Watch: PM Modi Inaugurates UAE's First BAPS Hindu Temple In Abu Dhabi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the first Hindu stone temple, BAPS Mandir, in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday. Earlier in the day, the consecration ceremony of the BAPS Hindu Temple in Abu Dhabi was held ahead of its inauguration.

The Prime Minister arrived in Abu Dhabi for his official visit to the United Arab Emirates from February 13 to 14. This marks his seventh visit to the UAE since 2015 and the third in the last eight months.

During the inauguration, Modi inaugurated the Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) Mandir, the first Hindu stone temple in Abu Dhabi.

In his address at the 'Ahlan Modi' diaspora event, PM Modi thanked UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for approving the BAPS Hindu Mandir, stating that it reflects his love and respect for India. He expressed gratitude for the temple, saying that it would not have been possible without the President's support.

The BAPS Hindu Mandir is located in Abu Mureikhah, near Al Rahba off the Dubai-Abu Dhabi Sheikh Zayed Highway, covering around 27 acres of land. Construction on the structure has been ongoing since 2019, with the land being donated by the UAE government.

The UAE currently has three other Hindu temples in Dubai. The BAPS temple, with its expansive stone architecture, will be the largest in the Gulf region, according to the PTI report.