By Mallu Metro World Desk | June 2026
Two years after the India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) took full effect, bilateral trade has surged past $100 billion, making the UAE India’s third-largest trading partner. For the Malayali community, which forms a critical bridge between the two economies, the benefits are both direct and substantial.
Kerala’s key exports to the UAE, including seafood, spices, gems, and processed foods, now enjoy reduced or zero tariffs under CEPA. Seafood exporters in Kochi and Kozhikode report a 20-25% increase in shipments to the UAE since the agreement’s implementation. Vizhinjam Port’s new gateway cargo operations are expected to further accelerate this trade corridor.
On the services side, CEPA provisions for mutual recognition of professional qualifications are benefiting Malayali nurses, engineers, and accountants seeking employment in the UAE. The streamlined visa processing under the agreement has also made business travel between the two countries faster.
For NRI investors, CEPA’s investment protection provisions provide an additional layer of security for capital deployed in both India and the UAE. Financial planners recommend that dual-economy families review their investment structures to take advantage of the reduced withholding taxes on dividends and interest payments.