The Foundation Stone Laying Ceremony (Shilanyas Vidhi) of the first traditional Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi being built in Abu Dhabi, UAE took place on Saturday in the presence of more than 2000 members of the Hindu community and Indian envoy to UAE, Navdeep Suri. Several UAE ministers were also present in the ceremony that lasted more than 2 hours.

Reading out PM Modi's message, the Indian envoy said, "The temple will reflect India's timeless values of faith, harmony and love. I am sure, this temple will be a source of inspiration, for 33 lac Indians residing in UAE, as well as for people from all other communities"

The PM in his message said that the temple "embodies the timeless Vedic values of vasudhaiva kutumbakam (whole world is one family)" and once completed the temple "will symbolise the universal human values and spiritual ethos that form a shared heritage of both India and UAE."

Conveying the greeting "on behalf of 130 cr Indian" to "dear friend" & the crown prince of Abu Dabhi, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, PM "deeply appreciate his vision for the future" of India UAE ties and placed "on record" New Delhi's appreciation of the "continued support of UAE."

I deeply appreciate crown prince of Abu Dabhi, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan vision for the future of our relationship between India and UAE and for the entire region: PM on India UAE ties. PS: PM's msg read by Indian envoy during the Shilanyas Vidhi Hindu Temple https://t.co/unpUydD2mr April 20, 2019

Mahant Swami Maharaj, the sixth spiritual successor of Bhagwan Swaminarayan and the spiritual head of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, presided over the foundation stone laying ceremony of the BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi.

UAE in 2015 had decided to allot a plot of land for construction of a temple during PM Modi's first visit to the west Asian country.

Saturday's development comes in the backdrop of UAE celebrating its year of tolerance and this temple, PM said is "an expression of UAE of there love and friendship and faith in India"

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi witnessed the ground-breaking ceremony of a temple through live feed and unveiled a replica of the temple complex in Dubai in February of 2018 during his visit to the country.

UAE-India ties in the last few years have grown manifold especially with a number of high-level visits.

PM Modi first visited the country in August of 2015 which was followed by the visit of Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in 2016. The following year the Crown Prince was the chief guest at India's republic day parade and again in 2018 PM Modi visited the country and was the chief guest at the sixth World Government Summit in Dubai. PM was few weeks ago was honoured by the highest civilian award -The Zayed Medal--of the country.

Earlier this year, in a first, UAE invited India as a guest of honour at the organisation of Islamic cooperation foreign ministers meet despite reservations from Pakistan.

More than 3 million Indians have made the country there home and there are approximately 1000 direct flights per week between various destinations of India and the UAE.