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The UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism announced the launch of the latest Investopia Dialogues in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, on July 23, 2026, marking the fifth consecutive edition hosted in India. More than 500 senior officials, investors, entrepreneurs and business leaders from both countries attended the event, which featured bilateral meetings and roundtable discussions. The sessions focused on accelerating partnerships in artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, food security, tourism and logistics while building on existing economic frameworks.
UAE Minister of Economy and Tourism Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri described Investopia as a vital platform for turning economic opportunities into tangible projects that benefit both nations. Al Marri stated that the UAE-India economic partnership is an advanced model for cooperation between the two countries. He added that the total number of Indian companies operating in the UAE reached 290,222 by the end of the first half of 2026.
Undersecretary of the UAE Ministry of Investment and Investopia President Abdulrahman Mohammed Alhawi called the investment partnership between the UAE and India among the most dynamic globally. Alhawi noted that the Ahmedabad edition of Investopia Dialogues marks a new milestone in this relationship. The gathering took place in partnership with the Confederation of Indian Industry, which helped facilitate engagement between policymakers and private-sector participants.
Business representatives also addressed the audience, highlighting practical steps to deepen collaboration. Marjan Developers CEO Sheikh Saqr Bin Omar Al Qasimi said the event in Ahmedabad reflects the depth of the UAE-India relationship. EMSTEEL Group CEO Eng. Saeed Ghumran Al Remeithi stated that participation in Investopia India underscores the company’s commitment to supporting sustainable industrial growth across both markets.
LuLu Group Chairman and Managing Director Yusuff Ali M.A. expressed satisfaction at joining the Investopia Global event in Ahmedabad. Yusuff Ali announced an INR 4,000-crore investment project, equivalent to AED 1.53 billion, during the proceedings. The commitment aligns with broader efforts to expand commercial footprints in sectors ranging from retail to food processing.
Data from the Indian Embassy in the UAE places bilateral merchandise trade at $101.25 billion in fiscal year 2025-26, more than double the level recorded five years earlier. The embassy figures show the UAE ranks as India’s third-largest trading partner and second-largest export destination, with Indian exports exceeding $37 billion in that period. Cumulative FDI from the UAE into India reached $25.59 billion from April 2000 to March 2026, according to India’s Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, positioning the UAE as the seventh-largest overseas investor.
The two countries signed a Bilateral Investment Treaty in February 2024 that took effect in August of that year, providing a structured framework for capital flows. Indian government statistics indicate the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, which entered into force in 2022, has contributed to sustained trade expansion across petroleum products, gems, food items, chemicals and engineering goods. Officials from both sides have set a revised target of doubling bilateral trade to $200 billion by 2032 following high-level discussions earlier in 2026.
