Telangana has secured international support for its flagship urban development initiative, Bharat Future City, with the United Arab Emirates agreeing to collaborate on the project. The announcement followed high-level discussions at the World Economic Forum in Davos, positioning the proposed city as India’s first net-zero greenfield smart city and a central pillar of Telangana’s long-term economic strategy.

The understanding was reached during talks between Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, UAE Minister of Economy and Tourism, and Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, who led the Telangana Rising delegation. The discussions focused on large-scale infrastructure and urban development, with Bharat Future City identified as a priority initiative. Both sides agreed to jointly develop the project as a world-class global urban centre.

Bharat Future City is integral to Telangana’s ambition of becoming a $3 trillion economy by 2047. Spread across nearly 30,000 acres, the proposed city is envisioned as a sustainable urban-industrial hub with dedicated zones for artificial intelligence, education, healthcare, manufacturing, residential development and entertainment. The project is designed to follow net-zero principles, integrating clean energy, green mobility and climate-resilient infrastructure from inception.

The project has already attracted interest from global companies, including Japan’s Marubeni and Singapore-based Sembcorp. The UAE minister proposed the creation of a joint task force comprising officials from both sides to ensure time-bound implementation. In parallel, Saudi-based industrial group Expertise expressed interest in collaborating with Telangana’s Young India Skills University to supply skilled manpower for sectors such as petrochemicals, power, steel and water treatment, with plans to recruit around 5,000 professionals annually.

The Telangana delegation also highlighted initiatives to build a future-ready workforce through industry-led skilling, apprenticeships and entrepreneurship programmes. Discussions extended to sustainable agriculture and climate solutions, with global technology firms reportedly exploring opportunities to support these efforts.

The UAE partnership adds momentum to Telangana’s strategy of leveraging international cooperation to drive sustainable urban development, strengthen industrial capacity and accelerate inclusive economic growth.