Distinguished leaders from diplomacy, public service, defence, sports, and the chartered accountancy fraternity join the festivities in Dubai, with India’s Independence Day adding a patriotic dimension to the celebration.
Date: Dubai, UAE; September 08, 2026
The Dubai Chapter of The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) celebrated Onam with a vibrant gathering of members, families, and distinguished guests, bringing Kerala’s rich cultural heritage to life in Dubai while highlighting the values of prosperity, unity, inclusion, and togetherness that lie at the heart of the festival.
The celebration brought together the chartered accountancy fraternity and the wider Indian community for an occasion centred on the spirit and traditions of Onam. One of Kerala’s most cherished festivals, Onam symbolises prosperity, gratitude, equality, and community, and remains an important cultural connection for the Indian diaspora living in the UAE.
Adding distinction to the occasion was the presence of prominent personalities representing diplomacy, public service, defence, and sports. Dr. Emmadi Vishnu Vardhan Reddy, Consul General of India to Dubai and the Northern Emirates, attended as the Chief Guest, while Meenakshi Lekhi, former Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture, Government of India, was the Guest of Honour.
The gathering was also graced by Honorary Captain Yogendra Singh Yadav, Param Vir Chakra awardee and retired Indian Army officer, and Sandeep Singh, Arjuna Awardee and former Captain of the Indian National Hockey Team, whose life and sporting journey inspired the biographical film Soorma.
Traditional and cultural performances, festive activities, and community interactions brought the spirit of Kerala to the celebration, providing members and their families with an opportunity to reconnect with their roots while sharing the richness of Indian culture across generations.
Welcoming the gathering, CA Rishi Chawla, Chairman of the Dubai Chapter of the ICAI, said, “Onam reminds us that true prosperity is not measured only by individual achievement, but by how we grow together as a community. For chartered accountants who have built their careers and lives in the UAE, occasions like this give us an important connection to our roots while allowing us to celebrate those traditions with colleagues, friends, and the next generation. ICAI Dubai Chapter is proud to be a platform where professional excellence, cultural identity, and community spirit come together.”
Drawing an insightful connection between the traditions of Onam and the chartered accountancy profession, Dr. Emmadi Vishnu Vardhan Reddy, Consul General of India to Dubai and the Northern Emirates, said, “Onam represents prosperity, and the tradition of welcoming King Mahabali each year is also an occasion to reflect on social and economic progress. In that spirit, Chartered Accountants have an important role to play in ensuring that prosperity is sustainable and long-term. Just as King Mahabali returns to see how his kingdom is progressing, businesses too must regularly reflect on their financial health, accountability, and future growth. It is therefore particularly meaningful to see ICAI bringing the celebration of Onam together with India’s Independence Day.”
Reflecting on Kerala’s historic connections with global trade and India’s longstanding economic and intellectual heritage, Meenakshi Lekhi, former Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture, Government of India, said, “Onam gives us an opportunity not only to celebrate Kerala’s rich cultural heritage, but also to remember its historic role in connecting India with Dubai and West Asia through trade and commerce. India has, for thousands of years, been a centre of manufacturing, textiles, education, astronomy and metallurgy, and numbers tell that remarkable story of progress. It is especially meaningful to share this message with the chartered accountancy community, whose expertise in numbers, transparency, and financial stewardship continues to play an important role in shaping sustainable economic growth.”
The celebration also commemorated India’s Independence Day, bringing a patriotic dimension to the festivities and providing an opportunity to celebrate the country’s journey, achievements, and aspirations while remembering the courage and sacrifice of those who served the nation.
Speaking about India’s cultural values and the importance of preserving them across borders, Honorary Captain Yogendra Singh Yadav, Param Vir Chakra awardee and retired Indian Army officer, said, “Our culture teaches us ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’, to treat our guests with the highest respect. Wherever Indians live across the world, they carry with them the fragrance of India, its soil, its values, and the love of the motherland. Celebrations such as Onam and Independence Day keep that connection alive and provide an opportunity to share India’s rich and glorious heritage with the world. Having served the nation, it is deeply meaningful to see the Indian community in the UAE come together with such pride, unity, and respect for our culture.”
Bringing the perspective of sport, perseverance, and national pride to the gathering, Sandeep Singh, Arjuna Awardee and former Captain of the Indian National Hockey Team, said, “It is a privilege to celebrate Independence Day and Onam with the Indian community in the UAE. Sport has taught me that success is built on hard work, discipline, resilience, and teamwork, and there is no greater pride for an athlete than representing India and carrying the Tricolour on your chest. Celebrations like this bring together our culture, patriotism, and sporting spirit, while inspiring the younger generation to dream big, overcome challenges, and make the country proud, wherever they may be in the world.”
The combination of Onam and Independence Day gave the gathering a wider message of unity in diversity. While Onam remained at the heart of the festivities, the Independence Day observance complemented the celebration by highlighting the shared national identity that connects Indians from different states, languages, professions, and cultural backgrounds.
For the large Indian community in the UAE, celebrations such as Onam also serve as an important bridge between generations. They enable families living away from India to preserve traditions, introduce younger generations to their cultural heritage, and share those traditions within the UAE’s multicultural society.
The presence of leaders from diplomacy, public service, the armed forces, sports, and the chartered accountancy profession further reinforced the celebration’s message of leadership, service, resilience, and collective progress.
Beyond its professional and knowledge-driven initiatives, ICAI Dubai Chapter continues to create opportunities for members and their families to connect through cultural and community programmes. These initiatives complement the Chapter’s focus on professional development while strengthening relationships within the chartered accountancy fraternity and the broader Indian community in the UAE.
The festivities concluded with the enduring message at the heart of Onam: prosperity is most meaningful when it is shared, traditions remain strongest when passed to future generations, and communities thrive when they remain connected and inclusive.
Through the celebration, ICAI Dubai Chapter reaffirmed its commitment to professional excellence while providing a platform where India’s heritage, community spirit and shared values can continue to flourish in the UAE.
Ends
Editor’s Notes
About The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI)
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) is a statutory body established under the Chartered Accountants Act, 1949 (Act No. XXXVIII of 1949) for the regulation of the profession of Chartered Accountants in India. During its 77 years of existence, ICAI has achieved recognition as a premier accounting body not only in the country but also globally, for its contribution in the fields of education, professional development, maintenance of high accounting, auditing and ethical standards. ICAI now is the largest accounting body in the whole world.
ICAI Dubai Chapter
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), Dubai Chapter, is the largest accounting professionals’ group comprising of some of the most powerful players in the UAE’s public and private sectors. Established in 1982, it is the largest, most active and award-winning chapter among the 54 overseas chapters of ICAI. It has registered a phenomenal growth in membership in recent years and currently has nearly 3,200 members. Members represent more than 1,550 multinationals and other companies.
Its vision is to contribute to the development of its members as global professionals through facilitating continuous learning and recognition in the wider community. Its mission is to develop professionals with world class competencies.
Web: https://icaidubai.org/