Hindu leaders arrive in UAE ahead of Abu Dhabi temple ceremony

Mahant Swami Maharaj was embraced by Minister of Tolerance Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak

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Senior Hindu priests were welcomed by the Emirati minister of tolerance and hundreds of faithful ahead of a ceremony to lay the first stone in Abu Dhabi's first Hindu temple this weekend.

Guru Mahant Swami Maharaj was embraced by Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak, Minister of Tolerance, as he landed at Dubai World Central airport.

He was met by billionaire businessman BR Shetty and prominent figures from India's large resident community.

Mahant Swami Maharaj is the president of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, a religious and social organisation that runs thousands of Hindu temples in India and around the world.

His organisation will build the shrine on the outskirts of Abu Dhabi.

It will also lead thousands in prayer at the site on Saturday morning.

Mahant Swami Maharaj and senior sadhus or holy men met hundreds of Hindus during a ceremony in Jumeirah Park on Thursday.

He also attended the home of the Patels, a prominent business family in Dubai.