira Gandhi travelled to the Emirates in 1981.

During a two-day visit, he met with Dubai's ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, crown prince of oil-rich Abu Dhabi.

Had a wonderful meeting with @HHShkMohd. We talked about several issues & agreed on need of stronger India-UAE ties. pic.twitter.com/ZeXpYsBT7d
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 17, 2015

Delighted to receive the Hindi version of @HHShkMohd's book, 'Flashes of Thought.' pic.twitter.com/dbNR3xZCnD
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 17, 2015

Modi also told a gathering of Emirati businessmen of the potential for $1 trillion worth of investments in India, with its massive infrastructure projects, in the agricultural sector and in housing.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi waving during a tour in Masdar City on the outskirts of the rich Emirate of Abu Dhabi. PHOTO: AFP

The premier said he would despatch India's commerce minister to discuss any problems faced by UAE investors in his country.

COMMENTS (26)

Haider | 9 years ago | Reply @gyttar Thats called a hypocrisy..If a country invests in India.. Its called investment.. If someone invests in Pakistan its called buying... Soon terrorism will end and Gawadar Port will be ready many investments will come to Pakistan

gyttar | 9 years ago | Reply @Pakistani: so better think before you spit those words and even thinking of taking over Pakistan Why would anyone want to take over Pakistan? does anyone take over a cesspool? Moreover China has already bought it

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ajay gupta | 9 years ago | Reply @ZH: Indians need a visa to step out of Dubai airport during transit. so once they get that, they are lefgitimate visitors.

Pakistani | 9 years ago | Reply @jai i think we need to remind you about 1965 war , when your GEN said that we will take over Lahore and Sialkot.I hope things will never go the way you people want so better think before you spit those words and even thinking of taking over Pakistan :) .

someone | 9 years ago | Reply @Harpaul Kohli: There is a lot of "khali" sthan in Canada. Please have your "khalistan" there.

Vectra | 9 years ago | Reply @sridhar: This is true and we accept it and if you look at then very serious anger are emerging among youths against reservations.In India youth feels that reservations on the basis of caste was a necessity 3-4 decades back when the poverty and literacy rate in India then is much more that what it is today as now most have come to middle class level.So they feel that this cast system reservation should now be partially roll back to give meritocracy a chance.And when India reach a point where all people in rural region comes out of poverty and at least attain minimum lower middle class standard the the reservation should be rolled back completely.Debate is going on and voices are raised against this.Hopefully some solution can be reached but political jink need to be broken in this case at all cost to give meritocracy a chance and for that constitutional amendments on like say SC/ST Act etc in needed.

kdp | 9 years ago | Reply @Aschraful Makhlooq: "Nation’s taxed money’s wastage,for fun and time passing and for aid and loans…..and discuss Kashmir If I may add

sridhar | 9 years ago | Reply @ Vectra, India should strive to be a place where meritocrazy is respected. Right now, a lot is determined by your caste and other affiliations. For 1000 people graduating out of India's Engineering colleges, a few alone make it to the top level. Rest are not even employable by the MNCs and need to be retrained.

Vectra | 9 years ago | Reply Here is this piece from CNN,India-born CEOs are taking the U.S. by storm http://money.cnn.com/2015/08/17/investing/india-ceos-google-pichai/ Good one read it,how people from humble back ground and only education in their mind can rule the world.

Muhammad | 9 years ago | Reply @Indian: Successful visit indeed!! Modi's greatest diplomatic achievement, which should bring some comfort to him and his nation back home, has to be to get the ruler of UAE to support UNSC seat....particularly when India recently learnt the U.S., China, & Russia who had previously promised to support It are now opposed to any reforms!! UAE may not have much leverage in the matters of UNSC but understandably any support from any corner is welcome for a falling Indian morale. As far luring other countries with trade India obviously believe it can make every country of the world rich even if it is unable to reduce the number of its own farmers from committing poverty related suicides. God bless.

Feroz | 9 years ago | Reply The Arabs have very long historic relations with India and unlike the Turks, Mongols and other Muslim invaders have no history of loot, plunder and destruction. It was the Arabs who brought Islam to India through their traders who arrived in Kerala in their Dhows. They married the locals and settled down and their descendants are called Moplahs, also Malabaris. Neither at that time or today did they ever consider Hinduism as any threat, because Hinduism is the only religion other than Zoroastrian that does not seek converts. Indian Civilization even today commands respect globally for its contribution to the evolution of the human race, so does the Indian nation today for its non alignment. The Arab world understands that in this fractious world it needs Indian friendship and support. That the entire Royal family received PM Modi at the airport is a feat no international leader could achieve. With their current fragile relations with the West the Arabs now would like to participate in India's development and of course profit from it. UAE alone has promised an investment of USD 69 Billion over the next ten years. India is moving and every country is striving to get a share of the lucrative pie. By the time PM Modi demits office India would have put some distance between itself and its global competitors.

