Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, arrived in Abu Dhabi on Saturday on a two-day state visit to the UAE.

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, led an entourage of UAE senior officials to welcome Modi upon arrival at the Presidential Airport, reported state news agency Wam.

The Indian Prime Minister was accorded a red-carpet reception where the UAE and Indian national anthems were played after which artillery fired 21 guns in salute to the VIP guest.

Modi shook hands with a group of Sheikhs, ministers and senior officials who came to the airport to welcome him, while Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan shook hands with Indian ministers and top officials accompanying Modi.

The Indian Premier is accompanied a high-level delegation comprising Ajit Doval, National Security Adviser, Navdeep Suri, Indian Ambassador to the UAE, and Mridul Kumar, Joint. Secretary (Gulf).

To greet the Indian PM, from Abu Dhabi to Dubai, some of the UAE's iconic buildings including Burj Khalifa, the headquarters of state-owned oil company Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) and the building hailed as the world's largest picture frame, Dubai Frame, have been glittering in the Indian tricolour since last eveneing.

His high-level engagements include bilateral meetings with top UAE leaders and a keynote address at the World Government Summit in Dubai on Sunday, in which India is the guest country.

On Sunday, Prime Minister Modi is also expected to meet Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE in Dubai.

During his historic visit, Modi will pay tribute to the UAE's heroes for their sacrifices and bravery at Wahat Al Karama in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, said the state news agency Wam citing Mridul Kumar, the outgoing joint secretary of the Gulf Region at the Ministry of External Affairs of India.

While briefing reporters on the planned highlights of Modi s visit tomorrow, Kumar recalled the history of the martyrs memorial, which houses 31 commemorative panels that signify the solidarity between the UAE s people and leadership.

Modi's visit will be his second to the UAE since becoming Prime Minister in 2014. Preparing his visit to the UAE and later to Oman will be Kumar's last official engagement in the Gulf.

Kumar noted that the GCC is now India s largest regional trading bloc and accounts for almost 20 percent of its bilateral trade.

"Although 50 per cent of our oil comes from these countries, and 60 to 65 per cent of our total energy requirements are sourced from the Gulf, our trade has expanded and diversified so much that it now totals around $110 billion. Such trade is no longer dependent solely on oil," he stated.

Also the amount of money sent back annually by the Indian diaspora in the region is around $35 billion, which sustains millions of families back in India, he added.

Modi will arrive in Muscat tomorrow on a two-day official visit Oman.

The state-run Oman News Agency (ONA) announced the visit which comes “ In the framework of close cooperation between the Sultanate and the friendly Republic of India”, it said in a statement.

The Indian Premier will be meeting Sultan Qaboos bin Said of Oman during the visit. The Indian leader is on a four-day regional tour which includes Palestine, the UAE, and Oman.