Over 22,000 new Indian companies have entered the UAE market, reflecting a 10% increase from the previous year.

In a strategic move to bolster economic ties, Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, UAE Minister of Economy and Tourism, met today with H.D. Kumaraswamy, Indian Minister of Steel and Heavy Industries, in Dubai. The meeting focused on enhancing collaboration in pivotal economic and industrial sectors between the UAE and India, especially in the burgeoning fields of the new economy, advanced logistics, technology, manufacturing, and food industries.

Al Marri emphasized the historic and strategic nature of UAE-India relations across various domains, underpinned by decades of economic cooperation and shared interests driven by visionary leadership in both countries. He highlighted common goals in expanding future economic sectors such as the circular economy, advanced manufacturing, tourism, healthcare, entrepreneurship, innovation, and technology.

Joint Ventures in Key Sectors

Al Marri revealed that economic cooperation between the UAE and India continues to flourish, with the number of new Indian companies entering the UAE market reaching 22,415 in the first half of 2025. This marks a growth of over 10% compared to the same period in 2024, bringing the total number of Indian companies in the UAE to 264,687 by mid-2025. The discussions centered around fostering communication between Emirati and Indian business communities and encouraging diverse projects in critical economic sectors.

Al Marri noted the UAE's flexible and competitive economic regulatory environment which attracts industrial investments globally. The manufacturing sector's contribution to the nation's non-oil GDP had reached 13.5% in 2024, ranking second in non-oil economic activities. Additionally, foreign direct investments in this vital sector amounted to approximately 40 billion dirhams ($10.9 billion) by the end of 2022, representing 7% of total foreign direct investment into the UAE.

Investment Advantages in the UAE

The meeting also addressed the advantages and opportunities the UAE offers to Indian companies, including a strategic geographic location bridging East and West, a comprehensive economic partnership, advanced infrastructure, extensive logistics services, and favorable tax incentives for establishing diverse economic and investment activities. Both parties asserted the importance of strengthening cooperation between public and private sectors in sharing expertise and best practices to adopt modern technology and techniques, thus fostering a knowledge-based economy founded on innovation and supporting sustainable economic development.