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Dubai: 173% rise in registration of Indian companies in last decade
The number of Indian companies investing in Dubai has increased by over 173 per cent in the last decade with over 70,000 active companies registered in the emirate
- PUBLISHED: Tue 8 Apr 2025, 7:19 PM
Indian companies now rank first in the number of foreign businesses operating in Dubai, and are registered as members of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce. The figures were revealed at the Dubai-India Business Forum, which was held in the Indian city of Mumbai on Tuesday.
The number of Indian companies investing in Dubai has increased by over 173 per cent in the last decade with over 70,000 active companies registered in the emirate. “India has always been one of Dubai’s top trading partners,” said Ahmad Bin Byat, Vice Chairman of Dubai Chambers, in his opening remarks. “The value of non-oil trade between our markets amounted to US$190 billion in the five years from 2019 to 2023, with growth of 23.7 per cent during this period.”
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More than 4,500 new Indian companies joined Dubai Chamber of Commerce during Q1 2025, reflecting year-over-year growth of 16.2 per cent.
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Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah, President and CEO of Dubai Chambers, highlighted that Dubai holds a “strategic position” for Indian companies as a “preferred investment destination” because of its competitive advantages. “Organising the Dubai-India Business Forum in Mumbai reflects our commitment to strengthening cooperation between the business communities in both markets and identifying new opportunities across a range of vital sectors,” he said.
Strategic partnerships
Over 200 senior officials and investors, including a delegation featuring 39 prominent business leaders from Dubai, attended the event which aimed to enhance trade and investment ties between the business communities of both markets.
The forum, which was organised on the sidelines of Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum's first official visit, has seen several strategic partnerships being signed in various fields including healthcare, education and digital economy.
The event comes three years after the signing of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the UAE and India in2022 – the UAE’s first bilateral agreement under its CEPA programme.
Logistical hub
During a panel discussion, R Mukundan, Vice President of the Confederation of Indian Industry (Cll) noted that Dubai’s connectivity is a “power” that is beneficial for businesses. “The connectivity from Dubai, especially if you want to do business in Africa, is unmatched,” he said. “We moved the headquarters of one of our companies from South Africa to Dubai and it has been very beneficial for us. The most important thing for Dubai is a very efficient logistic hub. There is a money value to time. When you have efficiency, you make more money, much faster.”
Anant Singhania, from the IMC Chamber of Commerce and Industry added that the innovation Dubai comes up with was unmatched and that India could learn from it. “Twenty years ago, they came up with the idea of building a ski slope in the middle of the desert, spending $400 million,” he said. “Today, they have one million visitors. The innovation is mind-boggling. Dubai has smart contracting where decisions are made and action is taken through blockchain. India can benefit from these innovations.”
