On 19 January 2026, the Government of Gujarat and the Ministry of Investment of the United Arab Emirates signed a Letter of Intent for investment cooperation in the Dholera Special Investment Region (DSIR). It was signed during the UAE President’s visit to India, and it sets out the areas where the UAE could partner in building out the region.
UAE to help set up international airport, MRO, and pilot training facilities at Dholera
What the Letter of Intent covers
The scope is broad. According to reports on the signing, the cooperation covers an international airport, a pilot training school, a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility for aircraft, a greenfield port, a smart urban township, railway connectivity, and energy infrastructure.
A Letter of Intent records shared intent to work together. It is an early step, and specific investments are typically confirmed through later agreements.
Where the Dholera airport stands
Phase I of the greenfield Dholera International Airport is already under construction at an estimated cost of ₹1,305 crore. It is being built by Dholera International Airport Company Limited, a joint venture of the Airports Authority of India, the Government of Gujarat, and the National Industrial Corridor Development and Implementation Trust.
The airport sits about 80 km from Ahmedabad’s existing airport. It is planned to handle both passengers and cargo for the industrial region and to act as a second airport for Ahmedabad. Early estimates put traffic at around 3 lakh passengers a year at the start, rising to around 23 lakh a year over 20 years.
Separately, in March 2026 the Airports Authority of India invited proposals for Flying Training Organisations at the upcoming Dholera airport, aimed at training more pilots in India.
What it means for people looking at Dholera
An airport, a port, rail links, and aviation services together shape how easily people and goods move in and out of a region. International interest in these projects is one more signal that Dholera is being planned as a working industrial and urban centre, not only as land on a map.
Timelines for projects of this size can shift, so it is worth following official updates as each part moves from intent to construction. If you would like to see the region and the progress on the ground for yourself, our team can arrange a guided site visit.