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Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in the UAE, the first Indian Prime Minister to visit in almost 35 years. Trade, investment and energy are on the agenda with a country that has 2.5 million Indians living and working there. India is the UAE's second largest trading partner and the UAE is India's third.
"It is a high-level engagement of the leadership and it takes place after a long time," Talmiz Ahmed, former Indian ambassador to Saudi Arabia, told local media. "It is taking place at a time when the bilateral relationship is already substantial. But, there are serious areas of concern for the regional situation in terms of the rise of extremism and the various conflicts in the region. How we can coordinate our efforts in this regard is going to be the centrepiece of the dialogue," he added.
UAE is crucial to maritime security. Commentators feel it is important to think of the UAE as an Arab country on the Indian Ocean as it occupies a unique geopolitical and geo-economic position.
Today, Modi will get a massive public reception in Dubai, in a cricket stadium that can accommodate 45,000 people. During his visit, he will also visit a mosque, his first.
