India@FDI Magazine

Indian investments in the UAE
Thriving market for
major business groups
Indian business enterprises have invested over $50 billion in various activities in the
UAE and are set to expand this in the future
Above, left-right: L&T at Jebel Ali Dubai; Raymond made-to-measure fashion shop in Dubai; Dabur India in Dubai
Top Indian companies have over the years made
significant investments in industrial facilities and
plants, besides distribution networks and warehouses
in the UAE.
Business groups like the Tatas, Birlas, ITC, Essar and Hinduja
and firms like state-owned Indian Oil Corporation, Reliance
Industries, Larsen & Toubro, HCL Infosystems, Nagarjuna
Constructions, Dabur India and others have invested
billions of dollars in facilities in the UAE. Companies
such as Raymond Ltd and Madura Fashion & Lifestyle
(part of the Aditya Birla group), have also invested large sums
in the UAE.
Rough estimates are that Indian business enterprises have
invested about $50 billion over the years in manufacturing,
distribution and sales facilities in the UAE. While many large
Indian business groups have set up facilities, medium and
small enterprises are also increasingly investing in the UAE.
The Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZ) alone has nearly a
thousand Indian companies operating within the zone. And
the numbers are growing rapidly every year, as entrepreneurs
from India seek opportunities in the neighbouring region.
The UAE is also seeking increasing participation by Indian
companies for upstream oil and gas investments in the
country. With India being one of the largest energy consumers
in the world, UAE officials are keen that Indian oil and gas
majors would explore investment opportunities in upstream
and downstream oil and gas and petrochemicals sectors in
Abu Dhabi.
India’s buoyant consumer goods and textile sector are also
expanding rapidly in the UAE. Many leading companies plan
to strengthen their presence in the Middle East market in a
big way.
The Jebel Ali Free Zone, Dubai
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