UAE Doubles Down on Indian Start-Ups with New CEPA Initiative

The UAE-India CEPA Council (UICC) has launched the UAE-India CEPA Start-up Series in collaboration with the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in India. This partnership will focus on boosting innovation and support Indian start-ups’ global expansion.

“Start-ups are central to the UAE-India economic corridor. Through this series, the UAE-India CEPA Council seeks to connect India’s brightest entrepreneurial minds with the UAE’s ecosystem, supporting their scale-up journeys while enriching our bilateral innovation landscape,” said His Excellency Abdulnasser Alshaali, PhD, the UAE Ambassador to India.

The launch coincides with a phase of robust economic growth in UAE–India relations. In FY 2023–24, bilateral trade climbed to $83.64 billion, a nearly 15% jump since the implementation of the CEPA.

India’s non-oil exports to the UAE saw a sharp rise of over 20%, while UAE FDI into India tripled in just a year, growing from $1.03 billion in FY 2021–22 to $3.35 billion in FY 2022–23. The UAE has now emerged as India’s fourth-largest source of foreign investment.

These gains further reinforce the UAE’s enduring commitment to championing India’s dynamic start-up ecosystem. Since 2000, UAE-based investors have channelled an estimated $20 billion into the Indian economy, fueling innovation, accelerating growth, and cementing the UAE’s position as a key strategic partner.

The launch event that took place in Delhi, featured the signing of several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between the UICC and prominent academic and entrepreneurial institutions, including PRIME Meghalaya under the Meghalaya Basin Management Agency (M.B.M.A.), IDEATE Lab @ OP Jindal Global University, and Jamia Hamdard.

The event concluded with a presentation by Mr Ahmed Aljneibi, Director of the UICC, who unveiled the bold vision and strategic framework of the Start-up Series.

He outlined how the initiative will culminate in a high-profile pitch event in New Delhi, where five exceptional start-ups will be selected to receive an exclusive UAE soft-landing package, including incubation support, business licencing, tailored mentorship, and direct access to leading investors, innovation hubs, and free zone networks across the Emirates.

The event drew over 100 participants from across the start-up, investment, policy, and media landscape. Attendees witnessed the unveiling of the official Start-up Series microsite and the premiere of a promotional trailer calling for applications from high-potential Indian ventures.