UAE-India CEPA Council

What UAE-India CEPA Council does

The UAE-India CEPA Council (UICC) is a bilateral, non-profit trade facilitation body jointly established on January 10, 2024, by the governments of the UAE and India to operationalize the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) that entered into force on May 1, 2022. Headquartered in Delhi with operations in both countries, the Council is co-chaired by UAE's Minister of Economy and India's Minister of Commerce and Industry, and operates with 11–50 employees under the directorship of Ahmed Aljneibi. Its mandate is to convert CEPA's policy framework into actual trade and investment flows — bilateral trade has crossed USD 100 billion since CEPA implementation and non-oil trade has reached nearly USD 70 billion.

The Council's product portfolio centers on five core offerings: (1) the UAE-India Start-Up Series, a flagship cross-border initiative anchored in Article 13.2 of CEPA that connects high-potential Indian startups with UAE market access through Hub71's Access and Immersion programmes, with UISS 2.0 (June 2026) scaling to ten startups receiving up to AED 500,000 each; (2) Business Roundtables held across at least eight Indian cities (Chennai, Jaipur, Kolkata, Patna, Bhubaneswar, Mumbai, Vijayawada, Odisha); (3) Sectoral Reports and Publications covering agriculture, tourism, AI/robotics, EVs, SEZs, and procurement guides; (4) the Open Majlis closed-door dialogue series; and (5) the annual Founders' Retreat. The Start-Up Series alone received over 10,000 applications since launching in June 2025, and the Council conducted over 300 business engagements and three MoUs in 2024.

The Council does not generate commercial revenue. It is funded through governmental support and generates impact through programmatic activity rather than productized services. Customer segments include UAE and Indian businesses broadly, Indian startups seeking UAE market entry, women entrepreneurs (notably via the FICCI-FLO partnership), MSMEs from both countries, and the services sector. Strategic partners include Hub71, RAKEZ, First Abu Dhabi Bank, DP World, Startup India, CII, FICCI-FLO, the Indian Chamber of Commerce, and academic institutions including IIT Delhi, IIM Bangalore, NSRCEL, SINE IIT Bombay, TiE Delhi-NCR, and Masters' Union. The organization functions as a public-private facilitation platform rather than a technology product company.

Name

UAE-India CEPA Council

Legal name

UAE-India CEPA Council

Website

https://cepacouncil.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2024

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The UAE-India CEPA Council (UICC) is a bilateral, non-profit trade facilitation body jointly established by the UAE and Indian governments in January 2024 to operationalize their CEPA agreement. It serves UAE and Indian businesses, Indian startups, women entrepreneurs, and MSMEs through roundtables, the UAE-India Start-Up Series, sector reports, Open Majlis dialogues, and the Founders' Retreat.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Delhi

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

The UAE-India CEPA Council (UICC) is a bilateral organization that facilitates trade, investment, and business connections between UAE and Indian companies under the CEPA framework. It runs the UAE-India Start-Up Series for cross-border startup expansion, hosts Business Roundtables across Indian cities, publishes sectoral reports and trade guides, and convenes the closed-door Open Majlis dialogue series and annual Founders' Retreat to connect Indian founders with UAE investors and policymakers.

Product overview

The UAE-India CEPA Council operates as a bilateral trade facilitation organization offering a portfolio of programmes and services focused on strengthening UAE-India economic partnership under the CEPA framework. The core offerings include the UAE-India Start-Up Series (supporting Indian startup expansion into UAE), supplemented by Hub71's Access Programme and Immersion Programme for incubation and market entry; Business Roundtables across Indian cities for regional engagement; Sectoral Reports and Publications covering agriculture, tourism, AI/robotics, EVs, and trade guides; the Open Majlis closed-door dialogue series; and the annual Founders' Retreat. The organization functions as a platform for growth rather than a technology product company.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• UAE-India Start-Up Series: A startup-focused initiative under the UAE-India CEPA Council platform dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship and startup ecosystems between UAE and India.

