This first edition of the UAE–India CEPA Council Newsletter for 2026 captures a defining moment in the evolving bilateral partnership, with artificial intelligence emerging as a central pillar of collaboration between the two countries. Set against a backdrop of global uncertainty, the issue opens with a reflection on the UAE’s institutional resilience and its continued ability to provide stability, confidence, and opportunity for businesses operating across the UAE–India corridor. It further highlights the renewed ambition of both nations following the announcement of an updated bilateral trade target of USD 200 billion by 2032, underscoring the scale and momentum of this strategic relationship.
At its core, the newsletter presents a comprehensive exploration of the UAE–India AI partnership, shaped by complementary strengths—India’s vast talent pool, digital infrastructure, and data ecosystems, alongside the UAE’s capital, advanced compute capabilities, and enabling regulatory frameworks. The issue documents key developments from the AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, along with major collaborative initiatives including the establishment of AI innovation centres, national-scale supercomputing infrastructure, and emerging cross-border technology corridors. Together, these developments signal a shift from intent to execution, positioning artificial intelligence as a driver of innovation, economic growth, and global competitiveness.
Beyond infrastructure and investment, the edition offers a deeper perspective on the human dimension of this transformation. Through insights from high-level panel discussions, it examines how artificial intelligence is reshaping engineering talent, workforce mobility, and the future of skills, emphasising the need for continuous learning, interdisciplinary thinking, and stronger academia-industry collaboration. Complemented by key updates across defence, energy, food security, and scientific cooperation, as well as a Business in Focus section showcasing the growing integration of AI across start-ups in the UAE–India ecosystem, this issue reinforces CEPA’s role as a catalyst for innovation-led growth and long-term economic partnership between the UAE and India.
