Dubai Crown Prince rings opening bell at Bombay Stock Exchange during India visit (VIDEO)
UAE eyes deeper financial links with India's fast-growing capital markets
DUBAI/MUMBAI: His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Defence, yesterday visited the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) as part of his ongoing official visit to India.
The visit marked a symbolic gesture of economic diplomacy between two dynamic financial markets. Located in the heart of Mumbai, India’s bustling financial capital, the BSE holds the distinction of being the first stock exchange in Asia and one of the oldest globally, having been established in 1875.
During his visit, the Crown Prince was warmly received by Sundararaman Ramamurthy, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Bombay Stock Exchange. The Crown Prince rang the ceremonial opening bell to inaugurate the day’s trading session – an act that reflects the growing synergy between the financial ecosystems of the United Arab Emirates and India.
حمدان بن محمد يزور بورصة بومباي ويقرع جرس بدء تداولاتها، وتعتبر البورصة من الأكبر عالمياً من حيث عدد الشركات المُدرجة والقيمة السوقية، والأولى في آسيا إذ يعود تأسيسها إلى العام 1875.
— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) April 9, 2025
Hamdan bin Mohammed visits Bombay Stock Exchange and rings opening bell as part of his official… pic.twitter.com/3jaItBYe7p
Dubai Crown Prince visits BSE
As part of the engagement, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum was briefed on the latest operations and milestones achieved by the BSE. The exchange, which now lists over 5,600 companies, stands among the world’s leading stock exchanges in terms of both the volume of listings and market capitalisation. It continues to be a critical platform for capital formation and economic expansion in India.
Hamdan bin Mohammed visits Bombay Stock Exchange and rings opening bell as part of his official visit to India. Located in Mumbai, India’s financial and commercial capital, the BSE is one of the oldest stock exchanges in the world and the first in Asia, established in 1875. pic.twitter.com/yef1EVwVqt
— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) April 9, 2025
Executives at the exchange presented ongoing initiatives focused on infrastructure development and service enhancement to support broader capital market participation. In May 2024, the BSE reached a historic milestone, with its total market capitalisation exceeding US$5 trillion, a testament to India’s surging economic momentum.
Digital innovation
Highlighting the UAE’s ambitions in the global financial sector, the Crown Prince underscored the importance of deepening cooperation between the UAE’s financial markets and their international counterparts. Emphasis was placed on emerging technologies – particularly artificial intelligence and blockchain – as tools for digital transformation in trading and capital markets.
His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum noted that both nations are prioritising digital innovation as a mean to make markets more inclusive, agile, and globally integrated. This aligns closely with the UAE’s broader financial strategy to build strategic partnerships with key international exchanges, foster cross-border investment, and elevate the status of its own financial markets.
Economic vision
The Crown Prince also reflected on Dubai’s long-standing position as a nexus of trade, finance, and commerce. He referenced the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, which seeks to position Dubai among the world’s top four global financial centres. As part of this initiative, Dubai aims to expand the size of its capital markets to Dh3 trillion, supported by strong regulatory frameworks and international partnerships.
His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum expressed optimism for increased collaboration between the Bombay Stock Exchange and the Dubai Financial Market, pointing to the potential for both to play a vital role in linking eastern and western capital flows. The exchange of expertise and resources between the two markets is expected to further enhance Dubai’s global connectivity in the financial sphere.