50,000 Indians to hear Modi at Marhaba Namo event in Dubai
Dubai, Aug 17: All roads in Dubai would be leading to the Dubai International Cricket Stadium where 50,000 Indian expatriates have registered for 'Marhaba Namo' - a grand public reception being held for visiting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday evening. Modi, who is on a two-day visit to the United Arab Emirates, is to address the Marhaba Namo, which is being touted as another Madison Square-like event. The 'Marhaba Namo' is being hailed as unprecedented in the history of the UAE where for the first time a visiting head of state has been allowed a reception on this scale. The seating capacity inside the stadium is 30,000, an additional 15,000 will be accommodated outside the stadium, where food stalls, DJs and two large video walls will broadcast Modi's speech live. Seeing the unprecedented response, the organising committee issued an alert that registering online is not a guarantee for admission into the Dubai Cricket Stadium. Under directives of Dubai Police, the organisers said that gates to the stadium will open at 3 p.m. to allow the public. Modi is expected to address the event at 8 p.m. in an hour-long address. The cultural programme will begin at 6.30 p.m. featuring 35 international artistes who have been flown down especially for the event. Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) is organizing around 200 public buses to take people to and from the stadium. A press statement issued by 'Marhaba Namo' said that online registration through a dedicated website www.namoindubai.ae does not ensure entry to the stadium for the public reception for Modi.
