Business

More than 500 leaders, government officials, investors and entrepreneurs from the UAE and India gathered in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, as Investopia launched the fifth consecutive Indian edition of its Investopia Dialogues, aimed at deepening bilateral economic and investment cooperation.

The event focused on expanding collaboration in supply chains, food security, logistics, financial services, tourism, artificial intelligence (AI), advanced manufacturing and other future-focused sectors, supporting the next phase of the UAE-India Economic Corridor.

Platform for Future Investment Opportunities

The dialogue was attended by H.E. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, UAE Minister of Economy and Tourism and Co-Chair of the Investopia Board of Trustees, and H.E. Bhupendrabhai Patel, Chief Minister of Gujarat, alongside senior government officials, business leaders and investors from both countries.

Participants included H.E. Abdulrahman Mohammed Alhawi, Undersecretary of the UAE Ministry of Investment and President of Investopia; H.E. Dhafer Al Qasimi, CEO of Silal Group; Sheikh Saqr bin Omar Al Qasimi, CEO of Marjan Developers; Yusuff Ali M.A., Chairman and Managing Director of LuLu Group; and Eng. Saeed Ghumran Al Remeithi, Group CEO of EMSTEEL.

The event featured roundtable discussions, bilateral meetings and sector-focused sessions exploring opportunities to strengthen private-sector partnerships and increase cross-border investments.

Growing UAE-India Economic Relations

Speaking at the event, Bin Touq described the UAE-India relationship as a strategic partnership experiencing rapid growth across key economic sectors.

He said Investopia has become a leading global platform connecting governments, businesses and investors to transform economic opportunities into strategic partnerships.

Bin Touq highlighted the growing presence of Indian businesses in the UAE, noting that the number of Indian companies operating in the UAE reached 290,222 by the end of the first half of 2026, representing a 16.7% increase compared to the same period in 2025.

He also noted that the number of Indian companies in the UAE grew by 109% between 2020 and 2025, reflecting the expanding footprint of Indian investments in the country.

Investment Momentum Continues

Abdulrahman Mohammed Alhawi, President of Investopia, said the UAE now accounts for more than 70% of GCC investment inflows into India, while nearly 4,000 new Indian companies joined the Dubai Chamber of Commerce during the first quarter of 2026.

He added that Investopia Dialogues in Ahmedabad represent another milestone in strengthening bilateral investments and reinforcing the UAE's role as a gateway for Indian companies seeking global expansion.

Meanwhile, LuLu Group Chairman Yusuff Ali M.A. announced a new INR 4,000 crore (AED 1.53 billion) investment in Ahmedabad to develop a mixed-use project featuring a shopping mall, five-star hotel and furnished residential apartments on a 21-acre site.

The project is expected to create more than 15,000 jobs, with LuLu also planning to establish a food park and a fish-processing facility in the region.

Meeting Focuses on Gujarat Cooperation

During the visit, Bin Touq held a bilateral meeting with Chief Minister Bhupendrabhai Patel to discuss expanding cooperation between the UAE and Gujarat.

The discussions centred on strengthening partnerships in advanced manufacturing, logistics, food security and tourism, while exploring Gujarat's role in supporting the UAE-India Economic Corridor.

Bin Touq described Gujarat as one of India's leading industrial and economic hubs, highlighting its strengths in ports, renewable energy, logistics, food processing and entrepreneurship, making it a strategic partner for future collaboration.

AI, Manufacturing and Financial Cooperation

A series of panel discussions examined opportunities across emerging industries.

The "Building Gujarat's AI Economy" session explored investment opportunities in data centres, computing infrastructure, digital technologies and artificial intelligence, while highlighting prospects for UAE-India collaboration in advanced technologies.

Another discussion on "Frontier Industries" focused on cooperation in semiconductors, industrial engineering, automotive manufacturing and advanced materials, with participants discussing knowledge transfer and sustainable manufacturing.

The "Scaling Bilateral Investment" session examined the role of sovereign wealth funds, family offices and private capital in financing strategic projects, while "The New Financial Corridor" explored stronger cooperation between the financial centres of the UAE and India, including fintech, fund management and cross-border capital flows.

Food Security and Tourism in Focus

The dialogue also featured discussions on food security and agricultural value chains, highlighting opportunities in AgriTech, food processing, cold-chain infrastructure and logistics to strengthen resilient supply chains.

A dedicated session on tourism, sports and the experience economy explored cooperation in aviation, hospitality, sporting events and entertainment, aiming to increase tourism flows and create new investment opportunities between the two countries.

The Ahmedabad event forms part of Investopia's global dialogue series, which includes 25 international engagements designed to promote economic cooperation, attract investment and strengthen partnerships in the new economy and future industries.

• Tags
• #Business
• #Magazine
• #Lifestyle