The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced it will offer a soft-landing package to five Indian startups. These businesses were selected through the India-UAE CEPA (Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement) Council programme after a competitive evaluation.
Ahmed Aljneibi, the director of the UAE-India CEPA Council, shared with ANI the overwhelming response they received for the programme. "We had 10,000 applications since the programme's launch in June. I'm thrilled to finally announce the five winning startups that will now receive our full support in the UAE," he said.
The process to pick the winners was not easy, with so many promising startups to choose from. Aljneibi added that the selection process focused on identifying companies that address real-world problems relevant to the UAE and the wider MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region. The support package for the selected companies includes visas, accommodation, transportation, mentorship, trade licensing facilitation, and the chance to meet with potential investors.
So, what’s exactly on offer? The five Indian startups will get help with visas, a place to stay, and even transport, but that's not all. They will also receive mentorship to help navigate the UAE's market and industry landscape. The programme aims to help these companies grow, expand their reach into the UAE, and potentially scale on a global level.
Aljneibi hopes that, through this initiative, the startups will not only find opportunities for investment but also access a supportive environment to take their businesses to the next level. "We’re eager to see what these startups will achieve in the UAE," he added.
One of the standout winners, DocketRun, is already making waves. Ajay Kabadi, the founder and CEO, reportedly said the company's ambitions to scale up in the UAE, especially in industries such as steel, aluminium, and heavy manufacturing. "We’ve seen great success in India, and we’re confident that we can replicate these results in other regions," Kabadi said.
Raghavendra Meharwade, DocketRun’s mentor, highlighted how the programme has given them the tools and confidence to expand. "Our focus is on improving industrial productivity and saving lives. Our next goal is to scale up in the UAE and prove our use cases on a larger scale," he explained.
This initiative signals the growing importance of the CEPA agreement in fostering bilateral growth between India and the UAE. As the Gulf region continues to grow as a hub for advanced industries, more and more Indian startups are looking to the UAE for new opportunities, partnerships, and funding.
With the UAE’s rapidly developing innovation ecosystem, the country is becoming an increasingly attractive destination for entrepreneurs looking to scale their businesses globally.
As for the future, Aljneibi expressed his hope that this will be just the first of many such initiatives, aiming to continue supporting Indian startups looking to expand into the UAE and beyond. “This is just the beginning,” he said.
For Indian entrepreneurs, this could be a game-changing opportunity. With the UAE offering this level of support, the potential for scaling businesses into global markets seems more achievable than ever. Stay tuned to see how these startups take off in the coming months, and how other entrepreneurs might benefit from similar opportunities in the future.
