UAE picks 5 Indian startups for soft landing package – All you need to know

The United Arab Emirates will offer a full support package to five Indian startups, helping them set up in the UAE and grow their businesses worldwide. These startups were chosen through several rounds of evaluation under the India-UAE CEPA Council programme, according to Ahmed Aljneibi, Director of the UAE-India CEPA Council.

Ahmed said the programme received a huge number of applications since it began in June. They reviewed 10,000 entries, selected 20 strong contenders, and finally picked five winners. These five startups will join an immersion programme in the UAE, where they will receive support to enter the UAE market and work towards expanding globally.

Which are the five startups to make the cut

What is Dubai’s soft landing package?

The “soft landing package” is part of the UAE-India Startup Series, a major programme started by the UAE-India CEPA Council in June this year. Even though people usually link such initiatives to Dubai, this one runs across the UAE, including Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah. The idea is to help Indian startups set up and grow in the UAE by giving them support, resources, and easier access to new markets so they can scale and expand globally.

Here’s how the selection process works

The programme uses a clear, merit-based system that focuses on new ideas, real market progress, and how well a startup can fit into the UAE. To apply, startups must be registered in India, have a working product or service, show steady growth, and have a plan for expanding into the UAE. Applications closed on July 31, 2025, but new rounds may open later, so checking the official website is the best way to stay updated.

Startups first submit an online application with their business details, growth numbers, and reasons for expanding to the UAE. These applications are then screened for innovation, strength of the idea, and long-term potential, and only the best ones move forward. Those shortlisted must send a detailed pitch deck explaining their business model, progress, and UAE expansion plan, from which the top 20 are selected. These 20 then present their ideas to a panel of experts from India and the UAE, who judge them on vision, readiness, and impact. Finally, the top five are chosen through a clear and fair process, and they will begin their UAE immersion programme in January 2026. The programme also makes an effort to include startups from smaller towns, and the 2025 selection cycle ended in November.

Dubai’s soft landing package: What are the benefits?

The CEPA Council Director explained that the support package will cover visas, stay arrangements, transport, mentorship, help with trade licences, and chances to meet potential investors. He said the hope is that the selected startups will be able to secure investment during their time in the UAE. He also noted that the evaluation focused on companies solving real problems that matter to the UAE and the wider MENA region.

DocketRun Founder and CEO Ajay Kabadi told ANI that the company now plans to grow its operations further. He said they are working with large industries in the UAE, including steel and aluminium, to recreate the standards they have already achieved in India. According to him, the results in India have been strong, and they expect similar outcomes in other regions.

Raghavendra Meharwade, a mentor at DocketRun, said the programme’s support played a key role in helping them scale. He explained that their work focuses on saving lives and improving productivity in industries, and their next target is to show the same results in the UAE on a bigger scale. He added that being chosen from 10,000 applicants and making it to the top five was challenging, but the encouraging environment and backing from the forum helped them grow and stay confident.