India's multi-faceted ties with the Gulf - home to over four million-strong Indian diaspora - will get a stimulus with the visits by two important figures from the region this month - Ruler of Dubai Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Crown Prince of Bahrain Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

Al Maktoum, who is also UAE vice-president and prime minister, comes here March 26 - three days after the Crown Prince of Bahrain ends his first visit to India.

The focus of both visits is predominantly economic, with West Asia increasingly looking at India as a knowledge power and a rising economic giant, especially after the visit of Saudi monarch King Abdullah here last year.

However, in the wake of new disclosures by National Security Adviser M.K. Narayanan about terrorists getting funds via banking channels in the UAE, India is expected to take up its concerns over sources of terrorist funding with the ruler of Dubai.

Acceleration of trade and investment with the booming economy of Dubai will also be a priority for New Delhi with bilateral trade registering an increase of 336 per cent from $2.5 billion to $10.9 billion over the last five years.

Indian companies are entering Dubai and the northern emirates in larger numbers, Venu Rajamony, the Indian consul general in Dubai, was reported as saying.

Dubai is also an important trans-shipment point and logistics hub for Indian goods. More than 80 per cent of trade between India and the UAE is routed through Dubai.

Bahrain's crown prince will come here on a five-day visit starting March 19. Some agreements to intensify economic ties are likely to be signed during his visit.

The Bahrain embassy will be opened in Delhi during the crown prince's visit. Bahrain currently maintains a consulate general in Mumbai.

India and Bahrain plan to enhance connectivity between them. Air India Express, a low cost subsidiary of Air India, will start a flight to Bahrain March 25, which will increase the number of Air India flights to Bahrain from seven to 11 a week.

India will also raise issues relating to working conditions of nearly 250,000 Indian workers living in Bahrain. Minister of State for External Affairs E. Ahamed has already set the tone for the prince's forthcoming visit by describing it as 'historic and a landmark event'.

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