Arrangements have been made at the Dubai Cricket Stadium to accomodate 10,000 people over the existing capacity of 40,000.
The Dubai International Cricket Stadium will be packed to the rafters this evening. 50,000 Indian expatriates have registered for 'Marhaba Namo,' the grand public reception that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address; the stadium seats 40,000.
The 15,000-odd people who could not find place inside will be accommodated just outside the stadium, where there will be food stalls and DJs and two large video walls that will broadcast PM Modi's speech live.
For those among the 2.6 million Indians in the United Arab Emirates who are not in Dubai, the PM's address in Hindi will be broadcast live on local Indian radio channels, translated into three languages - English, Tamil and Malayalam.
'Marhaba Namo' is being called unprecedented in the history of the UAE - this is the first time that a visiting head of state has been allowed a reception on this scale.
In view of the overwhelming response, the organising committee has said that registering online is not a guarantee for admission into the Dubai Cricket Stadium today. Gates, they said, will be open at 3 pm. The Prime Minister will speak at 8 pm and is expected to make an hour-long address.
Before that, there will be a cultural programme at 6:30 pm featuring 35 international artistes who have been flown to Dubai for the event.
Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) is organising around 200 public buses to take people to and from the stadium.