Dubai Chambers has concluded the Dubai-India Business Forum in Mumbai today, an event organised during the visit of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, to India.
The forum, which attracted over 200 officials and investors, including 39 business leaders from Dubai, examined ways to strengthen economic connections between both markets.
On the sidelines of Hamdan bin Mohammed’s official visit to India, Dubai Chambers explored new trade and investment prospects with 200 business leaders at the Dubai-India Business Forum in Mumbai. pic.twitter.com/EBvVBcI1xF
— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) April 8, 2025
The event marks three years since the signing of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the UAE and India on February 18, 2022 – the UAE’s first bilateral agreement under its CEPA programme.
Strengthening Dubai-India economic ties
“Dubai and India share an exceptional relationship built on mutual trust and a commitment to economic integration. India holds an important position as a key trading partner for Dubai. The value of non-oil trade between our markets exceeded AED142 billion during the first nine months of 2024, achieving year-over-year growth of 19 per cent. As we mark the third anniversary of the CEPA between the UAE and India, we are confident bilateral trade will continue to accelerate and flourish over the long term,” Ahmad bin Byat, Vice Chairman of Dubai Chambers said.
Participants explored opportunities to enhance trade and investment ties, launch joint ventures, and form strategic partnerships.
Discussions centered on the competitive advantages and economic prospects of both markets.
“Dubai holds a strategic position for Indian companies as a preferred investment destination due to its unique competitive advantages. Indian investors form a key part of Dubai’s business landscape, with 72,651 active Indian companies registered as members of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce by the end of March 2025. In addition, 4,563 new Indian companies joined the chamber during Q1 2025, marking year-over-year growth of 16.2%. Indian companies now rank first in terms of the number of foreign businesses operating in Dubai that are registered as members of Dubai Chamber of Commerce,” Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah, President and CEO of Dubai Chambers added.
The forum included a panel discussion featuring Lootah alongside R Mukundan, Vice President of the Confederation of Indian Industry; Adeeb Ahamed, Chair of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry – Arab Council; and Anant Singhania, Past President & Current Managing Committee Member of the IMC Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The session explored future Dubai-India relations in trade, investment, and international expansion, and highlighted Dubai’s role as a launchpad for Indian companies expanding into international markets.
The Dubai-India Business Forum contributes to Dubai Chambers’ objectives of boosting economic partnerships, enhancing cross-border trade, and building new investment opportunities locally and globally.
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