The United Arab Emirates hosted the first-ever Founders’ Retreat from December 6 to 8, 2024, bringing together over 60 of India’s leading start-up founders, key UAE business leaders, investors, and policymakers.
The event aimed to explore new avenues for bilateral investment and foster deeper collaboration between the two nations.
Co-organised by the UAE Embassy in Delhi, Offline, and the UAE-India CEPA Council, the Retreat served as a platform for transformative partnerships, underlining the shared commitment of both nations to innovation and economic growth. Participating ventures boasted an average valuation of $3.5 billion, with 13 Indian unicorn founders and representatives from five publicly listed companies in attendance.
The UAE has invested close to $20 billion in India since 2000, fueling growth in India’s start-up sector. Initiatives like the UAE-India Start-up Bridge, established under the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), have further solidified this partnership.
Dr. Abdulnasser Alshaali, UAE Ambassador to India, called the Retreat
"a celebration of entrepreneurial excellence and a commitment to deeper collaboration."
Utsav Somani, Founder of Offline, highlighted the event as a "catalyst for UAE-India start-up collaboration," merging India’s entrepreneurial prowess with the UAE’s visionary support.
This milestone event reaffirmed the UAE’s dedication to expanding its investment footprint in India, including initiatives such as the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority’s fund in India’s GIFT City. By connecting leaders from both nations, the Retreat showcased a global model for entrepreneurship and innovation.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