Products and services

• UAE-India Start-Up Series A cross-border startup support initiative promoting and connecting high-potential Indian startups with opportunities in UAE and international markets through incubation, mentorship, investor introductions, and regulatory guidance.
• Business Roundtables Regional business engagement events held across Indian cities (Chennai, Jaipur, Kolkata, Patna, Bhubaneswar, Mumbai, Vijayawada, Odisha) to discuss CEPA opportunities and facilitate UAE-India business connections.
• Sectoral Reports and Publications Comprehensive research reports and newsletters covering UAE-India trade sectors including agriculture, tourism, AI/robotics/automation, electric vehicles, SEZ investor guides, procurement guides, and CEPA newsletters.
• Open Majlis Curated series of exclusive closed-door dialogues bringing together practitioners, policymakers, and institution-builders to explore and advance the UAE-India economic relationship.
• Founders' Retreat Annual retreat bringing together Indian startup founders with UAE business leaders, investors, and policymakers to discuss bilateral investment opportunities.
• UICC Annual Report Annual comprehensive review documenting UICC activities, strategic roundtables, MoUs, business engagements, and milestones in UAE-India CEPA implementation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 10,000 applications received for UAE-India Start-Up Series, making it India's largest startup initiative of its kind
• +2 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• Hub71coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 November 2025Hub71, Abu Dhabi's global tech ecosystem, signed a strategic partnership with the UAE-India CEPA Council to support Indian startups entering Abu Dhabi's market. The partnership involves the UAE-India Start-Up Series and an immersion program designed to accelerate Indian startups' entry and growth in Abu Dhabi. The five winning startups from the CEPA Council's Start-Up Series are onboarded into Hub71's Immersion and Access programmes.
• First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 November 2025First Abu Dhabi Bank partnered with UAE-India CEPA Council to accelerate cross-border entrepreneurship and help Indian startups scale globally through UAE market access. FAB formalized support for the UAE-India Start-Up Series and provides one of the five winning startups with a soft-landing package including tailored banking solutions, mentorship, and introductions to corporate partners, investors, and regulators.
• UAE-India Business CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 September 2025The UICC signed MoUs with the UAE-India Business Council and DP World to strengthen bilateral business relations and investment flows.
• RAKEZcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 September 2025RAKEZ and UAE-India CEPA Council partnered to launch a landmark Start-up Series driving cross-border innovation, providing startups with opportunities to establish operations in Ras Al Khaimah.
• Startup IndiacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 August 2025Partnership engagement between UAE-India CEPA Council and Startup India to support Indian startups with market access to the UAE through the Start-Up Series program.
• FICCI-FLO Mumbai ChaptersecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 January 2025The UICC organized a Women's Entrepreneurship Roundtable in Mumbai in collaboration with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry Ladies Organisation (FICCI-FLO Mumbai Chapter), bringing together over 40 Indian women business owners and entrepreneurs.
• Andhra Pradesh Economic Development Board (APEDB)secondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2024The UICC collaborated with the UAE Embassy in Delhi and the Andhra Pradesh Economic Development Board to convene an economic and investment roundtable in Vijayawada, bringing together over 50 UAE and Andhra Pradesh companies.
• DP WorldcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 June 2024DP World partnered with UICC to provide expert sessions at roundtables and showcase operations in India, including the Bharat Mart project tailored for Indian exporters seeking to expand into the UAE.
• Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 June 2024RAKEZ partnered with UICC to provide comprehensive overviews of incentives available to Indian companies looking to establish operations in Ras Al Khaimah at business roundtables.
• Bihar Industries Association (BIA)secondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 May 2024The UICC organized a business roundtable in collaboration with the Bihar Industries Association in Patna to discuss opportunities for Bihar-based enterprises, particularly in agriculture and food processing sectors with respect to CEPA.
• Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 May 2024The UICC signed a MoU with the Indian Chamber of Commerce in Kolkata to enhance bilateral relations. The partnership focuses on facilitating business connections and cooperation between UAE and Indian business communities.
• Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 April 2024The UICC organized business roundtables in collaboration with CII in Jaipur and Chennai to discuss opportunities for Indian businesses to benefit from CEPA, with expert sessions from UAE entities.
• Dubai Chamber of Commerce and IndustrysecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 February 2024Dubai Chamber participated in the Chennai roundtable to underline important services and support it could offer Indian firms looking to expand their reach to the UAE.
• OfflinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOffline serves as an Ecosystem Partner for the UAE-India Start-Up Series, co-organizing the Founders' Retreat and providing startup ecosystem support.
• TiE Delhi-NCRsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerKnowledge partner for the UAE-India Start-Up Series, providing startup roadshow sessions at TiE Delhi-NCR, New Delhi.
• SINE IIT BombaysecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerKnowledge partner for the UAE-India Start-Up Series, providing startup ecosystem support and mentorship connections.
• NSRCEL IIM BangaloresecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerKnowledge partner for the UAE-India Start-Up Series, hosting startup roadshow and providing incubation support connections.
• Masters' UnionsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerKnowledge partner for the UAE-India Start-Up Series, hosting startup roadshow in Gurugram.
• UAE Embassy in DelhicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer of the Founders' Retreat alongside Offline and UICC, bringing together Indian startup founders with UAE ecosystem stakeholders.
• Startup Policy ForumsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the second edition of UAE-India Start-up Series, signing MoU at the Open Majlis CEPA Anniversary Special.
• EBC Publishing Private LimitedsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the second edition of UAE-India Start-up Series, signing MoU at the Open Majlis CEPA Anniversary Special.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Hub71: Abu Dhabi's global tech ecosystem offering Access and Immersion programs to startups. A core UICC partner delivering incubation and soft-landing infrastructure to Start-Up Series winners — operating in an adjacent niche (startup acceleration) rather than trade facilitation.

