14 November 2026
In January-September 2026, 42,355 Indian companies entered the UAE market, 18.14% more than in the same period of 2025, according to the UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism. About 256,077 Indian companies now operate in the country, and direct flights between the UAE and India reached about 1,153 a week in October 2026. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism, gave the figures during bilateral meetings with Indian officials at the 31st CII Partnership Summit in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, held on 12 and 13 November 2026.
The figures in brief
| Indicator | Figure | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Indian companies that entered the UAE market | 42,355 | January-September 2026 |
| Growth year on year | 18.14% | against January-September 2025 |
| Indian companies operating in the UAE | about 256,077 | November 2026 release |
| Direct flights between the UAE and India | about 1,153 a week | October 2026 |
| Share of India among international visitors to the UAE | 14%, the largest source market | 2025 |
By our calculation, growth of 18.14% means that about 35,850 Indian companies entered the UAE in the first nine months of 2025. This year the average is about 4,700 new Indian companies a month.
Where the figures were announced
The 31st CII Partnership Summit was organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry together with the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry of India. Its theme was “Navigating the New World Order: Trade, Technology, Trust and Thought Leadership”. Bin Touq led the UAE delegation, which included Dubai Silicon Oasis, Sharaf Group, FADA Space, LuLu International, DP World and Gulftainer.
The minister spoke at two sessions: a ministerial session on global economic shifts and a session on elevating bilateral investment between India and the UAE. At the second one he listed the sectors in which the UAE supports Indian companies that want to expand their presence in the country: the new economy, food, entrepreneurship, advanced technology, energy, logistics, manufacturing, supply chains, data centres and electronics.
Four meetings and their agenda
The company and flight figures were disclosed during a series of bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the summit, four in total:
- N. Chandrababu Naidu, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh. Food security and the UAE Food Cluster, which links food production, manufacturing and distribution, as well as opportunities for UAE companies in Andhra Pradesh.
- Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce and Industry of India. Priority sectors of the economic partnership and a larger role for the private sector.
- Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, Minister of Civil Aviation of India. Aviation cooperation and growth in travel and tourism between the two countries.
- Nara Lokesh, Minister for Information Technology, Electronics, Communications, Digital Governance and Human Resource Development of Andhra Pradesh. The digital economy, advanced technology and financial technology, including FinTech applications.
According to the Ministry of Economy and Tourism, the UAE Food Cluster aims to increase the food sector’s contribution to GDP from AED 30 billion to AED 40 billion by 2028, raise foreign trade in the sector from AED 25 billion to AED 40 billion and create 20,000 additional jobs.
The wider UAE-India business picture
The new figures sit on top of a trade agreement and several registries that track Indian business in the UAE:
- CEPA. The UAE-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement entered into force on 1 May 2022. Since then bilateral trade has grown by almost 37% and in 2025 passed USD 100 billion for the first time; non-oil trade exceeded USD 65 billion. The two countries target USD 200 billion of bilateral trade by 2032.
- Dubai Chamber. 85,841 Indian companies were active members at the end of June 2026, after 7,579 joined in the first half of the year, up 15% year on year.
- DMCC. More than 4,080 Indian companies, with more than 330 added in 12 months, growth of 9%. India is the largest international business community of the free zone, with more than 15% of its members.
We covered the Dubai Chamber data in detail in our report on Dubai-India trade doubling in a decade, and the trade agreement in our review of the UAE-India CEPA at four years.
How to read the total of 256,077
The total of about 256,077 Indian companies should be read as the figure of this particular release. In July 2026 the same ministry put the number of Indian companies operating in the UAE at 290,222 at the end of the first half of 2026, up almost 16.7% year on year. The November release does not explain the difference and does not describe the counting method, so totals from different releases should not be compared directly. For the trend, a safer measure is a figure from one series, such as the 42,355 new companies against the same nine months of 2025.
What this means for Indian and other foreign companies
An Indian company that opens a business in the UAE follows the same rules as any foreign investor. Most mainland activities can be 100% foreign owned since the 2021 amendment of the Commercial Companies Law, and free zones such as DMCC allow full foreign ownership as well. A federal corporate tax of 9% applies to financial years starting on or after 1 June 2023, with a 0% rate on taxable income up to AED 375,000. Our guide to company formation in the UAE compares jurisdictions, licences and the steps involved. A practical checklist for a new UAE entity:
- decide whether the UAE entity will be a branch of the Indian company or a new subsidiary;
- choose between a mainland licence and a free zone, depending on where the customers are;
- confirm that the planned activity allows 100% foreign ownership;
- prepare and attest the parent company documents: certificate of incorporation, memorandum and articles, board resolution;
- plan the office, the visa quota and the hiring timeline for the first employees;
- register for corporate tax and start bank account opening early, as banks review the group structure and the source of funds.
How Atlant Capital can help
We help foreign companies, including Indian groups, move from the decision to a working company in the UAE:
- Company formation on the mainland or in a free zone, including the choice of activity, legal form and ownership structure.
- Work visas and residency for founders, managers and employees.
The bottom line
The Ministry of Economy and Tourism counts 42,355 Indian companies that entered the UAE in January-September 2026, 18.14% more than a year earlier, and about 256,077 Indian companies in the country. Direct flights reached about 1,153 a week in October 2026, and India was the largest source of international visitors to the UAE in 2025, with 14%. At the CII Partnership Summit the two sides discussed food security, aviation, the digital economy and private sector cooperation.
Source: Arabian Business, WAM.
FAQ
How many Indian companies entered the UAE in 2026?
According to the UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism, 42,355 Indian companies entered the UAE market in January-September 2026. That is 18.14% more than in the same period of 2025, or, by our calculation, about 4,700 new Indian companies a month on average.
How many Indian companies operate in the UAE?
About 256,077, according to the figures announced by Minister Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri in November 2026. In July 2026 the ministry gave a different total of 290,222 at the end of the first half of 2026 and did not explain the difference, so totals from different releases should not be compared directly.
How many flights a week connect the UAE and India?
About 1,153 direct flights a week in October 2026, according to the Ministry of Economy and Tourism. India was also the largest source market for international visitors to the UAE in 2025, with 14% of the total.
Can an Indian company own 100% of a company in the UAE?
Yes, for most activities. Since the 2021 amendment of the Commercial Companies Law, most mainland activities allow 100% foreign ownership, and free zones such as DMCC also allow full ownership. Activities with strategic impact are regulated separately, so the specific activity should be checked before applying.
