The UAE-India CEPA Council signed two landmark Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) on the 23rd September 2025 in New Delhi, in the presence of H.E. Abdulnasser Alshaali, PhD, UAE Ambassador to India.

The first MoU, with the UAE–India Business Council (UIBC), establishes a joint mechanism that combines UIBC’s industry networks with the CEPA Council’s focus on start-ups, SMEs, innovation, and emerging sectors. This partnership will enhance coordination and further advance the UAE–India economic partnership.

The second MoU, with DP World, an Executive Member of UIBC, supports the UAE–India Start-Up Series, launched earlier this year. This collaboration will open a global gateway for Indian start-ups, creating new opportunities for innovation, collaboration, and scale. With nearly 10,000 applications already received in the first round, the initiative highlights India’s entrepreneurial dynamism and the UAE’s role as a hub for innovation.

The UAE–India CEPA Council looks forward to announcing further sponsors in the coming weeks, as we continue to expand platforms for entrepreneurship, trade, and investment under the CEPA framework.

Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ) and the UAE–India CEPA Council have entered a strategic partnership to co-deliver the UAE–India Start-Up Series, a landmark initiative designed to connect high-potential Indian start-ups with scalable opportunities in the UAE.
The MoU was signed on 15 September 2025, formalising a collaboration that aims to establish practical pathways for founders looking to expand globally through the UAE.

Under this partnership, RAKEZ will support the Start-Up Series by offering a comprehensive soft-landing package to one of the top five winning start-ups, including business setup support, mentorship, infrastructure access and seamless integration into Ras Al Khaimah’s developing entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Together, RAKEZ and the UAE–India CEPA Council are empowering innovative Indian ventures and strengthening bilateral economic and innovation ties under the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.

The UAE-India CEPA Council (UICC) collaborated with Start-up India, the flagship initiative of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), to host a focused engagement session aimed at accelerating global pathways for Indian start-ups under the CEPA Start-up Series.

Held at the UAE Embassy in New Delhi, the session featured participation from Mamatha Venkatesh, Head of Start-up India, DPIIT, who reaffirmed Start-up India’s commitment to enabling Indian start-ups to tap into international innovation ecosystems. This collaboration marks a key milestone in strengthening India-UAE start-up linkages and scaling the impact of the CEPA Start-up Series.

The UAE-India CEPA Council (UICC) joined forces with TiE Delhi-NCR, a leading catalyst for entrepreneurship in India, to host a high-impact engagement focused on expanding global opportunities for India’s emerging start-up ecosystem.

A key highlight of the session was the formal signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between UICC and TiE Delhi-NCR. The MoU, signed by Upasana Sharma, Executive Director of TiE Delhi, marks the beginning of a strategic partnership under the CEPA Start-up Series, which aims to create a launchpad for Indian start-ups to access the UAE’s vibrant innovation and investment environment.