UAE and GCC investment and company-setup legal services in India
Distinguish the holding jurisdiction, beneficial owners, source of funds, Indian activity and control rights before selecting the investment route.
The India-UAE CEPA has been in force since 1 May 2022 but does not apply to every GCC company. Eligibility depends on the exporter, origin, product and transaction facts.
Map the investor, capital and Indian operating activity
Middle East investment may originate from an operating company, sovereign or government-linked investor, family office, fund, free-zone entity or special-purpose vehicle. Indian legal analysis should look through the immediate investor to the ownership and control structure, confirm the source and form of capital, and test the proposed activity against the FDI policy.
The Indian model may be a wholly owned subsidiary, joint venture, acquisition, fund investment, real-estate or infrastructure platform, distribution arrangement or project company. Governance, reserved matters, deadlock, exit, funding, security and repatriation should be agreed before capital is committed.
Use the India-UAE CEPA only where its conditions are met
The India-UAE CEPA has been in force since 1 May 2022. It can be relevant to goods and other covered trade, but it does not automatically apply to every GCC company or transaction. The exporter, origin, product classification, applicable schedule and customs evidence must be checked.
A Saudi, Qatari, Omani, Bahraini or Kuwaiti company should not assume that a UAE treaty benefit applies merely because the group has a Dubai entity. Routing should reflect genuine commercial functions and applicable origin and tax rules, not a paper-only structure.
Build governance for a cross-border investment relationship
Shareholder and joint-venture documents should allocate board rights, information, business plan approval, related-party transactions, future funding, dilution, transfer restrictions, compliance, anti-bribery controls, sanctions interfaces, dispute resolution and exit. The documents should also address who controls the Indian customer, brand, technology and workforce.
Post-closing, the company needs FEMA reporting, board and register updates, licences, employment controls, commercial contracts, data governance and an evidence trail for distributions or other permitted payments. AMLEGALS connects transaction completion with the legal operating model.
How AMLEGALS can assist
- GCC investor and beneficial-ownership mapping
- FDI route, entity and acquisition structuring
- India-UAE CEPA origin and customs review
- Joint venture, shareholder and governance documents
- Distribution, franchise and commercial arrangements
- FEMA reporting, repatriation and post-closing compliance
Sources and review
The following official sources support the legal positions summarised on this page and should be consulted for the current statutory text, procedure and notifications.
- Department of Commerce annual report, India-UAE CEPA implementation
- DPIIT foreign direct investment policy page
- DPIIT FDI factsheet, updated to March 2026
- RBI master direction on foreign investment in India
Content reviewed by the AMLEGALS Corporate and FDI team. Law reviewed as of: 21 July 2026. This page is general information about legal processes in India and is not legal advice. A formal opinion requires review of the specific facts and documents.
What clients ask before they commit.
Short, direct, on the record.
01Can a UAE company own 100% of an Indian company?
Often yes, depending on the sector, route, conditions and ultimate ownership. The activity and investor structure should be checked before funding.
02Does the India-UAE CEPA apply to every Dubai company?
No. Eligibility depends on the relevant provision, product or service, origin and transaction facts. Incorporation in Dubai alone does not establish entitlement.
03Can a GCC family office invest through an SPV?
Potentially, but the SPV, beneficial owners, control, purpose, substance, source of funds, FDI route, tax and reporting position must be examined together.
04What should a GCC-India joint venture agreement cover?
It should cover control, reserved matters, funding, related-party dealings, information rights, IP, compliance, deadlock, transfers, exit and dispute resolution, supported by consistent articles of association.
Related resources
Discuss a UAE or GCC investment into India
Share the proposed activity, investor structure, target timetable and present India position for a confidential preliminary scope discussion.