DP World commences construction of Bharat Mart in Dubai

A 2.7 million sqft Bharat Mart will be a one-stop export platform for Indian exporters

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Dhanusha Gokulan, Chief Reporter
2 MIN READ
The Bharat Mart and the new Agri Terminals complex in Jebel Ali are the perfect springboards for India businesses seek to expand their regional coverage. And even in markets beyond.
The Bharat Mart and the new Agri Terminals complex in Jebel Ali are the perfect springboards for India businesses seek to expand their regional coverage. And even in markets beyond.
Vijith Pulikkal/Gulf News

Mumbai: DP World confirmed on Friday that the construction of Bharat Mart in Dubai has begun. Bharat Mart, a 2.7 million square foot B2B and B2C marketplace in the emirate, is set to open by the end of 2026 in Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza) and will serve as a one-stop platform for Indian exporters.

DP World said Bharat Mart can strengthen trade between India and global markets. It will feature 1,500 showrooms and over 700,000 square feet of warehousing, light industrial units, office space, and meeting facilities with dedicated space for women-led businesses from India.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE said, “With non-oil bilateral trade surpassing $80 billion and over 2,300 Indian companies thriving in Jafza, Bharat Mart will further strengthen the UAE-India partnership by providing Indian goods faster access to global markets.”

Just 11 km from Jebel Ali Port and 15 km from Al Maktoum International Airport-- with Etihad Rail nearby -- Bharat Mart will offer Indian businesses access to a multimodal logistics network and onward connectivity with 150 maritime destinations and over 300 cities worldwide.

Meanwhile, Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, said, “DP World's efforts around developing the Virtual Trade Corridor between India and UAE will ensure that trade and commerce scale new heights in the spirit envisaged by the India-UAE CEPA.” Goyal said, “We also appreciate the efforts of DP World in building new dimensions and opportunities that will enable Indian businesses/MSMEs to reach African markets.”

Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO of DP World, said, “India and the UAE aim to reach $100 billion in non-oil trade by 2030, and Bharat Mart will be a key driver in achieving this milestone.”

Bharat Africa Setu

The start of the construction of Bharat Mart also coincides with the launch of Bharat Africa Setu - a transformative trade initiative designed to double India-Africa trade and strengthen South-South cooperation.

The initiative will connect DP World’s ports, economic zones and logistics parks across both regions. The platform will give Indian exporters access to 53 African countries and 260,000 points of sale through a fully integrated trade ecosystem.

Bharat Africa Setu will integrate physical infrastructure with value-added services- export finance, marketing and branding, packaging, logistics, and certification services – to create a seamless trade ecosystem for the two regions.

Africa currently imports approximately US$430 billion worth of goods. India accounts for just 6.5 per cent of that total, exporting US$28 billion in goods to the continent. With Bharat Africa Setu, that figure is expected to rise to 12 per cent by 2030.

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