[3] Many religions in the Middle East, notable among them is Yazidism, draw heavily from common Indo-Iranian traditions, closely connected to Hinduism.

[4] The Yarsani, followers of Yarsanism, believe that the Divine Essence has successive incarnations known as mazhariyyats (similar to the Hindu notion of avatars).

[5] At present, there is an influential and wealthy Hindu community, mostly of Indian, Nepalese and Sri Lankan heritage in Arab states of the Persian Gulf.

[7] Distribution of Hindus among the Middle Eastern countries Indian settlers came to live in Oman, creating settlements and practicing Hinduism.

In the opposite direction, medieval Gujaratis, Kutchis, and other Indians traded extensively with Arab and Somali ports, including Hormuz, Salalah, Socotra, Mogadishu, Merca, Barawa, Hobyo, Muscat and Aden.

Arab merchants were the dominant carriers of Indian Ocean trade until the Portuguese forcibly supplanted them at the end of the 15th century.

Indo-Arabian links were renewed under the British Empire, when many Indians serving in the army or civil service were stationed in Arab lands such as Sudan.

[citation needed] The current wave of Indian immigration to the Arab states of the Persian Gulf dates roughly to the 1960s.

[38] South Asians in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) constitute the largest ethnic group in the country.

In January 2024, a new Hindu Temple, Dubai opened in Jebel Ali and the existing Shiva Mandir and Gurudwara were moved to this new location.

[43] The new temple, BAPS Hindu Mandir Abu Dhabi, had its foundation stone laying ceremony in April, 2019.