Vice-President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Ruler of Dubai H H Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum with Minister of State for External Affairs

New Delhi • UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai H H Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum arrived here yesterday on a two-day state visit to add political and economic depth to historic and close ties between India and the Gulf country that is home to some 1.4m Indians.

Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahmed warmly received Sheikh Mohammed, who is also the ruler of Dubai, at the Air Force Station at Palam, at the edge of the Indira Gandhi International Airport.

The two sides are expected to sign key agreements in political and economic areas after Sheikh Mohammed holds talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at the Hyderabad House today on a wide range of bilateral and regional issues, including terrorism and the Middle East peace process.

Accelerating trade and investment between India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), one of the most vibrant economies in the Arab world, will top the agenda.

India will also seek enhanced cooperation with the UAE, with which it signed an agreement on military cooperation in 2003, on security issues, including the fight against global terrorism and innovative measures to neutralise the funding of terrorists.

Sheikh Mohammed will be given a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, the presidential palace, before sitting down for a series of meetings with President A P J Abdul Kalam, Manmohan Singh, National Democratic Alliance (NDA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi and External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

Sheikh Mohammed, who is accompanied by his senior ministers and top businessmen, will also interact with Indian business chiefs at a meeting organised by the country's apex industry and trade bodies.

Sheikh Mohammed is credited with transforming Dubai into a global investment hub and a top tourist destination and for contributing significantly to the economic success story of Dubai.

The UAE and India will sign a Double Taxation Protocol and a visa avoidance agreement on government officials and diplomats holding the passports of either country to ease visits to the other country, diplomatic sources said.

India and the UAE are also discussing agreements on customs cooperation, exchange of prisoners (an extradition agreement already exists) and an agreement on combating international terrorism, money laundering and other crimes.

Sheikh Mohammed's visit comes at a time when oil-rich Middle East is looking afresh at India as a rising Asian economic power and a knowledge hub that has much to contribute to human resource development in the region - home to over 4.5m Indians.