UAE is a $100B India partner
Analysts and commentators are stressing the UAE’s strategic role as India’s third‑largest trading partner — pegged at roughly $100 billion — and a gateway for corridors like I2U2 and IMEC that deepen economic ties. (x.com)
India‑UAE bilateral trade reached US$100.06 billion in FY25, up from US$72.87 billion in FY22. (economictimes.indiatimes.com) The increase follows the India‑UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement signed on February 18, 2022 and in force from May 1, 2022; India’s merchandise exports to the UAE rose to US$36.63 billion in 2024‑25 from US$28.04 billion in 2021‑22. (pib.gov.in) During President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s January 19, 2026 visit, India and the UAE signed a 10‑year SPA for 0.5 million tonnes per annum (MMTPA) LNG from ADNOC Gas to Hindustan Petroleum starting 2028, an APEDA‑UAE food‑safety MoU, and letters of intent on space, defence and investment cooperation. (pmindia.gov.in) The I2U2 grouping — India, Israel, the UAE and the United States — has been positioned to mobilize private capital for bankable projects in water, energy, transport, health and food security across member states. (state.gov) The India‑Middle East‑Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), launched at the G20 on September 9, 2023, is being planned around three pillars — transport, energy and digital infrastructure — to link India through the Gulf (including the UAE) to Europe. (atlanticcouncil.org) The UAE is the seventh largest investor in India with cumulative FDI inflows of US$22.84 billion from April 2000–March 2025 and hosts about 3.5 million Indians; New Delhi and Abu Dhabi aim to expand non‑oil trade toward US$100 billion by 2030 after reporting US$37.6 billion in non‑oil trade in H1 2025. (ibef.org)
