India's Modi praises India-UAE ties ahead of visit

Ahead of his two-day official visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the Gulf state and India were "top priority for each other" and the rise of Dubai as a global economic and trade hub was "remarkable and visionary."

In an interview published by Dubai-based Khaleej Times on Sunday, Modi said the UAE and his country have deep historical links and unmatched level of proximity with each other.

Modi will arrive in Abu Dhabi on Sunday and meet Abu Dhabi crown prince Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan and UAE vice president, prime minister and ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, along with members of the UAE government.

Modi, who took office in May 2014, will be the first Indian prime minister visiting the Gulf state in 34 years.

About 2.6 million Indian expatriates, also called non-resident Indians (NRIs), live in the UAE. Enditem