UAE Minister to headline 79th Indian Independence Day event in Dubai

Dubai: Indian expat community groups across the UAE will hold a series of celebrations to mark the 79th Indian Independence Day, with the spotlight on a grand event by the Indian Business and Professional Council (IBPC) Dubai on Friday.

The flagship event, taking place at the Grand Hyatt Dubai, will be graced by Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade, and Satish Kumar Sivan, Consul General of India in Dubai. Over 450 dignitaries, professionals, and community leaders are expected to attend the evening, which promises a vibrant cultural showcase of India’s traditions.

Among the distinguished guests is Diana Pundole, the first woman to win a national championship in the history of Indian Motor Sports.

The event will spotlight the growing India-UAE partnership, with IBPC highlighting community-led programmes focused on sustainability, youth leadership, and cross-cultural professional exchange. “We are celebrating not just India’s freedom, but also the resilience, innovation, and leadership of the Indian diaspora in the UAE,” said Siddharth Balachandran, Chairman of IBPC Dubai.

In Ajman, the Indian Association Ajman (IAA) will mark Independence Day with the inauguration of a community library, housing over 5,000 books across 18 genres after the flag hoisting ceremony.

The free-to-use ‘IAA Library’ is built on member contributions and support from the Indian Consulate in Dubai. Titles range from health and cookery to encyclopaedias, Hindi literature, and children’s books, many with themes tied to India. A copy of the Preamble of the Indian Constitution will also be displayed with full honours.

“It’s a way to retain interest in books and celebrate what makes India,” said Roop Kumar Sidhu, General Secretary of IAA.

Indian community groups across the UAE are hosting flag hoisting ceremonies.

At the India Social and Cultural Centre (ISC) Abu Dhabi, the flag-hoisting ceremony will be held at 6.30 am. Cultural programmes featuring music, dance, and performances celebrating India’s rich heritage will begin at 8 pm, bringing the community together in a festive spirit. Other Indian associations in the capital will also host similar activities to mark the occasion.

In Sharjah, festivities will include flag hoisting ceremony at 8am, followed by cultural performances and an award night honouring over 300 students from the IAS Summer Camp in the evening.

In Fujairah, the flag hoisting ceremony will take place at 7.30am at the Indian Social Club. Indian Association Umm Al Quwain will also hold the event at the same time. In Ras Al Khaimah, it will be held in the premises of the Indian Relief Committee at 8.30am.

The community celebrations will complement the official flag hoisting ceremonies at the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Indian Consulate in Dubai.