UAE Selects Five Indian Startups for Global Expansion Support
The United Arab Emirates will provide comprehensive soft landing packages to five Indian startups, enabling them to expand operations in the UAE and scale globally. The selection was made under the India-UAE CEPA Council programme after evaluating 10,000 applications.
Key Takeaways
- Five Indian startups selected from 10,000 applicants
- Comprehensive support package including visas, accommodation, mentorship
- Focus on startups solving real-world problems relevant to UAE and MENA region
- First iteration of UAE-India startup series with more expected
Overwhelming Response and Selection Process
Ahmed Aljneibi, Director of the UAE-India CEPA Council, expressed enthusiasm about the programme’s success.
“We had 10,000 applications since the launch back in June… I’m so happy that we finally reached the conclusion of identifying 20 of the best and brightest startups in India and narrowing them down to the five winners who will join us in the UAE for an immersion programme,”
he told ANI.
Comprehensive Support Package
The soft landing package includes:
- Visa and accommodation support
- Transportation and mentorship
- Trade licensing facilitation
- Investor engagement opportunities
Aljneibi noted the evaluation prioritized startups addressing real-world challenges relevant to the UAE and broader MENA region.
“It was very hard to choose from all 10,000… This is the first iteration of the UAE-India startup series, and we hope to continue this after today,”
he added.
Startup Expansion Plans
DocketRun Founder and CEO Ajay Kabadi shared their expansion strategy:
“We are working closely with heavy industries in the UAE of steel, aluminium and other industries to replicate the benchmarks we have set in India… We have seen great results in India, and it’s going to work out similarly across other regions as well.”
Raghavendra Meharwade, Mentor at DocketRun, emphasized the programme’s impact:
“Being selected from 10,000 to being in the top five was not an easy journey. But a fantastic environment and the support provided by this forum, which we used to scale up, helped us believe that we can make it.”
Strengthening India-UAE Economic Ties
This initiative reflects the growing role of the CEPA agreement in facilitating market access, investment channels, and technology exchange between the two nations. The Gulf region’s emergence as a global hub for advanced industries is attracting Indian entrepreneurs seeking expansion opportunities and capital.
