The United Arab Emirates is preparing to invest an additional $25 billion in India, further strengthening economic ties between the two countries as they seek to expand trade, infrastructure cooperation, and long-term investment partnerships.
The announcement followed the 14th India-UAE High Level Joint Task Force on Investments meeting held in Mumbai. The meeting was co-chaired by India’s Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, managing director of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority.
Speaking after the discussions, Goyal said the UAE has already invested approximately $25 billion in India, making it one of the country’s leading foreign investors. He added that both nations are working toward a long-term goal of increasing UAE investments in India to $100 billion.
The two sides are also aiming to significantly expand bilateral trade. According to Goyal, India and the UAE want to double trade volumes and reach $200 billion by 2032, reflecting the growing importance of the economic partnership.
Trade between the two countries has continued to grow rapidly in recent years. Bilateral trade reached more than $101 billion during the 2025-26 financial year, while non-oil trade accounted for more than $76 billion. Officials said these figures demonstrate the increasing diversification of economic ties beyond the energy sector.
Discussions during the investment task force meeting focused on maximizing opportunities under the India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. Both governments believe the agreement can help attract more investment, improve supply chains, and create new business opportunities across multiple sectors.
Energy cooperation remained a major topic. India is exploring ways to secure additional supplies of liquefied natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas from the UAE as it seeks to meet rising domestic energy demand.
Officials also reviewed plans involving strategic petroleum reserves. Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company have signed an agreement allowing the UAE to store up to 30 million barrels of crude oil at facilities in India. Potential storage locations include Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh and Chandikhol in Odisha.
In addition, both countries are examining the possibility of storing a portion of India’s strategic oil reserves in Fujairah. The UAE port is located outside the Strait of Hormuz and is considered an important energy hub with strategic value for regional energy security.
Infrastructure development was another key area of discussion. Goyal said India will need to double its port capacity over the next decade to support economic growth and expanding trade volumes.
Among the projects highlighted was the Vadhavan deep-water port in Maharashtra, which is expected to become one of India’s most important maritime facilities. Officials identified the project as a potential area for increased UAE participation and investment.
The two countries also agreed to strengthen cooperation across several maritime sectors. Areas identified for collaboration include shipbuilding, ship repair, and ship recycling. To support these efforts, a dedicated working group will be established under India’s Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
Financial cooperation was also discussed during the meeting. Officials reviewed opportunities involving local currency settlements, payment system integration, and the future use of central bank digital currencies in cross-border transactions.
Both sides also explored ways to improve aviation connectivity and support logistics infrastructure. A logistics hub in Dholera, Gujarat, was identified as another potential area for investment and cooperation.
India is expected to further expand its investment outreach in the Gulf region through the opening of an Invest India office in the UAE before the end of 2026. The new office is expected to support business partnerships and facilitate investment opportunities between companies in both countries.
Several major business deals were highlighted during the discussions. These included Emirates NBD’s acquisition of a majority stake in RBL Bank, International Holding Company’s investment in Sammaan Capital, and a large-scale plan to develop an integrated aluminium complex in Odisha.
The growing financial relationship is also visible in Gujarat International Finance Tec-City, where major UAE institutions, including Mashreq Bank, First Abu Dhabi Bank, and Abu Dhabi National Insurance Company, have established operations.
As both countries pursue ambitious investment and trade goals, the latest discussions signal continued momentum in one of the region’s most significant economic partnerships. Officials on both sides believe stronger cooperation in energy, infrastructure, finance, and logistics will help drive future growth and deepen economic integration in the years ahead.
