Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to address the World Government Summit (WGS) in Dubai as the “Guest of Honour” on February 14. This marks his second invitation to the prestigious summit, the first being in 2018.
PM Modi’s upcoming visit to the UAE will be his seventh since 2014. Previously, he visited the country twice in 2023, once each in 2022, 2019, 2018, and 2015.
About World Government Summit
The WGS is an annual global gathering that brings together world leaders, policymakers, experts, and thought leaders from various fields to discuss and address pressing global issues. Scheduled from February 12 to 14, the summit has been a staple in Dubai since 2013, attracting participants from governments, international organisations, academia, and the private sector.
This follows UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s attendance at the 10th Vibrant Gujarat edition in January as the chief guest, where he praised the summit initiated by PM Modi as a vital platform for economic growth and investment expertise exchange.
Previous editions of the WGS have seen notable speakers, including Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Georgia PM Irakli Garibashvili, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, and leaders from the Gulf Cooperation Council, Kuwait, Indonesia, and Turkey, underscoring the summit’s global significance.
Addressing the Indian Diaspora
PM Modi’s expected Dubai address is part of his broader visit to the Gulf nation where he will also address the mega diaspora event, Ahlan Modi, in Abu Dhabi on February 13.
The Zayed Sports City Stadium will host this grand gathering, touted as the largest diaspora event since Madison Square Garden in 2014.
On February 14, Prime Minister Modi will inaugurate the UAE’s first traditional stone temple, the BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi.
The Hindu temple symbolizes the UAE’s ethos of inclusivity and tolerance, with the land given by the UAE government in 2015.
It has been reported previously that the ties between India and the UAE rest on three pillars: Energy, with oil trade from the UAE worth billions; Economy, highlighted by the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), expected, and the Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) approved by the Indian cabinet last week; and expatriates, with a significant 3.5 million-strong Indian diaspora contributing to the socio-economic fabric of the UAE.