The Union Budget 2026-27 of India is confirmed to be presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday, February 1, 2026. This marks her ninth consecutive budget presentation, a significant milestone. The announcement was made by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on January 12, 2026, following the declaration of the Parliament's Budget Session schedule from January 28 to April 2, 2026. UAE-based Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and Indian businesses are closely watching the upcoming budget for potential impacts on their financial planning and operations. Key expectations for NRIs include greater tax certainty, simplification of cross-border tax planning, and possible revisions to deductions and capital gains taxation. Suggestions from experts include raising the standard deduction for salaried employees and extending timelines for filing tax returns for those with cross-border income. For businesses, the budget is expected to focus on themes such as fiscal discipline, boosting public and private investment, job creation, and support for innovation and new-age industries. Industry bodies and economists, including Mahendra Dev, Chairman of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister, emphasize sustained growth through higher investment rates and continued fiscal consolidation. The startup ecosystem, in particular, is advocating for policy measures that ensure easier financing, simpler regulatory processes, and stronger incentives for early-stage survival and growth. Overall, stakeholders across various sectors are hoping for a budget that simplifies the tax regime, reduces compliance burdens, and fosters a stable economic environment to unlock investment and strengthen India's global competitiveness.