Union Budget 2023-24
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India and UAE have shared trade links through the centuries. Trade, which was dominated by traditional items such as dates, pearl and fishes, underwent a sharp change after the discovery of oil in UAE (oil exports began from Abu Dhabi in 1962). The traditionally strong bilateral relations enjoyed by India & UAE have received impetus with regular exchange of high-level bilateral visits from time to time. 

    • In September 2022, EAM visited the UAE during which he co-chaired the 14th Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) and the third Strategic Dialogue with His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan. During the visit, he also met UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (MBZ), interacted with the press and had a discussion on foreign policy.

    • In February 2022, a virtual summit took place between UAE President and PM Shri Narendra Modi during which the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and several other MoUs/Agreements were signed. During the virtual summit, both leaders also issued a Joint Vision document that will guide India-UAE strategic partnership in times to come. 

       

       

    • In December 2021, he visited Abu Dhabi to attend the 5th Indian Ocean Conference and on the sidelines, met with His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan (ABZ) and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (MBZ) and discussed cooperation and joint action that solidify the strategic partnership between the two countries.

    • In November 2021, EAM Dr. S Jaishankar visited the UAE to attend Sir Bani Yas Forum in Dubai. During the visit, he also had meetings with His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan (ABZ) and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (MBZ).

    • In 2021, EAM Dr. S Jaishankar visited the UAE in April and met His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan (ABZ). In the meeting, they both reviewed the COVID-19 pandemic and cooperation between
      India and the UAE.

    • PM visited UAE in August 2019 to receive UAE's highest civilian award, 'the Order of Zayed’ and which was conferred on him by the UAE President in April 2019. The visit also witnessed the official launch of the ‘RuPay Card’ in UAE, and the release of a set of stamps issued by Emirates Post commemorating the 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

    • PM Modi visited UAE in February 2018 for the 6th World Government Summit in Dubai, where India was the Guest of Honor; he also met Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE & Ruler of Dubai.

    • Growing India – UAE economic and commercial relations contribute to the stability and strength of a rapidly diversifying and deepening bilateral relationship between the two countries. India-UAE trade was valued at US$ 180mn per annum in the 1970, today this figure stands out around US$ 77 bn in FY 2022-2023 (April - February).

    • The cumulative FDI inflows from UAE to India are worth $15.3 Bn for April 2000 to December 2022.

    • India and the UAE marked the first anniversary of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which has been a growth engine for bilateral trade, increasing it by 16% from FY (2021-2022) to FY (2022-2023). The agreement has resulted in the elimination of duties on a large number of tariff lines and has benefited key sectors like Mineral Fuels, Electrical Machinery, Gems & Jewellery, and Automobiles.

    • India’s major export items to the UAE are: Petroleum Products, Precious Metals, Stones, Gems & Jewellery, Minerals, Food Items (Cereals, Sugar, Fruits & Vegetables, Tea, Meat, and Seafood), Textiles (Garments, Apparel, Synthetic fibre, Cotton, Yarn) and Engineering & Machinery Products and Chemicals. 

    • India's major import items from the UAE are: Petroleum and Petroleum Products, Precious Metals, Stones, Gems & Jewellery, Minerals, Chemicals, Wood & Wood Products.

    • The UAE is the second-largest export destination for India (after the US) with an amount of US$ 28.7 bn for the year 2022-2023 (April - February). For the UAE, India was the second-largest trading partner in 2022.

    • The UAE’s investments in India are mainly in five sectors: Real estate, Ceramics and glass, Transport and warehousing, Financial services, Coal, oil and gas. During April 2000 to December 2022, the cumulative equity flow from the UAE to India is nearly US$ 15.3 bn, making the UAE the 7th largest FDI investor in India.

    • On 1st September 2022, on the margins of the 14th JCM, an MoU was signed to setup the India-UAE Cultural Council Forum that will facilitate deeper Cultural Cooperation and People to People interactions between the two countries.

    • Major theaters and cinema halls in the UAE screen commercial Hindi, Malayalam, Telugu and Tamil films. The Emirati community also take part in annual International Day of Yoga events and various schools of yoga & meditation are running successfully in the UAE. 

    • Indian expatriate community of approx. 3.3 millions is the largest ethnic community in UAE constituting roughly about 30 % of the country’s population. 

    • There are 130 Indian schools in the UAE following the CBSE and Kerala Board curricula with approx 219,000 students, mostly children of Indian expatriates.

    • On 26 August 2021, a historic Agreement was signed between the New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) New Delhi to establish a Visiting Professorship in Social
      Science at New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD). 

