Abu Dhabi/BNS: In a significant milestone for the Indian community in the Middle East, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday inaugurated Abu Dhabi's first Hindu temple, which is also the largest in the region.

Spread over 27 acres and built at a cost of over Rs. 700 crore, the BAPS Hindu temple is also seen as a mark of the deepening ties between India and the United Arab Emirates.

PM Modi, who is in the UAE on a two-day visit and will leave for Qatar later on Wednesday - had praised UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan during an address at a mega diaspora event on Tuesday and said that the then crown prince had agreed to donate land for the temple during the leaders' meeting in 2015.

"I consider the construction of BAPS temple here as a reflection of your love for India and your vision for the bright future of UAE. This would not have been possible without your support. During our first meeting, I had made a simple request for you to look into it and you took a prompt decision, telling me 'put your finger on any piece of land, you will get it'," the PM had said.

Al Nahyan donated 13.5 acres of land for the construction of the temple in 2015 and PM Modi had laid the foundation three years later.

The construction of the temple began in 2019 after an additional 13.5 acres of land was donated earlier that year.

Built by the Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS), the temple is located in Abu Mreikhah, near Al Rahba. The consecration ceremony of the idols began at the temple on Wednesday morning.

Temple authorities said seven shikhars (spires) have been built at the temple representing the seven emirates that form the UAE.

PM Modi also participated in a 'global aarti (prayer)', which was performed simultaneously at over 1,200 temples built by BAPS.

Before inaugurating the temple, he offered water in the virtual Ganga and Yamuna rivers at the temple and met people from different religions who played a role in its construction.