As it happened: Heres' our coverage of Indian Prime Minister Narendra's visit to the UAE. This is his third state visit to the UAE.
Modi concludes UAE visit
India's Ministry of External Affairs has announced that Modi will now travel to Bahrain, concluding his UAE visit. This will be the third and last leg of his three-nation state visit, after France and UAE.
Order of Zayed
His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces confers the prestigious "Order of Zayed", the highest civilian honour in the UAE, on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a ceremony in Abu Dhabi. The honour recognises the PM's contribution in strengthening relations between India and UAE.
Valuable partner
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi considers the UAE a valuable partner. "We consider the UAE as a valuable partner in realising the objective to reach $5 trillion economy through a mutually beneficial partnership," said Modi, who is on two-day state visit to the UAE.
Modi was welcomed by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the Presidential Palace in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.
Modi arrived on Friday night from Paris after holding bilateral meetings in France, including a summit interaction with President Emmanuel Macron and a meeting with Prime Minister Philippe. In Paris, Modi also interacted with the Indian community in France.
Shaikh Mohamed meets PM Modi
Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, welcomes Indian PM Narendra Modi in Abu Dhabi on Saturday. The Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and the Indian PM are expected to jointly release commemorative stamp on Mahatma Gandhi. Modi was welcomed at UAE Presidential Palace with a Guard of Honour in the presence of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed.
What did Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi say to the Indian business community in the UAE at the launch of the RuPay card? Dr. Azad Moopen, UAE-based Indian businessman tells us.
Following the launch of RuPay in Abu Dhabi's Emirates Palace, the Indian premier had a closed-door meeting with leading Indian businessmen in the UAE, during which he urged them to invest in Jammu and Kashmir, thereby creating opportunities for Kashmiris.
Invest in Kashmir
Indian PM asks Indian business leaders in the UAE to invest in Jammu and Kashmir and give job opportunities for Kashmiris
First purchase with RuPay
Indian PM Narendra Modi is set to make first purchase with RuPay by buying Indian sweets from a mock shop of Chhappan Bhog Abu Dhabi at Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi.
Indian PM Modi arrives at RuPay launch
The Indian premier arrives at RuPay launch ceremony where Indian and UAE institutions are exchanging the MoU on the issuance and acceptance of the RuPay domestic card in the UAE
The leading banks in the UAE announce they will be issuing the domestic RuPay card for use in the UAE. RuPay Global is internationally accepted, including in the UAE. Today’s RuPay launch will facilitate the issuance and acceptance of RuPay domestic card and will offer more competitive rates to the customers. Emirates NBD, FAB and Bank of Baroda will soon start issuing the card here, according to Arif Khan, Chief Digital Officer, National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and Simon Haslam, Chairman of Mercury Payments Service and Chief Executive Officer of Network International who introduced the RuPay cashless payment scheme to the business community ahead of the formal launch and MoU exchange in the presence of Indian PM Narendra Modi in Abu Dhabi.
Today is the launch of RuPay, India’s indigenous version of Mastercard and Visa. During the launch, Dubai-based Indian businessman Dr Ram Buxani, said: "There can be no better pride, now that India has its own credit card. Because all these years, we've only used known credit cards from Europe and America. India has the population, one of the world. And we should have our own card."
Dr. Azad Moopen, Founder Chairman and Managing Director, Aster DM Healthcare, said: “It is our privilege to accept the RuPay card for all payments in our 351 establishments comprising of Aster, Medcare and Access brand of Hospitals, Clinics and Pharmacies in 6 GCC countries. We already accept RuPay in our Indian Hospitals.”
Significant visit
UAE-based Indian business tycoon MA Yusuffali, chairman and managing director of Lulu Group, highlighted the significance of the UAE visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in boosting bilateral relations between the two countries.
Awardee
Indian PM Narendra Modi is also scheduled to receive the Order of Zayed from His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.
We're live from Abu Dhabi
The Indian prime minister is in the UAE — the third time since August 2015 — this time to receive the country’s highest civilian decoration, the Order of Zayed, and further boost the bilateral relations. He is also about to launch RuPay, India’s indigenous version of Mastercard and Visa.
Abu Dhabi: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is opening a new chapter in India-UAE relations. On Saturday, he is set to receive the UAE’s highest civilian honour on during his third official visit.
The India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership that developed after his first visit in August 2015 is expanding into areas like trade, investment, energy, defence and security.
It's his third visit to the UAE. In February, he delivered the keynote speech when India was the guest of honour at the World Government Summit in Dubai in February this year.
Modi landed in the Presidential Airport in Abu Dhabi from Paris on Friday night. He is attending the events scheduled at the Emirates Palace Hotel and the UAE’s Presidential Palace, respectively.
Gulf News will be giving you a live coverage of his tightly packed schedule.
RuPay launch
The first event in his agenda today is the launch of RuPay card in the UAE, the first country in the Middle East to accept payments through India’s indigenous version of Mastercard and Visa.
Modi will witness the exchange of Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) between the UAE and Indian institutions implementing the payment scheme and will also make the first purchase with a RuPay card at Emirates Palace.
Business roundtable
He will also attend a business roundtable with prominent business leaders. At the Presidential Palace, the Indian premier is scheduled to be accorded a ceremonial welcome with a Guard of Honour.
Order of Zayed
Modi is scheduled to receive the Order of Zayed from His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.
Mahatma Gandhi commemorative stamp
Both the leaders are scheduled to release the commemorative stamp of Mahatma Gandhi on the occasion of his 150th birth anniversary.
The leaders will hold bilateral, regional and international discussions. Modi and his delegation will leave for Bahrain following a banquet in his honour.
