First Abu Dhabi Bank and the UAE–India CEPA Council Sign Strategic Agreement to Strengthen Start-Up Expansion Pathways

We are pleased to share details of a strategic partnership between First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) and the UAE–India CEPA Council to support the growth of India’s most promising start-ups.

The agreement was signed on 20 November 2025 in Mumbai by Mr Nimesh Karwanyun, Country CEO – India at FAB, and Mr Ahmed Aljneibi, Director of the UAE–India CEPA Council, in the presence of H. E. Abdulnasser Alshaali, PhD, Ambassador of the UAE to India, and Mr Martin Tricaud, Group Head of Wholesale Banking at FAB. This partnership aligns FAB’s financial capabilities with the Council’s start-up initiative to provide founders with clear pathways into the UAE’s growing innovation ecosystem.

As part of the UAE–India Start-Up Series, FAB will support one of the five winning ventures through a tailored soft-landing package that includes mentorship, banking support and curated introductions to key ecosystem stakeholders in the UAE.

Together, FAB and the UAE–India CEPA Council are opening new doors for founders to explore opportunities, build meaningful connections and scale with confidence.