The India-UAE investment corridor could offer greater opportunities as investors navigate bonds, equities, gold and changing global market conditions.
DUBAI: The India-UAE investment corridor is attracting renewed attention as investors look beyond short-term market volatility towards opportunities spanning equities, bonds, gold and cross-border capital flows.
The Indian Business & Professional Council Dubai (IBPC) and Standard Chartered examined the outlook at “Outlook H2 2026: Navigating Shifting Sands”, bringing together business leaders, investors and wealth professionals in Dubai.
Discussions focused on artificial intelligence, elevated interest rates, geopolitical uncertainty and currency movements, as well as the longer-term prospects of India and the UAE as interconnected investment and wealth hubs.
Standard Chartered highlighted opportunities across several asset classes. Manpreet Gill, the bank’s Chief Investment Officer for Africa, Middle East and Europe, noted that 10-year real yields were close to their highest levels since 2008, presenting opportunities to lock in yields. High-quality corporate bonds were also identified as attractive.
The bank remained constructive on global equities, supported by resilient earnings. While artificial intelligence continues to generate demand for computing capacity, Gill cautioned against concentrating portfolios around a single investment theme. Broader exposure discussed at the event included financials in the US, Europe excluding the UK and Japan, alongside improving potential in India and China.
Gold was another area highlighted in the outlook, supported by factors including emerging-market central bank purchases, expectations for a weaker US dollar and changes in the yield curve.
India’s longer-term growth prospects were also central to the discussion. Panellists pointed to increased initial public offering activity, deeper capital markets, participation from second-generation businesses and economic growth of around 6%.
The India-UAE investment corridor could have considerable room for further development, particularly among private investors. During the discussion, Nandi Vardhan Mehta of KAAF Investments cited a UBS survey of about 300 family offices across more than 30 markets, saying less than 1.5% of Middle Eastern family capital was allocated to India.
The panel also noted that UAE firms have deployed approximately US$25 billion into India over the past decade, primarily through sovereign investment. Participants identified private equity, venture capital and family offices as areas with potential for deeper participation.
For investors, the central message was diversification. Rather than relying heavily on a single geography, asset class or technology theme, speakers emphasised maintaining flexibility while considering opportunities across markets.
Impact to expect
Closer investment links could increase private capital flows between India and the UAE, particularly through family offices, private equity and venture capital, while strengthening Dubai’s position as a gateway for internationally connected investors.
