The stadium in Dubai can seat about 40,000 people. Another 15,000 are expected to watch the speech outside on video walls.
Dubai:
The cricket stadium in Dubai where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a 50,000-strong Indian diaspora this evening, was packed hours before the PM's speech. Traffic jams were reported around the stadium.
Here are the 10 latest developments:
PM Modi will speak at 9.30 pm (IST) at the mega reception billed as "Marhaba (welcome) NaMo". Gates of the stadium opened hours earlier.
The stadium can hold 40,000 people. Organizers said an additional 15,000 people will be seated outside with food stalls, DJs and video walls where the speech will be broadcast.
Much before the PM arrives at the stadium, an excited crowd is chanting slogans of "Modi, Modi."
The PM's speech is being preceded by a cultural programme that features a line-up of international artistes.
Some 2.6 million Indians live and work in the UAE, according to Indian embassy figures.
The PM is on a two-day visit to the United Arab Emirates. As he arrived in Dubai from Abu Dhabi today his office tweeted, "A different city & an equally warm welcome."
In Dubai, the PM held talks with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the UAE Prime Minister and the ruler of Dubai.
In a joint statement, India and UAE have agreed to denounce terrorism in all forms, ask for dismantling of terrorism infrastructures where they exist and also establish a dialogue between their National Security Advisers (NSAs) and National Security Councils.
PM Modi began his visit to UAE in Abu Dhabi; he is the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Abu Dhabi since Indira Gandhi's trip in 1981.
At a meeting in Abu Dhabi, the Prime Minister urged top businesses to invest in India, promising them immediate investment opportunities worth a trillion dollars.
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