India-UAE bilateral relations have received impetus from time to time with the exchange of high-level visits from both sides. The traditionally close and friendly India- UAE bilateral relationship has evolved into a significant partnership in the economic and commercial sphere The two countries have entered into agreements in the areas of (i) facilitation of Institutional Investors in infrastructure, (ii) cooperation in Renewable energy, (iii) cooperation in combating Cyber-crimes, (iv) Cultural exchange, (v) Space, (vi) Skill Development, (vii) Insurance and (viii) Currency swaps. India and UAE have institutional mechanisms in place for addressing sector-specific issues. This is in the form of the Joint Commission for Economic and Technical Cooperation (JCM); Foreign Office Consultations (FOC); High-Level Task Force on Investment (HLTFI); Joint Committee on Security Matters (JCSM); Joint Committee on Consular Matters (JCCM); Joint Defense Cooperation Committee (JDCC); Joint Working Group (JWG) on Renewable Energy and Joint Committee on Manpower Resources (JCMR). JCM, FOC and HLTFI are held at the Ministerial/Assistant Ministerial levels. JCSM, JCCM, JDCC and JSMR are held at senior official (Secretary/ Additional Secretary) levels. In addition to the above, a Local Coordination and Grievance Redressal Mechanism to redress grievances of the Indian community is also in place in the form of a Local Coordination Committee (LCC). LCC, comprising officers from the Embassy and their UAE counterparts, meets regularly to follow up on consular, workforce and communityrelated issues.
India’s exports to the UAE are well diversified with a large basket. India’s major export items to the UAE are: Petroleum Products, Precious Metals, Stones, Gems & Jewellery, Minerals, Food Items (Cereals, Sugar, Fruits & Vegetables, Tea, Meat, and Seafood), Textiles (Garments, Apparel, Synthetic fibre, Cotton, Yarn) and Engineering & Machinery Products and Chemicals. India’s major import items from the UAE are: Petroleum and Petroleum Products, Precious Metals, Stones, Gems & Jewellery, Minerals, Chemicals, Wood & Wood Products. Several major private and public sector Indian companies and banks also operate in the UAE. Major Indian companies such as L&T, ESSAR, Dodsal, Punj Lloyd, Engineers India Ltd., TCIL etc., have obtained many contracts in UAE. UAE is home to an Indian expatriate community of more than 2.6 million – the largest expatriate community in the UAE. Professionally qualified personnel constitute about 15 & 20 per cent of the community, followed by 20 per cent of white-collar nonprofessionals (clerical staff, shop assistants, salespeople, accountants, etc.), and the remaining 65% comprises blue-collar workers. There is a significant business community in India. The Indian community has played a major role in the economic development of the UAE. The Embassy has Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) for providing short-term economic assistance (food, shelter, passage expenses etc.) to destitute workers/housemaids in distress. Indian Workers Resource Centre (IWRC), with a 24- hour helpline, has been operating in Dubai since November 2010.
