Live updates: Follow the latest news on Modi's visit to the UAE
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Baps Hindu Mandir on Wednesday, ahead of its public opening on Sunday.
Celebrating a landmark moment of interfaith harmony in the Emirates, Mr Modi arrived for the dedicated ceremony shortly after 4pm and formally inaugurated the temple shortly after 8pm, dedicating it to "you and the world".
He was given a guided tour of the place of worship by priests from the Baps Swaminarayan Sanstha, who showed him the site granted in 2015 by President Sheikh Mohamed, who was Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi at the time.
A grand and impressive temple is ready
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi
As thousands of worshippers watched, Mr Modi added water from Indian rivers Ganga and Yamuna into the waterways that frame the temple and, accompanied by Hindu priests including Mahant Swami Maharaj, the spiritual leader of Baps, recited prayers.
Narendra Modi opens the biggest Hindu temple in UAE - video
"The UAE has, in history, written a new chapter," he said, addressing the temple community hall. "Today in Abu Dhabi, a grand and impressive temple is ready."
It took years of work and there were years of dreams behind the building of the temple, the Prime Minister said.
"No praise will be enough to thank the UAE government in the building of this temple," Mr Modi added.
“But the biggest support and the most help was given by my brother Sheikh Mohamed. The President of the UAE, with his large heart, has fulfilled the dreams of millions of Indians. He has won the hearts of 1.4 billion Indians with this temple."
The UAE's first traditional hand-carved Hindu temple is located in the Abu Mureikha area of Abu Dhabi, off the main motorway between the capital and Dubai.
The temple will be open to the public from February 18 but authorities have asked UAE residents to visit from March 1 due to thousands of overseas visitors travelling to the Emirates to view the temple.
From Thursday until next Wednesday, a week-long celebration will begin at the site, with prayers and talks on harmony and peace.
Visitors must register on the temple website at www.mandir.ae to attend.
It came as Mr Modi took to the stage on the final day of the World Governments Summit in Dubai on Wednesday.
Speaking at the event in Madinat Jumeirah, he called for a “global protocol” to deal with artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency.
He also said India has bucked a global trend by boosting public confidence in its government.
"We often hear experts say that after the Covid pandemic, people have less faith in their governments," he said. "But in India we have had exactly the opposite experience in the last few years. The confidence people have in the Indian government has increased."
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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
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4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
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There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
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9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
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