The resumption of negotiations for a long-awaited free trade agreement between the GCC and India is being seen as a potentially transformative moment for one of the world’s most dynamic economic corridors, with both sides seeking to deepen ties and cushion the impact of rising global tariff tensions led by the United States.
For Gulf countries and India, a comprehensive free trade agreement could not only lower tariffs and expand market access but also strengthen supply chains and investment flows.
The proposed pact between India and the six-nation GCC bloc — the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, and Bahrain — comes at a time when global trade is becoming increasingly fragmented and protectionist pressures are intensifying.
For Gulf countries and India, a comprehensive free trade agreement could not only lower tariffs and expand market access but also strengthen supply chains and investment flows across a corridor already valued at well over $150 billion in annual trade.
A free trade agreement aims to reduce or eliminate tariffs, duties and non-tariff barriers on goods and services while creating a more predictable and investor-friendly environment. For India and the GCC, the stakes are particularly high. The Gulf is one of India’s largest trading partners and a crucial source of energy imports, remittances and investment. At the same time, India represents one of the fastest-growing major markets for Gulf exports, investments and services.