Dubai Multi Commodities Centre has recorded a 9% rise in the number of Indian companies operating within its international business district, adding another sign that commercial activity between India and the UAE is gathering pace.
More than 4,080 Indian businesses are now registered with DMCC. Over 330 of them joined during the past 12 months alone.
The figures were announced after DMCC completed its latest Made For Trade Live roadshow in Pune and Mumbai, where its representatives met Indian investors, entrepreneurs and business leaders looking at international expansion through Dubai.
Indian Companies Now Form DMCC’s Largest Overseas Business Community
India has become DMCC’s biggest international business community, accounting for more than 15% of the district’s total membership.
That is no small share. DMCC currently hosts over 26,000 member companies, meaning Indian businesses have developed a sizeable presence across one of Dubai’s most active free zone business districts.
The growth is not tied to one industry. Indian companies are joining DMCC across technology, finance, maritime services, precious metals, precious stones, energy and agricultural commodities. For many, Dubai is being used less as a final destination and more as a base for reaching customers across the Middle East, Africa, Europe and Asia.
Pune and Mumbai Roadshow Draws 250 Business Leaders
DMCC’s events in Pune and Mumbai brought together around 250 business leaders, investors and entrepreneurs.
Conversations focused on the shifting nature of global trade and the practical advantages of building an international operation from Dubai. Access to regional markets remains a major draw, but infrastructure, specialised commercial ecosystems and international connectivity also featured heavily.
The timing was deliberate. Mumbai is India’s financial and commercial centre, while Pune has developed a strong base of technology, manufacturing and service-sector companies. Both cities contain businesses that may see Dubai as a relatively close and familiar first step into wider international markets.
UAE-India Trade Has Passed the USD 100 Billion Mark
The rise in DMCC Indian companies comes alongside a much broader expansion in UAE-India economic relations.
Bilateral trade has increased by almost 37% since the UAE-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement came into force in 2022. Annual trade between the two countries exceeded USD 100 billion for the first time last year, according to DMCC.
Non-oil trade also passed USD 65 billion. That target was reached five years earlier than originally planned under the partnership agreement.
The next ambition is considerably larger: the UAE and India are working towards USD 200 billion in bilateral trade by 2032.
Dubai Is Becoming a Launchpad for Indian Businesses
Indian businesses have had a long commercial relationship with the UAE, but the type of investment is changing. Traditional trading companies remain important, particularly within gold, diamonds and commodities. Newer arrivals increasingly include technology firms, financial service providers and internationally focused professional businesses.
That mix matters. It suggests companies are not simply setting up to serve the UAE market. Many are building regional headquarters, managing cross-border operations or using Dubai to enter countries that would be harder to reach directly from India.
DMCC Executive Chairman and CEO Ahmed Bin Sulayem said the growing Indian membership reflects the momentum behind the economic partnership between the two countries. He also pointed to further opportunities in technology, finance, maritime services, precious metals and agricultural commodities as both nations pursue their 2032 trade target.
DMCC Strengthens Its Position Among Dubai Free Zones
DMCC says it contributes approximately 15% of Dubai’s annual foreign direct investment and around 7% of the emirate’s gross domestic product.
Its appeal has been built around industry-specific ecosystems rather than office space alone. Businesses can establish themselves alongside companies working in related sectors, with access to infrastructure, trading services and professional networks already operating within the district.
The latest increase in Indian registrations reinforces that position. Competition between UAE free zones remains intense, particularly for technology firms, commodity traders and international service companies. DMCC’s expanding Indian community gives it a strong base in one of Dubai’s most commercially important overseas markets.
More Indian Companies Are Likely to Consider Dubai Expansion
The 9% growth rate offers a useful snapshot, but the larger story is the direction of travel.
Trade barriers between the UAE and India have been reduced, bilateral commercial targets are rising and more Indian companies are thinking beyond their domestic market. Dubai happens to sit in the middle of those developments.
DMCC’s roadshows are designed to turn that interest into company registrations. With more than 330 Indian businesses joining in a single year, the approach appears to be producing results.
