The number of Indian companies registered as active members of Dubai Chamber reached 85,841 by the end of June 2026, after 7,579 new Indian firms enrolled in the first half of the year alone — a year-on-year rise of 15 per cent, according to Dubai Chambers President Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah. The figures, cited in a report by Arabian Business, underscore a deepening commercial relationship between India and Dubai that now spans trade, investment, and emerging technology.

Record Trade and Investment Flows

Dubai's non-oil trade with India reached a record $60.6 billion in 2025, up 15 per cent year-on-year, Lootah said. Bilateral trade has more than doubled over the past decade, rising 136.2 per cent from $25.6 billion in 2016, cementing India's position as Dubai's second-largest trading partner.

On the investment front, Dubai attracted nearly $8.8 billion in Indian investments between 2016 and 2025, including $2.3 billion in foreign direct investment in 2025 alone. Capital also moved in the other direction: Dubai-linked companies invested $9.3 billion across 147 projects in India over the same period, contributing to the creation of 55,274 jobs.

CEPA's Role in Unlocking Growth

Lootah attributed a significant part of the momentum to the UAE-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which has reduced trade barriers, improved market access, and opened wider growth opportunities in both markets. The agreement, which came into force in 2022, has been widely credited with accelerating the pace of bilateral commerce beyond what pre-existing frameworks could achieve.

Notably, an increasing number of Indian businesses are using Dubai as a regional hub — not merely a bilateral trade destination — to access markets across the Middle East, Africa, and beyond. Advanced infrastructure, global connectivity, and a competitive business environment are cited as key draws.

Expanding into Future-Focused Sectors

Bilateral cooperation is extending into new frontiers, including Agentic AI and the digital economy, Lootah noted. This signals a shift from the relationship's traditional base in commodities and real estate toward higher-value, technology-driven sectors — a reflection of both economies' strategic priorities in the coming decade.

'These figures reflect the Indian business community's strong confidence in Dubai and its future growth prospects,' Lootah said. 'Dubai provides Indian businesses with access to markets across the Middle East, Africa and beyond, supported by advanced infrastructure, global connectivity, a competitive business environment and direct links to customers, investors and partners.'

What This Means for India-UAE Ties

The data, released on 28 August 2026, arrives as India actively courts Gulf investment to fund its own infrastructure and manufacturing ambitions. With the UAE already one of India's top trade and remittance partners, the Dubai Chamber figures suggest the commercial relationship has moved well beyond its historical dependence on the Indian diaspora workforce and is increasingly driven by formal business registrations and institutional capital.

Lootah said relations between Dubai and India continue to expand in response to the evolving needs of businesses in both markets, with trade remaining the central pillar of the relationship. How quickly the two sides deepen cooperation in digital and AI sectors will likely determine the trajectory of the partnership through the rest of the decade.