Ties between the UAE and India, founded on trade, go back decades. The UAE has welcomed generations of Indian families who have contributed to social and economic progress. India has supported the UAE’s transition from a pearl diving and fishing economy to one powered by oil. Today, we see a deep-rooted relationship, strengthened by Indian investment in the transition of the Emirates to a digital era.
This unparalleled relationship between the countries has only been strengthened in recent years, with the closer engagement to enhance business ties. The UAE has made significant investments in India, to support development in the country's physical but also digital infrastructure, that will lead to a next-generation economy.
India is home to 1.3 billion people. And as the country keeps moving into the digital era, its attractiveness as a destination for UAE foreign direct investment will continue to increase.
Trade between India and the UAE is valued at $59 billion, making the UAE India's third largest trading partner in 2019 – after China and US. And the UAE is India's second largest export partner, after the US.
The India-UAE High Level Joint Task Force on Investments continues to progress with both sides mutually agreeing on steps that remove trade barriers. In August 2020, India invited further investments from the UAE in sectors of the Indian economy such as infrastructure, logistics, food parks, highways, ports, airports, renewable energy and defence.
I met India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi late last year. From my meeting, it was clear that efforts to build UAE investor confidence come from the top. This is reassuring for any business person making initial forays into a new market.
Investments alone, however, will not drive the country's growth – without policy arms working in tandem
Here in the UAE, we can adopt lessons from our own development story. It started 49 years ago with the realisation that infrastructure investment is a critical part of a nation’s growth strategy. If it weren’t for the UAE's world-class roads, utility services, ports, renewable energy and even digital infrastructure investments, we would not have progressed at this pace.
Given the UAE's philosophy of long-term investments, its confidence in the India story is not deterred by periods of uncertainty. Mubadala invested over $2bn during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic. As Indians build new innovative companies, they will be backed by capital from the UAE across sectors such as digital connectivity, district cooling and renewable energy.
Investments alone, however, will not drive the country's growth – without policy arms working in tandem. Like growth capital, policies and regulations must also be written for the long term. This is an opportunity for India to resolve challenges around licensing, dispute resolution, land acquisition, taxation and retrospective laws. This is particularly important in sectors like renewable energy and utilities, where there is a significant upfront investment. For a foreign investor, such forward-looking policy developments are measures that build confidence.
With investors assured of returns in the form of safe policy frameworks and new reforms, FDI inflow to India will increase. India's recent tax exemptions for federal and local UAE sovereign institutions that are investing in India's infrastructure sector is a positive step, one that will harness the expertise of UAE businesses and build momentum for investing in India.
With India building cities, investors from the UAE will provide capital and forge a system of knowledge sharing. These systems will come in handy while planning approaches to the use of urban energy that are climate resilient and cost-effective. Doing so will help advance the entire nation in an inclusive manner.
India’s young population is optimistic, aspirational and willing to work hard to realise the potential of their country. And the country's government has an ambitious vision for its people. Given India's commitment to rebuild confidence, investment in the country's infrastructure – both digital and physical – will go a long way to transform its economic trajectory.
Khaled Al Qubaisi is chief executive, real estate and infrastructure investments and investment committee member, Mubadala Investment Company
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ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
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THE SPECS
Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Transmission: six-speed manual
Power: 325bhp
Torque: 370Nm
Speed: 0-100km/h 3.9 seconds
Price: Dh230,000
On sale: now
Keane on …
Liverpool’s Uefa Champions League bid: “They’re great. With the attacking force they have, for me, they’re certainly one of the favourites. You look at the teams left in it - they’re capable of scoring against anybody at any given time. Defensively they’ve been good, so I don’t see any reason why they couldn’t go on and win it.”
Mohamed Salah’s debut campaign at Anfield: “Unbelievable. He’s been phenomenal. You can name the front three, but for him on a personal level, he’s been unreal. He’s been great to watch and hopefully he can continue now until the end of the season - which I’m sure he will, because he’s been in fine form. He’s been incredible this season.”
Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s instant impact at former club LA Galaxy: “Brilliant. It’s been a great start for him and for the club. They were crying out for another big name there. They were lacking that, for the prestige of LA Galaxy. And now they have one of the finest stars. I hope they can go win something this year.”
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
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Women: Wadima Al Yafei and Mahra Al Hanaei (49kg), Bashayer Al Matrooshi and Hessa Al Shamsi (62kg)
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Sustainable Development Goals
1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere
2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation
10. Reduce inequality within and among countries
11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its effects
14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development
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Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
The biog
Name: Gul Raziq
From: Charsadda, Pakistan
Family: Wife and six children
Favourite holes at Al Ghazal: 15 and 8
Golf Handicap: 6
Childhood sport: cricket