Aschraful Makhlooq | 9 years ago | Reply Whosoever Modi is,whatsoever Modi's character has been and whatsoever Modi role has been between Pakistan and India for the few moments leave it behind and feel the difference between Modi's and Pakistani leadership's most especially importantly Nawaz Sharif's foreign tours,id est,Modi's foreign tours are for trade,investment and business to boost the Indian economy but Pakistani leadership's foreign tours are for poor nation's taxed money's wastage,for fun and time passing and for aid and loans.....

Harpaul Kohli | 9 years ago | Reply UAE please support Khalistan movement, need of the hour.

abreez | 9 years ago | Reply Pakistan should understand UAE’s ‘un-comfort’ with Gawadar and Pakistan should convince other Mid Eastern States like Oman that Gawadar will help to different countries in establishing rail and road links and these links ultimately give different countries countless opportunities and will help to achieve sustainable growth. Pakistan should give UAE an assurance that Pakistan will never allow 9500000 Indian currently living in Europe, Mid East and Africa to travel by road to India and different air lines can earn as much profit as these companies want. For those in Pakistan who think that Pakistani are ‘pet’ of Arabs, I must say ‘live beneath your means’ and it’s time for Pak-Iran relations to flourish.

SRK | 9 years ago | Reply @SNKN, Pakistan doesn't have to be apologetic or weak. It is already a strong country with good people. What's needs to be done is to close all terror factory. That's it. No one will dare to say anything against Pakistan.

Gary | 9 years ago | Reply @Jai: Take over? Take over and do what?

someone | 9 years ago | Reply Seems like time is up for anti Indian elements in Dubai. I think next would be an IPL season in Dubai. Good show Mr. Modi. The Indian diaspora in Dubai showed to the world that they respect their PM by moving higher than religious biases.

Patel | 9 years ago | Reply Arab appeasement. I expected better from Modi

Arif | 9 years ago | Reply Sad to see the disunity among the Ummah. Despite our brotherly bonds, the sheikhs are all smiles hosting our enemy and offering trillions in investments.

nalayak | 9 years ago | Reply whoa!, one trillion dollars worth of investment? burnol sales goes up in pakistan :D

RSS member | 9 years ago | Reply Psuedo-sickular Modi will next go to Meeca for Haj.

ZH | 9 years ago | Reply Dubai is one of the busiest airports in the world. It is possible that the crowd at the stadium was made up of transit passengers.

SNKN | 9 years ago | Reply Modi's prime agenda for the trip to UAE is to disinform the leadership of UAE about the potential threat of China's arrival at the head of Persian Gulf .. through the CPEC agreement... which is a history altering development. Modi who has a double MA degree in the art of Lying and Deception, will be using these skills to impress upon the UAE leadership that India and UAE are under threat from this development. It is imperative that our leadership is aware of this and counters this move after the saffron brigade has ended the trip tomorrow. Modi's speech at the Dbx stadium further showed his hatred and cunning towards Pakistan... rapprochement is a far cry and any moves towards reconciliation between the two countries is simply futile because of the current leadership in India.... Pakistan needs to look straight into India's eyes now!! No time to be apologetic or weak.

Jai | 9 years ago | Reply One more muslim country that gives India more importance than failed Pakistan. UAE to invest close to 70 billion dollars in India which is double that of what China is giving to Pakistan as donation. Modi will turn every country against Pakistan and then we will see. Taking over Pakistan without a bullet fired.

Umair | 9 years ago | Reply The great Modi, received by all the princes. Not even the PM of an islamic state like Pakistan (although a failed state) ever received this protocol. India will get approximately 70 billion dollars worth of investment from UAE ON TOP OF THE CURRENT 80 BILLION DOLLAR TRADE BETWEEN THE TWO NATIONS. PAKISTAN WILL KEEP CRYING ABOUT MERE 50 BILLION FROM CHINA WHEREAS INDIA IS GETTING THAT AMOUNT OUT OF EVERY MODI VISIT ABROAD. LEARN FROM INDIA ABOUT PROGRESS, UNITY AND SECULARISM.

Indian | 9 years ago | Reply It was a very successful visit. PM Modi has done a good job for our country in UAE. Highlights of visit- UAE has supported India's bid for permanent seat in UN's Security Council. Crown Prince of UAE has decided to invest $ 70 Billion ( Rs 4.5 lakh crore ) in India . UAE Govt to allot land in order to build a Temple in Abu Dhabi.

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