Investopia has launched the fifth edition of its Investopia Dialogues in India in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, bringing together more than 500 government officials, business leaders, investors, and entrepreneurs from the UAE and India to strengthen bilateral economic and investment cooperation.
The event focused on expanding partnerships in future-focused and sustainable sectors, including artificial intelligence (AI), advanced manufacturing, logistics, food security, financial services, and tourism.
It also featured roundtable discussions and bilateral meetings aimed at boosting private-sector collaboration and capital flows.
The Investopia dialogue was attended by HE 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.
Other participants included HE Abdulrahman Mohammed Alhawi, Undersecretary of the UAE Ministry of Investment and President of Investopia, HE Dhafer Al Qasimi, CEO of Silal Group, Sheikh Saqr bin Omar Al Qasimi, CEO of Marjan Developers, Yusuff Ali MA, Chairman and Managing Director of LuLu Group, and Eng. Saeed Ghumran Al Remeithi, Group CEO of EMSTEEL.
On the sidelines of the event, HE Bin Touq held bilateral talks with Gujarat Chief Minister HE Bhupendrabhai Patel to explore opportunities for expanding cooperation in advanced manufacturing, logistics, food security, and tourism.
Image Credits: WAM | Cropped by GBN
Bin Touq stated that, Gujarat’s selection as the host city reflects its position as one of India’s leading industrial and economic hubs, with strengths spanning ports, renewable energy, logistics, food processing, and entrepreneurship. He noted the state’s strategic role in the next phase of the UAE-India Economic Corridor.
HE Bin Touq said that the UAE-India economic relationship continues to record strong growth across key sectors under the shared vision of both countries’ leadership.
Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri UAE Minister of Economy and Tourism
“Investopia provides a vital platform to elevate bilateral partnerships to new heights, particularly in new economy sectors. It continues to solidify its role as a leading global platform connecting governments with business communities and investors, transforming economic opportunities into high-quality projects and strategic partnerships that drive the competitiveness of both business communities. The UAE-India economic partnership is an advanced model for sustainable growth and economic integration, opening up broad horizons to enhance opportunities and expand joint economic activities. The total number of Indian companies operating in the UAE reached 290,222 by the end of the first half of 2026, reflecting a 16.7 percent growth compared to the same period in 2025.
HE Bin Touq added that the number of Indian companies in the UAE surged by 109 per cent between 2020 and 2025, underscoring the growing footprint and investments of the Indian business community in the UAE markets.
HE Abdulrahman Mohammed Alhawi stated that, “The investment partnership between the UAE and the Republic of India is among the most dynamic and fastest-growing globally, particularly since the Bilateral Investment Treaty came into force in 2024. Today, the UAE accounts for more than 70 percent of the total investment inflows from the GCC countries into India, while nearly 4,000 new Indian companies joined the Dubai Chamber of Commerce during the first quarter of 2026. Investopia Dialogues Ahmedabad marks a new milestone in this strategic partnership.”
Major investments announced at Investopia Ahmedabad
Marjan Developers CEO Sheikh Saqr bin Omar Al Qasimi noted at Investopia dialogue that Indian investors remain among the company’s strongest partners in the development of Ras Al Khaimah as a global tourism destination.
EMSTEEL Group CEO Eng. Saeed Ghumran Al Remeithi said that the company is seeking to strengthen UAE-India industrial partnerships, with a focus on manufacturing, infrastructure, innovation, and low-carbon industrial development.
Image Credits: Investopia | Cropped by GBN
LuLu Group Chairman Yusuff Ali MA announced major investment in Ahmedabad to develop a mixed-use project comprising a shopping mall, a five-star hotel, and furnished residential apartments on a 21-acre site. He also announced plans for a food park and a fish-processing plant. The project is expected to create more than 15,000 jobs.
AI, advanced industries take center stage
A session titled ‘Building Gujarat’s AI Economy‘ examined opportunities to strengthen investment in data centers, computing capacity, and digital infrastructure while promoting UAE-India collaboration in artificial intelligence and advanced technologies.
Another session, ‘Frontier Industries‘, focused on cooperation in semiconductors, industrial engineering, automotive manufacturing, and advanced materials, with discussions centered on technology transfer and sustainable manufacturing.
Investment and financial cooperation in focus
The ‘Scaling Bilateral Investment‘ session explored ways to increase capital flows through sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and private capital to finance strategic infrastructure and high-growth sectors.
Image Credits: Investopia | Cropped by GBN
Meanwhile, ‘The New Financial Corridor‘ session discussed stronger collaboration between UAE and Indian financial centers, enhanced regulatory frameworks, fintech cooperation, and improved cross-border capital flows.
Food security and tourism partnerships
The ‘Food Security and Agri-Value Chains‘ session highlighted opportunities to strengthen cooperation in agriculture, food processing, AgriTech, cold chain infrastructure, and logistics to enhance resilient food supply chains.
The final session, ‘Tourism, Sports, and the Experience Economy‘, explored expanding collaboration across tourism, aviation, hospitality, sports, and entertainment to drive investment and increase tourism flows between the UAE and India.
Investopia pointed out that the Ahmedabad dialogue forms part of its global engagement strategy, which includes 25 international dialogues aimed at advancing economic cooperation, attracting investment, and reinforcing the UAE’s position as a global hub for the new economy and future-focused sectors.
