India-UAE Relations: A Closer Look At The Growing Indian Diaspora

When the Indian population in the UAE surpassed 3.5 million in August of last year, it marked a significant milestone worth celebrating for India. With nearly 38 percent of the UAE population being Indian, the country has become a premier destination for overseas employment. Therefore, when Indian Prime Minister Modi addressed the Indian Diaspora at a special event titled 'Ahlan Modi' in the Zayed Sports City stadium, it was not only a gesture of recognition for the Indian community in the UAE but also for Indians settled around the globe. India's diaspora policy actively engages with its global population, and the Prime Minister ensures that he establishes contact with Indian communities in every country he visits, leaving no opportunity unexplored.

During the 1970s and 1980s, Indian immigration to the UAE experienced a significant surge, propelled by the region's oil expansion and the burgeoning free trade in Dubai. The Indian community has played an instrumental role in the economic advancement of the UAE, with a substantial number of Indian migrants bringing their technical expertise and various other skills to contribute to the nation's growth. The Indian Government under the present government has made continuous efforts to recognize the contributions of this Indian Diaspora in the UAE by conferring them with the Pravasi Samman Award.

PM Modi's address celebrated this long friendship between India and the UAE. The Prime Minister also spoke a few lines in Arabic and then went on to mention that India is in the heart of every Indian. What is remarkable is that the Indian government understands the loyalty of overseas Indians towards their host nations but at the same time, their emotional connection with the homeland is supreme.

Remittances form one of the major portions of engagement with the Indian Diaspora, and India received the highest amount of remittances in 2023, estimated at US$ 125 billion (18 percent from the UAE). In light of this, PM Modi's statement that the goal of every Indian is to make India a developed country by 2047 is appropriate.

The Indian Prime Minister's address during the visit to the UAE garnered an enthusiastic response from both the host nation and the Indian community residing there, as well as from India itself. Such a triadic relationship between a diaspora community, its host nation, and its homeland is highly sought after. The visit and the address, known as 'Ahlan Modi', not only exemplify India's diaspora policy but also promise to strengthen this engagement and foster deeper people-to-people connections in the future.