India’s rapid growth in the digital economy has caught the attention of many countries, including Dubai. India is expected to become a trillion-dollar digital economy by FY26, which means it is becoming a key player in the global innovation scene.

Dubai has recognised this and is looking to grow its ties with India. Since 2022, the India-UAE Startup Corridor has been working to support startups in both countries. The goal is to help 50 startups over five years and turn at least 10 into unicorns by the end of this year. This is part of Dubai’s broader plan to boost its digital economy.

The UAE and India have strengthened their relationship in various areas, from government collaborations to business growth. Projects like India’s GIFT City and Dubai Internet City are helping create more opportunities for cooperation. The rise of Indian tech companies in Dubai shows a shift toward a more digitally focussed economy.

In October 2023, India and the UAE signed an important agreement to work together in areas such as AI, renewable energy, healthcare, and advanced manufacturing. These efforts aim to drive innovation and strengthen industries. Dubai’s D33 plan, which aims to create 30 unicorns over the next 10 years, reflects its commitment to boosting its economy with innovation.

Dubai has become a key destination for tech companies in the MENA region. Events like Step Conference, GITEX Global, and Expand North Star bring global startups and investors together. With its strong business network, Dubai Internet City plays an important role in supporting these efforts.

In a significant move, Dubai Internet City partnered with India’s Nasscom at GITEX Global 2023 to encourage knowledge sharing and collaboration. This partnership helps Nasscom members connect with Dubai’s growing tech ecosystem, supporting the goals of Dubai’s Economic Agenda ‘D33’.

Further, a recent report from the Dubai Chamber of Commerce, part of the Dubai Chambers network, highlighted that Indian businesses led the way in new non-Emirati companies joining the chamber in the first nine months of 2024. A total of 12,142 new Indian companies established themselves through the chamber, underscoring Dubai’s growing appeal to Indian investors and entrepreneurs.

To understand these developments better, Inc42 spoke with Ammar Al Malik, executive vice president of commercial at TECOM Group and the managing director of Dubai Internet City.

He explained how India’s growing talent and an ever-expanding economy are attracting international investors. Besides, he also explained how Dubai has become a highly attractive launchpad for Indian startups looking to expand operations and access global markets.

Here are the edited excerpts…

Inc42: How has Dubai positioned itself as a hub for Indian tech startups looking to expand globally?

Ammar AI Malik: Dubai is the destination of choice for tech scaleups and startups with global ambitions, leveraging its strategic location to international markets, and a distinctly pro-business environment invested in nurturing innovators and disruptors.

Dubai Internet City has played a pivotal role in cultivating the city’s position as a global tech hub for more than 25 years, providing purpose-built infrastructure to more than 4,000 customers, including multinationals, startups, and Fortune 500 companies, such as Google, Meta, Visa, Mastercard, and Dell.

Our vibrant community, home to leading Indian tech giants such as Tata Consultancy Services, Tata Communications, Infosys, and HCL Technologies, offers a fertile ground for Indian businesses to scale, connect with peers and global markets, and advance their growth ambitions.

Inc42: Can you elaborate on the support programmes or incentives Dubai provides to Indian tech startups setting up operations there?

Ammar AI Malik: A report by Startup Genome estimates that Dubai’s startup ecosystem value crossed AED 84.4 Bn by the end of 2023, placing us ahead of other Gulf countries and second in the region, promising a flourishing startup landscape accessible via Dubai.

Dubai Internet City also nurtures startups through........

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