Abu Dhabi signs agreements and explores opportunities to strengthen partnerships with India and Singapore

ABU DHABI, 5 December / WAM / The Abu Dhabi economic delegation, headed by the Department of Economic Development – Abu Dhabi, concluded a successful visit to India and Singapore, where it signed a number of agreements and explored opportunities to strengthen partnerships in various sectors, as part of the emirate’s ongoing efforts to consolidate its position as a global destination attractive for talent, business and investments.

The delegation held a series of high-level meetings with senior government officials, business leaders and investors in Singapore and India to discuss cooperation opportunities in key sectors including life sciences, pharmaceutical industries, artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure, advanced industries, and financial services.

His Excellency Ahmed Jassim Al Zaabi, Chairman of the Department of Economic Development – Abu Dhabi, explained that the visit to both Singapore and India came as part of the department’s efforts to strengthen relations with the most prominent trading partners and economic powers in the world, and to lead dialogues on economic trends and changes to ensure a better future.

His Excellency said: “We see influential partnerships as essential pillars of the “Falcon Economy,” which promotes the transformation into a smart, diversified, and sustainable economy, and provides broad opportunities for talents, investors, and companies.

He pointed out that Abu Dhabi provides appropriate opportunities to achieve ambitions, within the framework of innovative policies, a system that supports business, advanced infrastructure, a global network of relations and communication, and advanced legislative frameworks, as these unique components of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi contribute to the rapid growth of talent, business and investments.

He added: “In 2024, Singaporean investments in Abu Dhabi increased by 25%, with a focus on the sectors of manufacturing, education, construction, and professional, scientific and technical activities. The number of Indian companies operating in the emirate also increased by 31% over the past year. Our economic relations with the two economic powers are witnessing steady growth, and during the two visits, we discussed ways to deepen partnerships in vital economic sectors and specialized clusters, including life sciences and pharmaceutical industries. Artificial intelligence, financial technology, financial services, sustainable energy, logistics, and advanced industries.”

The Abu Dhabi Economic Delegation held more than 140 meetings in Singapore and India with leading entities and institutions, financial and investment forces, asset management companies, family companies and offices, and a number of wealthy individuals in order to cooperate in providing opportunities and benefiting from them in a number of sectors and regions around the world. Entities and institutions from Abu Dhabi signed 5 memorandums of understanding with partners in India to enhance cooperation in the field of startups, family businesses, logistics services, industry, and trade facilitation.

The Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Abu Dhabi Global (ADGM), Abu Dhabi Investment Office, and Abu Dhabi Customs organized a series of forums and events during the Abu Dhabi economic delegation’s visit to Singapore and India with the aim of building relations, strengthening partnerships, and highlighting the opportunities provided by Abu Dhabi’s plans to accelerate growth and economic diversification.

The Abu Dhabi Investment Forum in Mumbai provided a platform for companies and investors in India to explore opportunities in Abu Dhabi through direct communication with decision makers.

The forum highlighted opportunities for cooperation in areas including health care, pharmaceutical and life sciences, agricultural technology, food and water security, financial services, media, entertainment, electronic games and sports.

In his speech at the Abu Dhabi Investment Forum, His Excellency Dr. Abdel Nasser Jamal Al Shaali, UAE Ambassador to the Republic of India, said: “The partnership between the UAE and India is witnessing a qualitative leap by building on long decades of trust and trade exchange in order to benefit from the technologies and opportunities of the future. Abu Dhabi has established its position as a destination for entrepreneurs and ambitious companies from around the world to promote innovation and achieve global growth and expansion.”

He added, “Through pioneering initiatives such as the Emirati-Indian startup series that was launched in June 2025, we contribute to empowering talent by providing access to investments and the business support system in the Emirates that allows the realization of maximum potential. The UAE and India are characterized by ambition and determination to create a better future, and we work together to stimulate innovations and investments in a way that contributes to the growth of the two countries.”

Within months, the UAE-India Startup Series became the largest startup initiative in India, attracting more than 10,000 entrepreneurs in areas including fintech, high-tech, agritech, healthtech, clean energy, logistics, and advanced manufacturing.

Five startups will be selected to expand globally from the UAE. The program is supported by strategic partners in the innovation ecosystem who will provide sponsorship, guidance, market access and trade support solutions to the winning companies.

Policy makers, business leaders and investors from India and Singapore participated in various events during the two visits, where ways were discussed to enhance cooperation, and to introduce the developments taking place in the investment environment in Abu Dhabi, the attractiveness of its business environment, and the growing opportunities in sectors including mobility, healthcare, food security, financial services, advanced manufacturing, and other promising sectors.

Indian and Singaporean startups, family businesses, listed companies, and institutional investors discussed ways to develop cooperation in the industries of the future and in specialized economic parks in Abu Dhabi, including the Smart and Autonomous Vehicle Industry Park (SAVI), the Food and Water Abundance Development Park (AGWA), and the Health, Medicine and Fitness for Sustainable Living Park (HELM). These three complexes are expected to contribute approximately 228 billion dirhams ($62 billion) to the gross domestic product, provide more than 120,000 job opportunities, while attracting investments exceeding 200 billion dirhams ($54.5 billion) by 2045.

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