Non-oil trade between Dubai and India reached a record Dh222.5 billion in 2025 — Dubai Chambers reports this doubles the decade-ago figure (+136.2% from Dh94.2 billion in 2016) and stands 35% above the level when the UAE-India CEPA came into force in May 2022. In 2025 alone the corridor grew +15% year-on-year. As of end-June 2026, 85,841 Indian companies are active members of Dubai Chamber of Commerce, with 7,579 joining in H1 2026 alone. India is Dubai's second-largest trading partner. Here are the key numbers, what stands behind them, and where the corridor is heading.
A record year: Dh222.5b non-oil trade in 2025
The figures, disclosed by Dubai Chambers on 25 August 2026 during a panel session at The Economic Times World Leaders Forum 2026 in New Delhi, set a new benchmark for the UAE-India trade corridor. The headline numbers:
- Dubai-India non-oil trade — Dh222.5 billion in 2025;
- growth over the past decade — +136.2% from Dh94.2 billion in 2016;
- 2025 year-on-year growth — +15%;
- impact of CEPA (in force since May 2022) — +35% increase in Dubai-India trade;
- India is Dubai's second-largest trading partner.
The announcement was made by Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah, President and CEO of Dubai Chambers, during a panel session also attended by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Primary source — Dubai Chambers; corroborating report — Gulf News (Justin Varghese, 24 August 2026).
85,841 Indian companies in Dubai Chamber
The Indian business community in Dubai continues to expand at record pace. According to Dubai Chambers:
- active Indian companies in the chamber as of end-June 2026 — 85,841 (+15% YoY);
- new Indian companies joining in H1 2026 — 7,579.
Sector split of active Indian members:
- trade and services — 45%;
- real estate, leasing and business services — 27.3%;
- construction — 19%.
Lootah's take: «The confidence of the Indian business community in the growth opportunities offered by Dubai is reflected in the 7,579 new Indian companies that joined Dubai Chamber of Commerce during the first half of this year. These figures demonstrate that Indian companies increasingly view Dubai as a global hub from which to develop their international operations and expand their investments.»
Cross-investment: Dh32.3b in, Dh34.1b out
Two-way capital flows between 2016 and 2025 look almost symmetric:
- from India into Dubai — about Dh32.3 billion of investment, including Dh8.4 billion of foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2025;
- from Dubai into India — Dh34.1 billion across 147 projects, creating 55,274 jobs.
The symmetry matters: two economies investing into each other in roughly equal amounts is a rare shape of corridor, where neither side plays a purely capital-source role.
What CEPA changed
The UAE-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement came into effect in May 2022. It reduces tariff barriers, streamlines market access and improves the regulatory landscape for cross-border business. The measured three-year effect is a +35% increase in Dubai-India non-oil trade. For a broader view of how CEPA fits into the wider UAE trade architecture, see «UAE CEPA and trade agreements».
Where the partnership is heading: Agentic AI, fintech, deep tech
According to Lootah, the UAE-India corridor is expanding well beyond traditional trade and real estate. Priorities for 2026:
- Agentic AI — Dubai Chambers is developing dedicated training pathways and incubators for teams working with agentic AI systems;
- Deep technology;
- Fintech;
- Digital services.
For Indian technology companies this is a concrete signal: Dubai is building the infrastructure for them to use the emirate as a launchpad for international operations — with ready-made incubation programmes and partnerships with local businesses.
What it means for business
Three practical takeaways for companies looking at the UAE-India corridor:
- Indian business in Dubai is mainstream, not a niche. With 85,841 active companies, the community is comparable in size to a mid-sized European capital. The jurisdictional and language infrastructure is in place: banks, auditors, lawyers and HR firms work with Indian clients daily.
- CEPA is not operating in a vacuum. The agreement came into force in May 2022 and has already added 35% to trade; for new market entrants that means lower tariff barriers, faster logistics and a clearer legal regime.
- The window into new sectors is open. Agentic AI, fintech and deep tech are Dubai Chambers' priorities for 2026. Early movers in these niches get regulator attention and access to incubation programmes.
For companies considering Dubai as a gateway to international markets, the practical next steps are to assess the jurisdiction (mainland or free zone), define the activity type and estimate the budget. Consolidated cost benchmarks are covered in «Cost of opening a company in the UAE».
Primary source of the figures — Dubai Chambers (announcement made on 25 August 2026 at The Economic Times World Leaders Forum 2026 in New Delhi). Corroborating report — Gulf News, «Dubai-India trade more than doubles to Dh222.5b in a decade, up 35% since CEPA» (Justin Varghese, 24 August 2026).
