Abu Dhabi: Embarking on his first-ever foreign visit as President, A P J Abdul Kalam arrived in Abu Dhabi on October 18 on the first leg of his three-nation tour to United Arab Emirates (UAE), Sudan and Bulgaria, terming it as a "learning trip".

He was received at the Abu Dhabi international airport by Crown Prince Abu Dhabi Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al Nahyan and his Ministers.

Kalam told reporters on board his special aircraft en route to UAE from New Delhi that it was a "learning trip" for him.

"I would like to see the economic strength of these countries and meet their politicians, students and scientists and tell them about our heritage," he said.

Immediately after his arrival, the President got down to business and drove down straight to a desalination plant, where he was given a brief presentation of its operation.

Kalam later visited the Neo-Pharma plant, a world-class pharmaceutical manufacturing facility.

PTI