Jashanmal Books spotlights centuries of India-UAE ties at Sharjah International Book Fair
On the occasion of the 45th edition of the Sharjah International Book Fair, Jashanmal Books is presenting Bridging the Gulf: The Remaking of the India-UAE Relationship, a book exploring the evolution of relations between India and the United Arab Emirates. Written by Navdeep Suri, India’s former ambassador to the UAE, the book traces several centuries of trade, cultural and diplomatic exchanges between the two regions. Jashanmal Books is also handling its distribution across the country.
The initiative reflects a history dating back to 1919, when Rao Sahib Jashanmal opened his first bookstore in Basra, then a major commercial port in the region. Books, newspapers and stationery were among the products available at the time. More than a century later, the business continues through Jashanmal Books, which has since become an independent entity within the group. It distributes publications from various publishers and offers a catalogue catering to a wide range of readers.
The book is being showcased at the Jashanmal Books stand in Hall 6 of Expo Centre Sharjah. Its official launch is scheduled for November 7 at 4:30 p.m. in Al Fikr Hall. It is also available at several major bookstores across the UAE and through the retailer’s online platforms.
Centuries of exchanges between India and the Gulf
In Bridging the Gulf, Navdeep Suri draws on his diplomatic experience, particularly his tenure as India’s ambassador to the UAE from 2016 to 2019, as well as interviews with key figures and archival research. He explores the longstanding ties between western India and the Gulf countries, shaped by maritime trade, migration and cultural exchanges.
The book examines the historical role of the Indian rupee in regional transactions, the importance of the gold trade and the political considerations that gradually shaped relations between New Delhi and Abu Dhabi. Combining diplomatic accounts with historical investigation, it highlights the individuals, negotiations and events that helped forge this partnership.
"India and the UAE share a relationship that is far older and deeper than its contemporary strategic and economic dimensions might suggest," says Navdeep Suri.
According to the author, the Arabian Sea served for centuries as a bridge between the two regions, facilitating trade, migration and cultural connections.
Today, the relationship also has a significant human dimension: approximately 4.5 million Indians live in the UAE, making the community a major pillar of ties between the two countries.
A family business that grew into a regional group
For Shuja Jashanmal, CEO of the group, presenting the book in Sharjah resonates with the company's own history. "Books are where Jashanmal began," he recalls, referring to the family's first store, opened in Basra in 1919. He considers Bridging the Gulf a particularly fitting title for the group, whose growth over more than a century has accompanied the development of ties between India and the Gulf.
Now headquartered in Dubai, Jashanmal Group operates across several sectors, including distribution, trading, e-commerce and retail. With a presence in the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman and India, it also represents a portfolio of numerous international brands.
Beyond the presentation of a historical account, Jashanmal Books' participation in the Sharjah International Book Fair highlights the continuing role of books in fostering cultural and intellectual exchanges across the region.
By revisiting the longstanding ties between India and the UAE, Bridging the Gulf serves as a reminder that contemporary partnerships are often built on connections that predate modern diplomatic relations.
Caroline Haïat
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