Daijiworld Media Network

New Delhi, Jan 30: The first Hindu temple to be constructed in Abu Dhabi will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as part of his West Asia tour starting February 9.

At present, the only Hindu temple in UAE is located in Dubai. UAE is home to as many as 2.6 million Indians, who form around 30 percent of the total population of the country.

Around 20,000 square metres of land was allotted in Abu Dhabi’s Al Wathba during Modi’s first visit to the emirates in 2015. The construction of the temple is being funded by private donations.

Indian billionaire businessman B R Shetty, who is chairman of the temple coordination committee had told media “the UAE is a great example of religious tolerance with people of different nationalities living in harmony here.”

File Photo

Inside the temple, the idols will be of deities Krishna, Maheshwara, Ayyappa and more. The temples in Dubai are dedicated to Shiva and Krishna. "The temple will have a good vrindavan (garden) and a waterfront," Shetty had earlier told media.

Modi will arrive in Abu Dhabi on February 10 evening and will travel to Dubai the next day. He will address the Indian community reception at the Dubai Opera on February 11 and about 1,800 people are expected to participate. Modi will also be a star attraction at the sixth World Government Summit - a three-day annual event in Dubai that will see India as the guest country - on February 11.

Prime Minister Modi will be visiting two other countries in the West Asia - Palestine and Oman. He will be the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Palestine.