    • The foundation stone for the first Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi was laid on 20 April 2019 and the ceremony was attended by H.E. Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, the Minister of Climate Change & Environment of the UAE along with other representatives of the Government of the UAE and the Ambassador.

    • Soft launch of Gandhi Zayed Digital Museum was done in Abu Dhabi on 04 December, 2018. The Museum was opened for the public on 12th March 2019. In recognition of this unique initiative, the UAE Government presented the Embassy of India and the UAE Ministry of Culture the Pioneers Award for 2019.

Prominent Investments

UAE in India

DP World

DP World is a global supply chain solutions firm; specialising in cargo logistics, port terminal operations, maritime services and free zones. They ...Read more

Sharaf Group

UAE based conglomerate active in Shipping & Logistics, Retail, Travel & Tourism, IT, Industrial, Hospitality & Real Estate and Financial ...Read more

Lulu Group

One of the largest retail companies in the UAE. The company’s India presence includes Lulu International Convention Center & Hotel in Thrissur, ...Read more

Emaar Properties

Emaar is one of the largest real estate developers in the Middle East. In India, Emaar has created a portfolio of properties in Gurugram, Delhi, ...Read more

India in UAE

ONGC & PetroResources

A consortium led by India’s state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) including Indian Oil and Bharat PetroResources, were awarded a 10 per ...Read more

L&T Middle East

L&T is an Indian multi-national firm headquartered in Mumbai. The company has business interests in engineering, construction, manufacturing ...Read more

Oberoi Group

Indian Hospitality chain founded in 1934. In UAE, the group has 5-star hotels, villas and properties in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Ajman ...Read more
  • Chemicals

    Chemicals

    • #3

      Largest consumer of polymers

    • #4

      Largest producer of agrochemicals

    • #6

      largest producer of chemicals in the world

      • $ 300 bn value of Indian chemical industry by 2025
      • Supplies 16% of the global dyestuff and dye intermediates
      • India is set to emerge as the 4th largest chemical producer in the world
    Visit Sector 28Investible Projects
  • Oil & Gas

    Oil & Gas

    • #1

      Largest exporter of Petroleum products in Asia

    • #2

      Largest refiner in Asia

    • #3

       Largest consumer of crude oil and petroleum products

      • Target of achieving 20% ethanol blending in petrol by 2025
      • 16,788 km of operational natural gas pipelines and 14,239 km gas pipelines are under development
    Visit Sector 1Investible Projects
  • Renewable Energy

    Renewable Energy

    • #2

       Highest installed wind capacity in Asia 

    • #4

      Solar Power Capacity Globally (as per REN21 Renewables 2022 Global Status Report)

    • #4

      largest Renewable energy capacity Globally

      • It's home to the world's largest solar plant (648 MW) and solar park (2 GW)
      • The 30-GW renewable energy park at Kutch, Gujarat is billed as the largest of its kind in the world
    Visit Sector 499Investible Projects
  • Food Processing

    Food Processing

    • #1

      Largest producer, consumer and exporter of spices

    • #1 

      producer of Milk Globally

    • #2

      largest producer of tea and sugarcane

      • India’s food processing sector is one of the largest in the world and its output is expected to reach $535 Bn by 2025-26.
      • Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana, a government scheme, was formulated for creating a modern infrastructure with efficient supply chain management from farm gate to retail outlet
    Visit Sector 76Investible Projects
  • Pharma

    Pharmaceuticals

    • #1

       Leader in the global supply of DPT, BCG and Measles Vaccine

    • #3

      Largest market in terms of volume

    • #13

       Largest market in terms of value

      • India is currently the 4th largest medical device market in Asia
      • Bio-Pharma is the largest sub-sector contributing to 62% of the total sectoral revenue
      • Expected to reach $65 Bn by 2024, and 130 Bn by 2030
    Visit Sector 7Investible Projects
  • Ports & Shipping

    Ports & Shipping

    • #16

      Largest maritime nation

    • 12

      Major ports

    • 200

      Non-major and intermediate ports

      • India has a coastline of nearly 7,517 km
      • Maritime transport in India handles 95% of the trade by volume
      • Seaborne trade in India has grown at twice the global growth rate of 3.3%
    Visit Sector 161Investible Projects
  • Construction

    Construction

    • 100

      Smart cities 

    • #3

      Largest construction market globally by 2025

      • 4,830 projects worth INR 93,381 Cr of Water Supply, Water Body Rejuvenation, Sewerage & Septage Management, Parks & Green Space Development are approved under AMRUT 2.0 mission.
      • The industry contributes 55% share in the steel industry, 15% in the paint industry and 30% in the glass industry
      • The Real Estate Industry in India is expected to reach $1 Tn by 2030 and will contribute 13% to India's GDP by 2025.
    Visit Sector 791Investible Projects

Recent Investments

emaar

The Emaar Group announced its $60 million office and shopping complex in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, under the name 'Mall of Srinagar'

Dubai’s Emaar Group will build a $60 million shopping and office complex in Srinagar, the capital of Jammu and Kashmir, the northernmost part of India.

