The UAE–India CEPA Council has selected five Indian startups to receive an exclusive “soft-landing” package designed to accelerate their business expansion into the UAE market. Chosen from a pool of more than 10,000 applicants across diverse sectors, the startups will benefit from a full-scale support system that includes visas, accommodation, mentorship, networking opportunities, and regulatory assistance for setting up operations in the region. The initiative demonstrates the UAE’s growing focus on India’s innovation ecosystem and strengthens the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) as a platform for technology-led bilateral growth.

The soft-landing package is expected to dramatically reduce the operational and compliance hurdles that Indian startups typically face while expanding abroad. Selected founders will have access to business advisory support, introductions to investors and sector-specific industry groups, and workspace infrastructure to help them transition smoothly into the UAE’s enterprise landscape. The program also aims to help startups tailor their market strategies for the Middle East by providing early insights into consumer behaviour, enterprise demands and regulatory frameworks.

The five winners were chosen for their scalability potential and alignment with priority development areas in the UAE, including fintech, sustainability, healthtech, logistics and consumer digital services. With many Indian startups increasingly looking to global markets for growth, the CEPA-backed initiative arrives at a critical moment when cross-border trade and innovation are emerging as key drivers of economic expansion.

Industry observers view this initiative as more than just a startup support program; they see it as a strategic push to deepen economic ties between India and the UAE. Bilateral trade between the two nations continues to rise under CEPA, and supporting startup mobility is expected to further diversify investment flows. The partnership demonstrates that the UAE is positioning itself not only as a financial hub but also as a launchpad for high-potential Indian innovations to scale across global markets.