India-UAE merchandise trade surges past $100 billion mark

Bilateral merchandise trade between India and the United Arab Emirates surpassed the $100 billion mark in 2024-25, two years ahead of the deadline set when their free trade agreement (FTA) went live on May 1, 2022, although the balance of the trade is heavily tilted in favour of the UAE.

- Rajeev Jayaswal

NEW DELHI:

While India's exports to the UAE saw an annualised growth of 2.84% to $36.64 billion in 2024-25, its imports from the UAE jumped 32.06% to $63.42 billion, according to the government data.

The asymmetrical growth in India's exports to, and imports from the UAE led to a massive $26.79 billion trade deficit with the Gulf nation in 2024-25, which is more than double the $12.40 billion trade deficit in 2023-24, the data revealed.