The Dubai-India Business Forum 2025, organized by Dubai Chambers and executed by Eventify Entertainment, successfully concluded in Mumbai on April 8, 2025. The event was held during the significant official 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.
Strengthening Bilateral Ties:
The event brought together over 200 officials and business leaders, including 39 delegates from Dubai, to explore enhanced trade and investment opportunities between the UAE and India. It also commemorated the third anniversary of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), signed on February 18, 2022.
Dubai Chambers Highlights India’s Crucial Role as a Trading Partner:
In his address to the forum, Ahmad bin Byat, Vice Chairman of Dubai Chambers, underscored the paramount importance of India as a key strategic trading partner for Dubai. He highlighted the significant growth in non-oil trade between Dubai and India, which reached AED 142 billion in the first nine months of 2024, marking an impressive 19 percent increase compared to the corresponding period in the previous year. Mr. Byat expressed strong confidence in the continued robust growth of bilateral trade between the two regions in the years to come.
Significant Growth in Indian Companies Registered in Dubai:
Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah, President and CEO of Dubai Chambers, shared compelling data highlighting the strong business ties between the two regions. He noted that there are currently a substantial 72,651 Indian companies actively registered with the Dubai Chamber of Commerce. Furthermore, in the first quarter of 2025 alone, an impressive 4,563 new Indian companies joined the Dubai Chamber, representing a significant year-on-year increase of 16.2 percent. This data underscores the fact that Indian businesses now constitute the largest group of foreign companies operating within Dubai.
Union Minister Goyal Welcomes His Highness Sheikh Hamdan and Highlights Deep-Rooted Ties:
The forum also featured an address by Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal, who warmly welcomed His Highness Sheikh Hamdan on his first official visit to India. Shri Goyal reflected on the enduring and deep-rooted relationship between Dubai and Mumbai, noting the historical significance of this year marking a century since Sheikh Saeed, the grandfather of Sheikh Hamdan, visited India in 1925. He acknowledged Dubai’s significant support for the Indian community residing in the UAE, including the establishment of the first hospital dedicated to Indian workers, and expressed gratitude to the UAE leadership for their continued cooperation and goodwill.
Future Areas of Collaboration:
Shri Goyal outlined several new areas for bilateral cooperation, including:
- Renewable energy and green hydrogen
- Fintech and digital infrastructure
- Education and advanced manufacturing
He also mentioned the recent opening of an IIT campus in Dubai, with plans to establish more Indian institutions such as IIM and IIFT.
The Dubai-India Business Forum 2025 served as a powerful reaffirmation of the shared commitment of both the UAE and India to further deepen their strong economic partnership and provide robust support for business growth through continued mutual cooperation and strategic alliances. The forum contributes significantly to Dubai Chambers’ broader and ongoing efforts to strengthen international trade ties and create new and mutually beneficial opportunities for companies operating across both dynamic regions.