The Jammu and Kashmir government said Emaar’s project, called ‘Mall of Srinagar’, marks the first foreign direct investment (FDI) in the Union Territory. The announcement came on a day Srinagar hosted an India-UAE investors’ meet.

Mubadala

Mubadala and Canadian pension fund invest in India's infrastructure investment trust

Mubadala Investment Company, Abu Dhabi’s sovereign investor, and the British Columbia Investment Management Corporation, a Canadian pension fund, have become anchor investors in Cube Highways Trust, an infrastructure investment trust (InvIT) in India.

Abu Dhabi Investment Authority

Abu Dhabi Investment Authority invests $500 million in Lenskart

Lenskart has signed a definitive agreement with Abu Dhabi Investment Authority to raise $500 million amidst a market slump, as the Indian eyewear retailer expands its offerings and prepares for international markets. This investment is an extension to last year's funding round and enables the startup to maintain its valuation of $4.5 billion. 

Lulu Group

Lulu Group to invest INR 3,500 cr in Tamil Nadu (Mar 2022)

Lulu Group to set up food processing and logistics centres for procuring and processing agri-produce for exports to middle eastern countries.

PDG

Data centre firm Princeton Digital Group raises over $350 million from Mubadala

Data centre company Princeton Digital Group (PDG) closed equity investment of more than $500 million led by Mubadala Investment Company, which put in $350 million

Dealshare

Dealshare raises $45 million from ADIA

Social commerce platform DealShare has raised $45 million from the wholly owned subsidiary of Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), as part of a larger funding round.

ADIA

ADIA invests $235 mn in Mindspace REIT

ADIA bought the 9.2% stake in real estate investment trust Mindspace Business Parks REIT for $235 mn from Blackstone Inc

DP World

DP World to invest INR 10,000 crore in Gujarat

Global supply chain solutions company, DP World, said it was looking to invest INR 10,000 crore in developing logistics infrastructure in Gujarat

Releince

Mubadala has invested $ 853 Million into Reliance Retail Ventures Ltd

Abu Dhabi state fund Mubadala Investment Co has agreed to invest $853 million in the retail division of India’s Reliance Industries RELI.NS

Jio

UAE sovereign wealth fund Mubadala to invest $1.2 billion in India’s Jio Platforms

Mubadala, a United Arab Emirates state investment company, is investing $1.2 billion in Indian telco and digital services firm Jio Platforms.The sovereign wealth fund, which has a venture arm split across Abu Dhabi and San Francisco, is the sixth investor to back Jio.

Star

Chennai-based Star Health and Allied Insurance has raised $ $429 million from 62 anchor investors including ADIA

Star Health and Allied Insurance Company on November 29, 2021 said it has raised a little over $$ 429 million from anchor investors ahead of its IPO 

UAE Team

The UAE plus desk at Invest India is part of the India UAE Fast Track Mechanism [FTM] to monitor and resolve issues faced by UAE investors in India.

Key Functions

  • Entire spectrum of investment promotion – research, outreach, promotion, facilitation and aftercare
  • Initiating, attracting, facilitating and handholding UAE investments across sectors
  • Providing information on investment opportunities across sectors and in specific projects 
  • Extending holistic support to the small and medium enterprises from UAE with India interest

Team Advantages

  • Expediting license approval

    Expediting license approval

  • Provide policy advocacy

    Provide policy advocacy

  • Location assessment

    Location assessment

  • Business advisory

    Business advisory

  • Issue redressal

    Issue redressal

About Us

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Our Prestigious Awards

We are the most awarded IPA in the world

  • The World's Most Innovative Investment Promotion Agency Award 2021 awarded by OCO Global

  • United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Investment Promotion Award 2020 for best practices in COVID response

  • Best Investment Project Award five years in a row - 2016 to 2020 at the Annual Investment Meeting (AIM) organized by the Ministry of Economy, UAE.

  • Great Place to Work Certification by GPTW Survey 2019

  • The UNCTAD Award 2018 for promoting investment in sustainable development

  • Great Place to Work Certification by GPTW Survey 2018

  • Investment Award 2016 from the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA)

  • United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Investment Promotion Award 2016 for excellence in partnering for investment promotion