Abu Dhabi Chamber Leads Major Business Delegation to Mumbai
Over 34 Abu Dhabi companies are participating in a strategic mission to India, where they will engage with Indian counterparts at a landmark economic forum aimed at deepening trade and investment partnerships between the two nations.
The Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry is spearheading a significant private-sector delegation to Mumbai, bringing together more than 34 companies from the emirate to explore expansion opportunities and forge lasting commercial partnerships with the Indian business community. The mission reflects the accelerating economic momentum between Abu Dhabi and India, underpinned by strengthening bilateral ties and the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.
Headed by His Excellency Dr Ali bin Harmal Al Dhaheri, First Vice Chairman of Abu Dhabi Chamber, the delegation will participate in the India–UAE Business Forum, a landmark gathering hosted at The Taj Mahal Palace. The forum convenes 114 companies from both nations and has been organised by Abu Dhabi Chamber in collaboration with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, alongside the Confederation of Indian Industry and IMC Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Expanding Economic Relations
Bilateral trade between the UAE and India has reached US$101.25 billion in the 2025–26 financial year, surpassing the US$100 billion threshold for the second consecutive year. Both nations have set an ambitious target to increase bilateral trade to US$200 billion by 2032, reflecting the scale of economic opportunity between them.
Speaking on the strategic importance of the mission, Dr Al Dhaheri stated: “Relations between the UAE and India are rooted in a long history of exchange and connectivity. Today, the rapid economic transformation taking place in both countries is creating greater scope for the private sector to shape a new phase of partnership built on investment, co-production, and the exchange of expertise and technology.”
He added: “We see this visit as an opportunity to translate the momentum in our economic relations into direct partnerships between businesses. We want the meetings in Mumbai to create clear pathways for collaboration and actionable opportunities, enabling Abu Dhabi companies to access new opportunities in the Indian market, while supporting Indian businesses seeking to grow and expand from Abu Dhabi into regional and global markets.”
Priority Sectors and Collaboration
The forum will emphasise several key economic sectors for enhanced collaboration, including manufacturing, food security and agri-tech, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, and financial services and fintech. An extensive business matchmaking session will facilitate pre-scheduled meetings between UAE and Indian companies to explore specific opportunities for trade, joint ventures and investment partnerships.
The strength of existing commercial ties is evident in Abu Dhabi’s thriving Indian business community. As of August 2026, Abu Dhabi Chamber recorded 21,085 active Indian member companies. During 2025 alone, the chamber registered 4,642 new Indian memberships, representing year-on-year growth of 38.8 per cent. Notably, new registrations have grown at a compound annual rate of 44.6 per cent between 2020 and 2025, increasing more than six-fold over the five-year period.
Indian companies operate across diverse sectors within Abu Dhabi’s economy, with particular concentration in wholesale and retail trade, construction, administrative and support services, and professional and technical activities, alongside manufacturing, transport, storage, information and communications.
Strengthening Institutional Partnerships
The forum builds upon a robust history of institutional cooperation between Abu Dhabi Chamber and Indian partners. In recent years, the chamber has hosted successive delegations of Indian companies and business leaders, deepened collaboration with the Confederation of Indian Industry, and signed an agreement with the UAE–India CEPA Council to expand business community access to opportunities created by the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.
His Excellency Dr Al Dhaheri reaffirmed Abu Dhabi Chamber’s commitment to connecting the emirate’s business community with opportunities and markets worldwide, and to facilitating high-value partnerships that support company growth and expansion whilst strengthening the private sector’s role in Abu Dhabi’s international economic relations.
Source: Abu Dhabi Media Office