More than 500 leaders gathered in Ahmedabad as Investopia strengthened UAE-India investment ties, focusing on AI, manufacturing, food security, tourism and future economic partnerships, reports Asian Lite News Desk
The UAE has launched the fifth Indian edition of the Investopia Dialogues in Ahmedabad, bringing together more than 500 government leaders, investors, entrepreneurs and business executives to explore new opportunities for expanding economic cooperation between the UAE and India.
Held in Gujarat, the event focused on strengthening bilateral investment partnerships and accelerating collaboration in future-oriented sectors, including artificial intelligence (AI), advanced manufacturing, logistics, food security, financial services and tourism.
The high-level gathering was attended by Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, UAE Minister of Economy and Tourism and Co-Chair of the Investopia Board of Trustees, and Bhupendrabhai Patel, Chief Minister of Gujarat, alongside senior officials and business leaders from both countries.
Participants included Abdulrahman Mohammed Alhawi, Under-Secretary of the UAE Ministry of Investment and President of Investopia, Dhafer Al Qasimi, Chief Executive Officer of Silal Group, Sheikh Saqr bin Omar Al Qasimi, Chief Executive Officer of Marjan Developers, Yusuff Ali M.A., Chairman and Managing Director of Lulu Group, and Eng. Saeed Ghumran Al Remeithi, Group Chief Executive Officer of EMSTEEL.
The event forms part of Investopia’s wider global dialogue platform, which seeks to connect governments, investors and the private sector to identify emerging investment opportunities and strengthen international economic cooperation.
Speaking at the event, Bin Touq said the UAE and India continue to enjoy a rapidly expanding strategic economic partnership driven by the shared vision of the leadership of both countries.
He described Investopia as an important platform for transforming promising economic opportunities into long-term partnerships and investment projects, particularly in sectors linked to the new economy, innovation and advanced technologies.
Bin Touq said the UAE-India relationship has become a successful model of sustainable economic integration, creating new opportunities for trade, investment and business expansion.
He revealed that the number of Indian companies operating in the UAE reached 290,222 by the end of the first half of 2026, representing a 16.7 per cent increase compared with the same period in 2025.
He added that the Indian business presence in the UAE had grown by 109 per cent between 2020 and 2025, highlighting the increasing confidence of Indian investors in the UAE market.
Abdulrahman Mohammed Alhawi said investment relations between the UAE and India have become one of the fastest-growing globally, particularly following the entry into force of the Bilateral Investment Treaty in 2024.
He noted that the UAE now accounts for more than 70 per cent of total GCC investment flows into India, while nearly 4,000 new Indian companies joined the Dubai Chamber of Commerce during the first quarter of 2026 alone.
He said Investopia Ahmedabad represents another milestone in strengthening bilateral investment while reinforcing the UAE’s role as a gateway for Indian companies seeking access to international markets.
One of the major announcements during the event came from Lulu Group Chairman Yusuff Ali M.A., who unveiled plans to invest INR 4,000 crore (AED1.53 billion) in a mixed-use development in Ahmedabad.
The project will include a modern shopping mall, a five-star hotel and furnished residential apartments across nearly 21 acres of land recently acquired by the company.
According to Yusuff Ali, the development is expected to create more than 15,000 jobs in Gujarat. Lulu Group also announced plans to establish a food park and explore the development of a fish processing plant in the state.
During his visit, Bin Touq also held bilateral talks with Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendrabhai Patel to discuss expanding cooperation in advanced manufacturing, logistics, tourism and food security.
The two sides highlighted Gujarat’s growing importance as one of India’s leading industrial and economic centres and discussed its role in the next phase of the UAE-India Economic Corridor.
Officials noted that Gujarat’s strong industrial ecosystem, ports, logistics infrastructure and renewable energy sector make it an ideal location for deeper cooperation with the UAE.
A series of thematic sessions examined future investment opportunities across several high-growth sectors.
The “Building Gujarat’s AI Economy” session explored investment in data centres, computing infrastructure and digital ecosystems to position Gujarat as a regional technology hub while encouraging UAE-India collaboration in artificial intelligence.
Another discussion focused on frontier industries, examining opportunities in semiconductors, automotive manufacturing, industrial engineering and advanced materials, with participants emphasising technology transfer and sustainable production.
The “Scaling Bilateral Investment” session looked at ways to increase capital flows between the two countries through sovereign wealth funds, private equity and family offices to finance strategic infrastructure and high-growth sectors.
Participants also discussed strengthening financial cooperation through improved regulatory frameworks, enhanced connectivity between financial centres and expanded fintech collaboration to facilitate cross-border investment.
Food security remained another key area of discussion, with delegates examining opportunities in AgriTech, food processing, cold chain infrastructure and logistics to build more resilient supply chains.
A separate session on tourism, sports and the experience economy explored collaboration in aviation, hospitality, sporting events and entertainment as drivers of investment, visitor growth and economic diversification.
Investopia Ahmedabad forms part of Investopia’s wider programme of 25 international dialogues held across strategic global markets, supporting the UAE’s ambition to strengthen international investment partnerships and reinforce its position as a leading global hub for the new economy.
