The consecration ceremony of the idols began this morning.

PM Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate the first Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi in less than two hours from now, marking the end of his packed two-day visit to the UAE. The inauguration of the BAPS temple, built at a cost of Rs 700 crore, is being seen as a key moment for the Hindu community in the UAE as well as the Middle East. 

Spread over 27 acres, the 108-foot tall structure will also be the largest Hindu temple in the Middle East. UAE President Sheihk Mohamed bin Zayed al Nahyan, who was the crown prince at the time, had donated 13.5 acres of land for the temple at Abu Mreikhah in Abu Dhabi in 2015. Another 13.5 acres was donated in 2019, after which the construction of the temple began.

The temple has been built by the Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha and PM Modi had laid the foundation for it in 2018. The consecration ceremony of the idols began this morning.

Before heading to Abu Mreikhah to inaugurate the temple, PM Modi, who is on his third visit to the UAE in eight months, delivered the keynote address at the World Government Summit. He also held a bilateral meeting with Dubai’s Emir, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina.

Earlier in the day, the PM inaugurated Bharat Mart, a warehousing facility to provide a unified platform for exporters to showcase their diverse range of products under one roof, much like China’s ‘Dragon Mart’.  

After the inauguration, PM Modi will leave for Doha and meet the leadership in Qatar. PM Modi’s visit to the country comes on the heels of Qatar releasing eight Indian Navy veterans from prison, which was seen as a huge diplomatic victory for India.