Dubai Chambers has successfully concluded the Dubai-India Business Forum in Mumbai, which took place today. The event was organized alongside 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.

The forum aimed to enhance strategic economic opportunities between Dubai and India, drawing participation from over 200 senior officials and investors, including a delegation of 39 prominent business leaders from Dubai. This event comes three years after the signing of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the UAE and India on February 18, 2022, which marked the UAE’s first bilateral agreement under its CEPA program. The timing reflects the growing momentum in bilateral relations.

During the forum, attendees explored ways to strengthen trade and investment ties between the two business communities. They discussed opportunities for launching new joint ventures and strategic partnerships, focusing on the competitive advantages and economic prospects of both markets. The discussions aimed to harness these strengths to foster growth in bilateral trade and investments.

In his opening remarks, His Excellency Ahmad bin Byat, Vice Chairman of Dubai Chambers, noted the exceptional relationship between Dubai and India, grounded in mutual trust and economic integration. He highlighted that non-oil trade between the two markets exceeded AED142 billion during the first nine months of 2024, reflecting a year-over-year growth of 19%. He expressed confidence that bilateral trade will continue to flourish as they commemorate the third anniversary of CEPA.

His Excellency Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah, President and CEO of Dubai Chambers, emphasized Dubai’s strategic position as a favored investment destination for Indian companies. By the end of March 2025, there were 72 651 active Indian companies registered as members of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce, with 4 563 new Indian companies joining in Q1 2025, marking a year-over-year growth of 16.2%. He stated that Indian companies are now the largest group of foreign businesses operating in Dubai.

Lootah added that organizing the Dubai-India Business Forum in Mumbai demonstrates their commitment to strengthening cooperation between the two markets. The forum provided a platform to deepen economic ties, explore new investment opportunities, and support long-term commercial partnerships.

The event featured a panel discussion with prominent figures, including R Mukundan, Vice President of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Adeeb Ahamed, Chair of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) – Arab Council, and Anant Singhania, Past President & Current Managing Committee Member of the IMC Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The session discussed the future of Dubai-India relations in trade and investment amidst global economic changes, highlighting Dubai’s role as a strategic launchpad for Indian companies looking to expand internationally. The discussions aimed to enhance bilateral economic cooperation and improve the global competitiveness of both Dubai and India.

The Dubai-India Business Forum aligns with Dubai Chambers’ objectives of boosting strategic economic partnerships, enhancing cross-border trade, and identifying new investment opportunities, both locally and globally.