External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar visited the BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, describing it as a true cultural bridge between India and the UAE. Sharing pictures of his visit on X, Jaishankar expressed his admiration for the temple. “Blessed to visit the BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi today,” he posted. “A visible symbol of India-UAE friendship, it radiates a positive message to the world and is a true cultural bridge between our two countries.”
Jaishankar is on an official visit to the UAE, where he is scheduled to meet his UAE counterpart, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The discussions between the two leaders are expected to cover a broad range of partnership issues. According to an official statement from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), “During the visit, EAM will have a meeting with his UAE counterpart on wide-ranging issues of the partnership.” The statement also noted, “This visit will provide an opportunity to review the entire spectrum of comprehensive strategic partnerships between India and UAE and regional and global developments.”
The BAPS temple, the first Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi, was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 14. The inauguration ceremony was attended by UAE’s Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahyan. The temple, which is the first traditional Hindu stone temple in the Middle East, stands as a testament to the enduring friendship between India and the UAE. It embodies the spirit of cultural inclusivity, interfaith harmony, and community collaboration.
Before visiting the UAE, Jaishankar visited Sri Lanka, where he met Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena on June 20. During this meeting, he reaffirmed India’s steadfast support through various development and connectivity projects. This was Jaishankar’s first bilateral visit as External Affairs Minister following his re-appointment. His visit to Colombo followed Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s recent trip to India to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Rashtrapati Bhavan on June 9.
