India and the UAE are building a transformational business corridor to benefit Indian MSMEs and women‑led exporters, anchored by two major initiatives: Bharat Mart in Dubai’s Jebel Ali Free Zone and the Bharat Africa Setu program.
Bharat Mart: A Mega Export Gateway in Dubai
At the heart of this corridor is Bharat Mart, a sprawling 2.7 million sq. ft. export hub currently under construction in Dubai’s JAFZA. Scheduled to open in phases from late 2026, the development will include over 1,500 showrooms, more than 700,000 sq. ft. of warehousing, plus offices and incubation space dedicated to women‑led Indian businesses. Made for small exporters, this service helps Indian companies show and sell their products in Gulf markets, Africa, and Europe from one place.
Bharat Africa Setu: Connecting India with African Markets
The Bharat Africa Setu initiative, led by DP World in partnership with India’s Commerce Ministry, aims to double India–Africa trade by 2030. It integrates ports, logistics parks, bonded warehouses, and value‑added services like export credit, certification, packaging, and marketing across 260,000 points of sale in 53 African countries. This trade bridge is expected to boost India’s share in African markets from 6.5% to 12% by 2030.
UPI in UAE: Real-Time Rupee Payments in Dubai
A major fintech milestone is the acceptance of UPI (Unified Payments Interface) for real-time rupee-based payments at thousands of UAE merchants, including large chains like LuLu supermarkets and Al Maya stores. Indian tourists and NRIs can pay using their UPI-linked Indian bank accounts, with amounts converted into AED for merchants. This improves financial access and convenience while helping international trade.
Virtual Trade Corridor: Streamlining Compliance Digitally
Underpinning these physical initiatives is a Virtual Trade Corridor (VTC) that ties together India’s MAITRI portal and UAE customs systems. This digital integration reduces paperwork, speeds up approvals, enables pre-clearing of consignments, and allows real-time cargo tracking—making exports more accessible for small businesses.
Why This Matters for Indian Small Exporters
- Improved market access to Gulf, African, and European regions via central hubs and logistics networks
- Faster digital payments with UPI support in everyday retail settings in the UAE
- Lower trade friction, thanks to digitised customs, bonded logistics, and value-added export services
- Empowerment of MSMEs and women-led ventures via dedicated infrastructure within Bharat Mart
Outlook & Business Impact
Together, Bharat Mart, Bharat Africa Setu, and UPI-enabled payments are reshaping the India-Dubai trade corridor into a digital-first, export-friendly operating system. For Indian MSMEs, especially women entrepreneurs, these initiatives unlock new cross-border growth opportunities, real-time payments, and simplified export logistics.
As India–UAE non-oil trade aims for $100 billion by 2030, these strategic moves mark a clear shift, from traditional trade to trust-based, digitally connected commerce.
