On June 25, 2025, the UAE-India CEPA Council, in collaboration with the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in India, launched the UAE-India CEPA Start-up Series in New Delhi, India. This initiative aims to empower Indian start-ups through cross-border innovation and deepened UAE-India economic collaboration under the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).
In a significant boost to cross-border entrepreneurial collaboration, the UAE-India CEPA Council (UICC), in partnership with the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in India, officially launched the UAE-India CEPA Start-up Series during a high-profile event held in New Delhi.
The CEPA Start-up Series is part of a broader commitment under the UAE-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) to support innovation-led ventures and scale Indian start-ups internationally through the UAE’s world-class ecosystem.
Speaking at the event, UAE Ambassador to India Abdulnasser Alshaali reaffirmed the UAE’s focus on entrepreneurship, calling start-ups a “central pillar” of the UAE-India economic relationship. “Through this Series, we aim to connect India’s brightest entrepreneurial minds with the UAE’s innovation-driven platforms, enriching both economies,” he said.
The initiative comes during a phase of heightened economic cooperation between the two nations. Bilateral trade between the United Arab Emirates and India reached USD 83.64 billion in FY 2023-24, reflecting a 15% growth since CEPA’s implementation. Notably, UAE’s Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in India tripled, surging from USD 1.03 billion in FY 2021-22 to USD 3.35 billion in FY 2022-23, making the UAE India’s fourth-largest foreign investor.
UAE-based investors have injected an estimated USD 20 billion into the Indian economy since 2000, accelerating India’s start-up landscape and strengthening the UAE’s position as a strategic partner.
Further reinforcing this partnership, the launch event witnessed the signing of key Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between the UICC and Indian innovation institutions, including PRIME Meghalaya under the Meghalaya Basin Management Agency (MBMA), IDEATE Lab @ O.P. Jindal Global University, and Jamia Hamdard University.
Ahmed Aljneibi, Director of UICC, presented the strategic roadmap of the CEPA Start-up Series. The program will culminate in a high-impact pitch event in New Delhi, where five promising start-ups will be chosen for a UAE soft-landing package. This includes incubation, licensing support, personalized mentorship, and direct access to free zones, investors, and innovation hubs across the Emirates.
The launch drew more than 100 attendees, including start-up founders, policy makers, investors, and media representatives. The official microsite of the Start-up Series was unveiled, accompanied by a promotional video inviting applications from emerging Indian ventures.
This initiative further cements the CEPA agreement’s long-term vision—fostering economic prosperity through inclusive, innovation-led growth between India and the UAE.