290.2 thousand Indian companies operating in the UAE by the end of the first half

The Minister of Economy and Tourism, Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, held a series of meetings with a number of ministers and officials in the Indian government, which included the Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, the Minister of Civil Aviation, Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, and the Speaker of the Indian People’s Assembly (Lok Sabha), Om Birla, as part of an expanded visit he is conducting to India, which includes a series of meetings and economic events, including the “Investobia Ahmedabad” activities in the state of “Gujarat.” And his participation in the “Emirati-Indian Business” forum on the food sector in the state of “Andhra Pradesh”.

During the meetings, Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri pointed out that economic cooperation between the two countries is witnessing continuous momentum at the governmental and private levels, explaining that the Indian business sector represents a major partner in the UAE business environment, and that the number of Indian companies operating in the country reached 290,222 companies by the end of the first half of 2026, with a growth of 16.7% compared to the same period last year, which reflects the continued attractiveness of the country’s markets and the growing confidence in investment opportunities. And the flexible legislative environment it provides.

Bin Touq added that the tourism sector represents one of the main drivers of the economic partnership between the two countries, noting that India continues to top the list of markets exporting visitors to the UAE, in light of the continuous growth witnessed in travel between the two sides, supported by the advanced air connectivity network and the close economic and social relations between the two countries.

He stressed the importance of developing the “UAE-Indian Economic Corridor” and enhancing the integration of industrial systems, logistics services and supply chains, in a way that supports the two countries’ position as two economic hubs linking regional and global markets.

Abdullah bin Touq’s meeting with the Indian Minister of Commerce and Industry discussed opportunities for developing economic and industrial cooperation between the UAE and the Republic of India, and exploring new areas of partnership in advanced manufacturing and innovation.
During his meeting with the Minister of Civil Aviation of the Republic of India, Bin Touq discussed opportunities to expand air connectivity and exchange experiences and best practices in the aviation sector, as the total number of flights connecting the cities of the two countries via their national carriers reached 1,146 flights per week.

During his meeting with the Speaker of the Indian People’s Assembly, Bin Touq discussed ways to enhance cooperation between the UAE and the Republic of India, and the two sides stressed the depth of the historical relations and economic partnership that brings together the two countries, which is based on strong ties of friendship and cooperation that extend over decades, and include various economic, cultural and development fields.