India's view of the world · A factual referenceLast updated 12 May 2026 · Edition 04
COUNTRY RELATIONSHIP · UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
India & United Arab Emirates: Bilateral Relations
CEPA PARTNERTRADEENERGYDIASPORA
India's largest Arab trading partner and home to 3.5 million Indians - the largest diaspora community globally. The CEPA concluded in 88 days (2022) and covers 90% of India's exports duty-free. The UAE is a growing source of sovereign wealth investment in India across infrastructure, technology, and food security.
COOPERATION AREAS
Where India and United Arab Emirates actually work together
6 active areas of cooperation, as of 12 May 2026. Click any card for the full brief.
TRADE & INVESTMENT
Trade & investment with United Arab Emirates, by the numbers
All figures FY 2023–24 unless noted. Source: DGFT, Ministry of Commerce.
$83.6bn
Total bilateral trade in goods
$35.5bn
India exports to country
$48.1bn
India imports from country
$4.1bn
United Arab Emirates FDI into India (cumulative)
Trade trajectory · USD bn
$83.6bnin FY24 · click a bar to compare years
TOP TRADED ITEMS
AGREEMENTS & MILESTONES
The relationship since 1972, in 12 dates
CURRENT STATE
Where things stand, May 2026
The relationship is at peak transactional depth. CEPA is delivering - Indian exports to UAE grew 18% in the first two years post-CEPA. Sovereign wealth investment from ADIA and Mubadala into India's infrastructure and technology sectors is growing structurally. The UAE-India rupee-dirham direct settlement mechanism, operational since 2024, is gradually reducing dollar dependency in bilateral trade. The diaspora welfare framework was strengthened after the 2024 amnesty programme allowed undocumented workers to regularise status.
SIGNALS TO WATCH
On track / positive momentum
In progress / worth watching
Stalled or facing headwinds
Not yet started / unclear
IN CONTEXT
How India and United Arab Emirates cross paths multilaterally
