UAE Hosts Inaugural Founders’ Retreat, Strengthening UAE-India Start-Up Ties
Dubai and Abu Dhabi/ New Delhi, 8 December, 2024: The United Arab Emirates successfully hosted the inaugural Founders’ Retreat from 6 to 8 December 2024. The Retreat brought together more than 60 of India’s most prominent start-up founders and key UAE business leaders, investors, and policymakers to discuss new directions and opportunities in the bilateral investment partnership.
Co-organised by the UAE Embassy in Delhi, Offline, and the UAE-India CEPA Council, the event marked a significant milestone in the UAE-India partnership, showcasing the two countries’ shared commitment to fostering innovation and economic growth.
With participating retreat ventures averaging a valuation of USD 3.5 billion, alongside representation from founders of 13 Indian unicorn start-ups and five publicly listed companies, this first-of-its-kind platform facilitated transformative collaborations and highlighted the mutual benefits of closer investment ties between the two nations.
The retreat emphasised how the UAE complements India’s start-up success story. Estimates suggest that UAE investors have injected close to USD 20 billion worth of capital into the Indian economy since 2000, significantly benefiting the Indian start-up sector. Initiatives such as the UAE-India Start-up Bridge, established under the UAE-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), have only further strengthened this collaboration.
Commenting on the occasion, His Excellency Abdulnasser Alshaali, PhD, the UAE Ambassador to India, said, “The Founders’ Retreat is not just a celebration of entrepreneurial excellence but a commitment to deeper collaboration. It reflects our shared vision of fostering innovation, investment, and growth that transcends borders. Uniting UAE and Indian leaders under one roof not only enables business opportunities but also creates a blueprint for global entrepreneurial success.”
“The Founders Retreat is a catalyst for UAE-India start-up collaboration. By integrating India’s entrepreneurial talent with the UAE’s visionary support, we’re creating a launchpad for global start-up success. The Retreat is a powerful demonstration of how public-private partnerships can drive cross-border innovation and investment,” said Utsav Somani, the Founder of Offline.
The Founders’ Retreat reflected the UAE’s ongoing commitment to investing in India’s economy and providing Indian start-ups with opportunities to expand internationally. The UAE continues to expand its investment footprint in India, and is focusing on establishing new and innovative ventures, such as the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority’s fund in India’s GIFT City. This event reinforced the UAE-India relationship as a model for global entrepreneurship and innovation.
About the Organizers
UAE Embassy in Delhi: Serving as the cornerstone of UAE-India relations, the UAE Embassy in Delhi facilitates cross-cultural, economic, and diplomatic collaborations, playing a vital role in strengthening bilateral ties by spearheading initiatives that promote innovation and long-term partnerships between the two countries.
Offline: Offline is a members-only platform connecting the top 10 percent of founders, including leaders from India’s most valued start-ups, such as Ola, CRED, and Zomato. Focused on combating founder loneliness, it fosters peer-led conversations, exclusive experiences, and curated perks. Through private founder forums, retreats, and global events, including leadership treks and UAE partnerships, Offline creates a thriving community for professional and personal growth of the best-scaled-up tech founders of India.
UAE-India CEPA Council (UICC): The UICC was established to further expand the opportunities borne through the signing of the CEPA, providing a dynamic outlet for the business communities of the two countries to tangibly deepen their already significant and constructive commercial ties.
For media inquiries or further information, please contact:
Email: [email protected]
Issued on behalf of UAE-India CEPA Council (UICC) By:
The Publicist
Rachit Verma @ 9811335356 [email protected]
Lalit Pandey @9818806924 [email protected]
Shanoo Batra@ 9891994365 [email protected]