Under negotiation

India–Gulf Cooperation Council Free Trade Agreement

India and the six-member GCC signed Terms of Reference on 5 February 2026 and formally launched FTA negotiations with a joint statement on 24 February 2026. Physical negotiating rounds were expected to start in September 2026, subject to the West Asia situation. The UAE and Oman already have bilateral CEPAs with India.

Key points

• Terms of Reference signed 5 Feb 2026; negotiations launched 24 Feb 2026 (joint statement, New Delhi)
• Scope: goods, services, digital trade, customs, IPR, MSMEs
• India–GCC trade USD 178.56 billion in 2024-25 (about 15% of India's trade)

Sources · checked 30 Sep 2026: GCC Secretariat – Launch of FTA negotiations between the GCC and India (24 Feb 2026) · Outlook Business – India, GCC to begin FTA talks in September 2026 (20 Jul 2026)