Direct peers

• Invest India: India's official investment promotion and facilitation agency under the DPIIT. Closely comparable to UICC's investor-introduction and market-entry mandate — the Indian-state-side analog of the Council's work.
• Startup India (DPIIT): Government of India's flagship startup initiative. A documented UICC partner supporting the Start-Up Series, and a directly comparable peer in facilitating Indian startup growth and cross-border market access.
• India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF): Government of India trust that promotes Indian business and trade opportunities internationally. Comparable function — producing sectoral publications and facilitating cross-border investment — to UICC's research and promotion arm.
• Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO): Government-linked apex body promoting Indian exports. Directly comparable to UICC's export-promotion and market-access mandate for Indian businesses looking to expand into the UAE.
• Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC): One of India's oldest trade bodies, headquartered in Kolkata. Signed a formal MoU with UICC and co-organized a roundtable in Odisha — operating in directly comparable bilateral trade facilitation territory.
• Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry: UAE capital's principal business chamber, focused on trade facilitation and investment promotion. Comparable as an emirate-level trade facilitation counterpart to UICC's bilateral UAE-India mandate.
• Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI): One of India's largest and oldest business chambers, focused on trade promotion, policy advocacy, and industry networking. Directly comparable to UICC as a membership-based trade and investment facilitation body — and indeed a documented UICC partner (via FICCI-FLO).
• Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry: UAE-side bilateral trade promotion chamber supporting Indian businesses entering Dubai. A documented UICC partner (Chennai roundtable) and the most direct functional peer on the UAE side of the bilateral relationship.
• Confederation of Indian Industry (CII): India's leading industry association promoting business and trade. UICC co-organized state-level roundtables in Jaipur and Chennai with CII, reflecting directly comparable activity in convening businesses around CEPA-related opportunities.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cepacouncil
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/uae-india-cepa-council
• Instagraminstagram.com/uicc_uaeindia

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about UAE-India CEPA Council