Rajasthan CM Bhajanlal Sharma courts UAE investment in energy, hospitality
Synopsis
Rajasthan is making a direct pitch to Gulf capital. At a high-profile round table in Jaipur, CM Bhajanlal Sharma offered UAE investors a portfolio stretching from renewable energy to 662 heritage havelis in Shekhawati — backed by a $100-billion-plus India-UAE trade relationship and a CEPA framework. The UAE minister confirmed hospitality investment interest and pushed for a Jaipur-Dubai air link.
Key Takeaways
Rajasthan CM Bhajanlal Sharma hosted UAE Minister of Economy and Tourism Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri at Rambagh Palace Hotel, Jaipur on 20 August .
Sharma pitched investment in energy and hospitality as priority sectors, backed by the Rajasthan Aerospace and Defence Policy .
The state has identified 662 historic havelis in the Shekhawati region for conservation and heritage tourism investment.
India-UAE bilateral trade has exceeded $100 billion annually for the past two years; approximately 4.5 million Indians live in the UAE.
The UAE confirmed interest in investing in Rajasthan's hospitality sector and sought stronger Jaipur-Dubai air connectivity.
Al Marri invited CM Sharma to visit Dubai , indicating the bilateral dialogue will continue at the leadership level.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma on Thursday, 20 August formally invited UAE companies to invest in the state, with a sharp focus on the energy and hospitality sectors, at the UAE-Rajasthan Tourism and Investment Round Table held at Rambagh Palace Hotel in Jaipur. The meeting brought Sharma face-to-face with Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri, the UAE Minister of Economy and Tourism, in what both sides described as a significant step toward deepening bilateral investment ties.
What Rajasthan Offers UAE Investors
Sharma laid out Rajasthan's investment canvas in considerable detail, citing the state's forts, palaces, havelis, deserts, wildlife sanctuaries, gems and jewellery, handicrafts, textiles, and minerals as assets with strong commercial potential. He assured prospective investors of full government backing, stating that investments in Rajasthan would yield returns rather than losses.
The Chief Minister also highlighted the state's policy infrastructure, including the Rajasthan Aerospace and Defence Policy, as evidence of a business-friendly industrial environment. He added that Rajasthan is advancing rapidly toward energy self-reliance — a sector the state is actively pitching to Gulf capital.
Heritage Conservation as an Investment Hook
Aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's dual mandate of 'Vikas bhi, Virasat bhi' (Development as well as Heritage), the Rajasthan government has identified 662 historic havelis in the Shekhawati region for conservation. Sharma framed this initiative as an opportunity for heritage tourism investment — a segment where UAE hospitality groups have a growing global footprint.
India-UAE Ties: The Bilateral Backdrop
Sharma underscored the strength of the broader India-UAE relationship, noting that bilateral trade has consistently exceeded $100 billion over the past two years. He credited PM Modi's visit to the UAE in May 2026 with injecting fresh momentum into the partnership.
He also pointed to the approximately 4.5 million Indians residing in the UAE — including a substantial number of Rajasthani expatriates — as a human bridge reinforcing economic and cultural links. Sharma praised the UAE leadership for its care of the Indian community during the Gulf crisis.
UAE's Response and Investment Intent
Al Marri reciprocated warmly, describing the relationship between PM Modi and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan as 'truly special.' He pointed to the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) signed between India and the UAE as a structural enabler for deeper trade and investment flows.
The UAE minister confirmed that UAE companies are keen to invest in Rajasthan's hospitality sector and expressed a desire to strengthen direct air connectivity between Jaipur and Dubai. He also extended a personal invitation to Chief Minister Sharma to visit Dubai, signalling that the dialogue is set to continue at the highest levels.
With the CEPA framework in place and state-level outreach now accelerating, Rajasthan's pitch to Gulf investors is entering a more structured phase — one where follow-through on policy promises will determine whether the round table translates into ground-level investment.
Point of View
And Rajasthan's Jaipur round table is a case in point. The Shekhawati haveli pitch is smart — heritage tourism is an under-monetised asset that aligns with Gulf sovereign and private capital's appetite for curated experiential investments. The harder question is execution: Rajasthan has a history of ambitious investment pledges at summits that do not fully convert into disbursed capital. The CEPA tailwind is real, but state-level ease-of-doing-business rankings will ultimately determine whether UAE firms sign MOUs or actually break ground.
NationPress
20 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the UAE-Rajasthan Tourism and Investment Round Table about?
It was a bilateral investment dialogue held on 20 August at Rambagh Palace Hotel in Jaipur, where Rajasthan CM Bhajanlal Sharma invited UAE companies to invest in the state's energy and hospitality sectors. UAE Minister of Economy and Tourism Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri represented the UAE side.
Which sectors is Rajasthan pitching to UAE investors?
Rajasthan is primarily pitching the energy and hospitality sectors, along with heritage tourism linked to 662 historic havelis identified for conservation in the Shekhawati region. The state also highlighted its gems, jewellery, handicrafts, textiles, and minerals as investment opportunities.
How strong is the India-UAE trade relationship?
Bilateral trade between India and the UAE has consistently exceeded $100 billion over the past two years. The two countries have also signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which provides a formal framework for deeper trade and investment flows.
What did the UAE minister say about investing in Rajasthan?
Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri confirmed that UAE companies are keen to invest in Rajasthan's hospitality sector. He also expressed a desire to strengthen direct air connectivity between Jaipur and Dubai, and invited CM Sharma to visit Dubai for further discussions.
How does the Indian diaspora factor into India-UAE investment ties?
Approximately 4.5 million Indians live in the UAE, including a significant number of Rajasthani expatriates. CM Sharma described this community as a strong human bridge between the two countries, reinforcing both economic and cultural linkages.
