Indian president to arrive in UAE on official trip

Indian President Pratibha Patil to visit Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah

Abu Dhabi: Indian President Pratibha Patil will arrive in the UAE on November 21 for a five-day official visit.

The Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi said the date of the president's visit was being finalised. But the UAE National Media Council confirmed that Patil's visit will begin on November 21.

Sources who are involved in the formalities related to Patil's visit told Gulf News yesterday that her visit will be from November 21 to 25.

"She will reach Abu Dhabi on November 21," sources said. Patil will also visit Dubai and Sharjah.

Two-nation swing

Patil is coming to the UAE as part of a two-nation visit. The Indian president will proceed to Damascus, Syria after her UAE visit.

Indian media said the president's two-nation visit will focus on energy security as the country has significant supply links with the UAE and Syria.

Sources also told Gulf News that the UAE and India are discussing a possible visit by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. "The earlier plan was to schedule his visit by the end of this year, but Dr Singh could not make it. Both countries are working out a plan to make Dr Singh's visit next year," according to the sources. The planned event will be the first visit to the UAE of an Indian prime minister after 29 years. The late Indira Gandhi visited the UAE in 1981.