Emirates NBD Partners with UAE-India CEPA Council to Boost Start-up Expansion

Emirates NBD, a leading banking group in the Middle East, North Africa, and Türkiye (MENAT) region, is collaborating with the UAE-India CEPA Council to accelerate the growth of Indian start-ups through its UAE-India Start-up Series.

The partnership, formalized today in Dubai with a Memorandum of Understanding, aims to provide a platform for Indian entrepreneurs to expand into global markets by leveraging the UAE’s international reach and India’s thriving innovation ecosystem. Since launching in June, the initiative has attracted over 10,000 applications from Indian start-ups. This collaboration comes as trade between the UAE and India continues to grow following the implementation of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).

Emirates NBD has committed to supporting one of the top five winning start-ups with a comprehensive “soft-landing package” in the UAE. “India’s start-ups are among the most dynamic in the world,” said Marwan Hadi, Group Head of Retail Banking and Wealth Management at Emirates NBD. “At Emirates NBD, we are proud to strengthen our role as a launchpad for global scale innovation by supporting this initiative. By combining our financial expertise with the opportunities created under CEPA, we are empowering founders with the support and confidence to take their ideas beyond borders.”

Ahmed Aljneibi, Director of the UAE-India CEPA Council, added, “The energy and ambition of Indian founders have been remarkable. This initiative is about transforming that drive into global impact. With Emirates NBD’s partnership, we can channel ideas into opportunities and give start-ups a genuine springboard into international markets.” Twenty high-potential ventures will be shortlisted to pitch in New Delhi in November 2025, with five ultimately selected to establish a presence in the UAE, furthering the UAE’s goal of becoming a global hub for innovation, as outlined in the UAE Innovation Strategy.

Officials stated that the initiative will continue to identify and support promising Indian start-ups, connecting them with partners and facilitating their international expansion.