Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed arrives in India on official visit

His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and the UAE's Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister, has arrived in India for an official visit.

Upon his arrival, Sheikh Hamdan and his delegation were warmly welcomed by Indian minister Suresh Gopi and honored with a ceremonial guard of honor.

During his visit, Sheikh Hamdan will hold high-level discussions with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior government officials, with a focus on fostering stronger bilateral relations.

The visit highlights the UAE's strategy of building strategic alliances with key international partners to encourage growth, innovation, and collaboration in essential sectors.

Dubai and India share robust trade relations, which reached a value of $45.4 billion (AED 165 billion) in 2023. Non-oil trade volume also amounted to $54.2 billion (AED 199 billion) the same year.

Over the past five years, Indian investments in Dubai have totaled AED 15 billion, while Dubai's investments in India have reached AED 17.2 billion.

In 2024 alone, 16,623 new Indian companies joined the Dubai Chamber of Commerce, bringing the total number of Indian companies in Dubai to over 70,000.

DP World has been operating in India for more than 20 years and recently signed a $3 billion (AED 11 billion) agreement in January 2024 to expand its operations in Gujarat.

In tourism, Dubai welcomed 3.14 million visitors from South Asia, with India accounting for the largest share in 2024.

Emirates Airline has been serving India since 1985 and currently operates 167 weekly flights, connecting Dubai to nine Indian cities.

This official visit marks a significant step in enhancing cooperation between the UAE and India, highlighting shared interests in trade, investment, tourism, and infrastructure development.