RAKEZ Courts India’s Growth Ambitions
When Indian businesses look beyond their home market, the questions are usually practical: Where can we set up easily? How fast can we start operating? And will the location support long-term growth?
That’s the space Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ) stepped into during its recent roadshow across India, aimed at helping entrepreneurs and manufacturers explore the UAE as a base for regional and global expansion.
The RAKEZ team travelled across three key cities, taking part in Jubilant Tamil Nadu and holding targeted B2B meetings in Mumbai and Goa. Instead of just presenting opportunities, the focus was on conversations with business owners who are already thinking about exporting, manufacturing overseas, or building a presence in the Middle East.
At Jubilant Tamil Nadu — a large expo bringing together MSMEs, startups and corporates — RAKEZ introduced its “one-stop-shop” approach to setting up in the UAE. For many Indian entrepreneurs, the process of entering a foreign market can feel complicated. RAKEZ highlighted how companies can handle licensing, facility leasing, visas and operations through a single platform. They also walked businesses through practical options such as coworking spaces, offices, warehouses, industrial land and even on-site labour accommodation for manufacturing setups.
The roadshow then moved to Mumbai during PAMEX 2026, where RAKEZ met manufacturers across print, packaging, textile printing, signage and related industries. These discussions centred on how Indian producers can use the UAE as a regional hub, closer to customers in the Middle East, Africa and Europe.
In Goa, the RAKEZ delegation joined India Energy Week alongside the RAK Gas team. Meetings there covered companies from the energy ecosystem — including upstream, downstream, renewables and energy-linked manufacturing — many of which are exploring cross-border operations and regional bases.
RAKEZ Group CEO Ramy Jallad said the interactions showed strong interest from Indian businesses in using the UAE for international growth. According to him, Ras Al Khaimah offers a straightforward path for companies looking to establish and scale operations from the UAE.
India is already one of RAKEZ’s largest investor markets. More than 11,500 Indian companies operate within the economic zone today, ranging from SMEs to larger brands such as Mahindra, Ashok Leyland and Dabur Naturelle. Supported by the UAE-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, the relationship continues to grow.
Through roadshows like this, RAKEZ is positioning itself less as a distant economic zone and more as a practical partner for Indian SMEs looking to take their next step outside India.
