The Gulf region is vital for India's economic, energy and security interests, said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he set off on a historic visit to the UAE.

Modi arrived in Abu Dhabi today (Sunday) on a two-day state visit to the UAE, the first by an Indian prime minister in 34 years.

HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, led a group of top officials to welcome the Indian Premier at the airport.

The Premier was accorded a full red-carpet reception.

Sheikh Mohamed escorted the Indian Prime Minister to the dais of honour where both the UAE and Indian national anthems were played and the military fired a 21-gun salute to Prime Minister Modi.

"I see the UAE as our foremost trade and investment partner," he said in his website.

In an interview with Khaleej Times, Modi described the UAE as a 'mini-India'.

The UAE is a paradise built up in a desert with unmatched vision and remarkable skill, he said and the economic strides taken by UAE are extremely admirable, he said.

UAE is a global economic success story that has attracted people from all over the world. UAE has also emerged as an important logistics hub. UAE and India’s strong partnership goes back several years. Both are multicultural societies that respect and celebrate plurality and diversity, he said.

In a statement released prior to the visit, he said: "During my visit, I seek to enhance cooperation in energy, trade and will talk to investors on why India is an attractive destination to invest. I am certain my visit will boost people-to-people ties between our nations.

"I specially look forward to meeting the large community of Indian workers based in UAE. No words will be enough to appreciate their hardwork and sweat over the last many years."

Modi will hold extensive talks with HH Sheikh Mohamed and HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE.

Modi will visit a labour camp in Abu Dhabi, which houses about 28,000 Indians. He will interact with about 300 workers there. He will also visit the Masdar City, a zero carbon city; and the iconic Sheikh Zayed mosque.

In Dubai, he will address about 50,000 Indians at the Dubai Cricket Stadium. When registrations for the event opened last week, within days, the organisers had to close applications as the numbers soon touched 51,000, exceeding the capacity. _TradeArabia News Service