The UAE-India Business Council – UAE Chapter (UIBC-UC) has released a report revealing that the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) has driven a sharp rise in bilateral trade and opened new doors for cooperation across multiple sectors.
According to the study, non-oil trade between the two countries touched US$37.6 billion in the first half of 2025, marking a 33.9% jump compared with the same period in 2024. The findings position CEPA as a turning point in India-UAE economic relations, with tangible gains across gems and jewellery, food processing, telecom, green energy, and digital services.
Beyond traditional industries, CEPA has also created opportunities in artificial intelligence, space technology, sustainable initiatives, and financial integration, the report said. The study highlights the UAE’s role as a global investment hub, attracting Indian high-net-worth individuals and family offices and encouraging long-term joint ventures and job creation.
Describing CEPA as “more than a trade deal,” UIBC-UC said the pact now serves as a blueprint for innovation-led, resilient partnerships. It stressed that India’s strengths in manufacturing and technology, combined with the UAE’s infrastructure and global reach, offer a model for cross-border cooperation at a time of global uncertainty.
The report was launched at a high-level meeting attended by government officials and business leaders including Faizal Kottikollon, Rizwan Soomar, and Major General (Retd.) Sharafuddin Sharaf. Discussions centred on scaling up CEPA’s benefits, with clean energy, digital integration, education, research, and human capital development highlighted as next frontiers of cooperation.
“CEPA is no longer just a trade pact, it’s a blueprint for the future. This partnership exemplifies how political will, shared vision, and aligned strengths can co-create a model for cross-regional cooperation, innovation, and global leadership.”
Faizal Kottikollon, Chairman of UIBC-UC
By positioning CEPA as both an economic and strategic driver, the report underscores its potential to deepen bilateral ties and extend cooperation into multilateral platforms such as BRICS, the G20, and the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC).
