diff --git a/xarray/indexes/__init__.py b/xarray/indexes/__init__.py
index 20aa5a75929..7914a005db6 100644
--- a/xarray/indexes/__init__.py
+++ b/xarray/indexes/__init__.py
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
     PandasIndex,
     PandasMultiIndex,
 )
+from xarray.indexes.multipandasindex import MultiPandasIndex
 from xarray.indexes.nd_point_index import NDPointIndex, TreeAdapter
 from xarray.indexes.range_index import RangeIndex
 
@@ -17,6 +18,7 @@
     "CoordinateTransform",
     "CoordinateTransformIndex",
     "Index",
+    "MultiPandasIndex",
     "NDPointIndex",
     "PandasIndex",
     "PandasMultiIndex",
diff --git a/xarray/indexes/multipandasindex.py b/xarray/indexes/multipandasindex.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..04f3092b071
--- /dev/null
+++ b/xarray/indexes/multipandasindex.py
@@ -0,0 +1,175 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from collections.abc import Hashable, Mapping
+from typing import Any, TypeVar
+
+import numpy as np
+
+from xarray.core.indexes import Index, IndexVars, PandasIndex
+from xarray.core.indexing import IndexSelResult, merge_sel_results
+from xarray.core.utils import Frozen
+from xarray.core.variable import Variable
+
+T_MultiPandasIndex = TypeVar("T_MultiPandasIndex", bound="MultiPandasIndex")
+
+
+class MultiPandasIndex(Index):
+    """Helper class to implement meta-indexes encapsulating
+    one or more (single) pandas indexes.
+
+    Each pandas index must relate to a separate dimension.
+
+    This class shouldn't be instantiated directly.
+
+    """
+
+    indexes: Frozen[Hashable, PandasIndex]
+    dims: Frozen[Hashable, int]
+
+    __slots__ = ("dims", "indexes")
+
+    def __init__(self, indexes: Mapping[Hashable, PandasIndex]):
+        dims = {idx.dim: idx.index.size for idx in indexes.values()}
+
+        seen = set()
+        dup_dims = []
+        for d in dims:
+            if d in seen:
+                dup_dims.append(d)
+            else:
+                seen.add(d)
+
+        if dup_dims:
+            raise ValueError(
+                f"cannot create a {self.__class__.__name__} from coordinates "
+                f"sharing common dimension(s): {dup_dims}"
+            )
+
+        self.indexes = Frozen(indexes)
+        self.dims = Frozen(dims)
+
+    @classmethod
+    def from_variables(
+        cls: type[T_MultiPandasIndex], variables: Mapping[Any, Variable], options
+    ) -> T_MultiPandasIndex:
+        indexes = {
+            k: PandasIndex.from_variables({k: v}, options={})
+            for k, v in variables.items()
+        }
+
+        return cls(indexes)
+
+    def create_variables(
+        self, variables: Mapping[Any, Variable] | None = None
+    ) -> IndexVars:
+        idx_variables = {}
+
+        for idx in self.indexes.values():
+            idx_variables.update(idx.create_variables(variables))
+
+        return idx_variables
+
+    def isel(
+        self: T_MultiPandasIndex,
+        indexers: Mapping[Any, int | slice | np.ndarray | Variable],
+    ) -> T_MultiPandasIndex | PandasIndex | None:
+        new_indexes = {}
+
+        for k, idx in self.indexes.items():
+            if k in indexers:
+                new_idx = idx.isel({k: indexers[k]})
+                if new_idx is not None:
+                    new_indexes[k] = new_idx
+            else:
+                new_indexes[k] = idx
+
+        #
+        # How should we deal with dropped index(es) (scalar selection)?
+        # - drop the whole index?
+        # - always return a MultiPandasIndex with remaining index(es)?
+        # - return either a MultiPandasIndex or a PandasIndex?
+        #
+
+        if not new_indexes:
+            return None
+        elif len(new_indexes) == 1:
+            return next(iter(new_indexes.values()))
+        else:
+            return type(self)(new_indexes)
+
+    def sel(self, labels: dict[Any, Any], **kwargs) -> IndexSelResult:
+        results: list[IndexSelResult] = []
+
+        for k, idx in self.indexes.items():
+            if k in labels:
+                results.append(idx.sel({k: labels[k]}, **kwargs))
+
+        return merge_sel_results(results)
+
+    def _get_unmatched_names(
+        self: T_MultiPandasIndex, other: T_MultiPandasIndex
+    ) -> set:
+        return set(self.indexes).symmetric_difference(other.indexes)
+
+    def equals(self: T_MultiPandasIndex, other: T_MultiPandasIndex) -> bool:
+        # We probably don't need to check for matching coordinate names
+        # as this is already done during alignment when finding matching indexes.
+        # This may change in the future, though.
+        # see https://github.com/pydata/xarray/issues/7002
+        if self._get_unmatched_names(other):
+            return False
+        else:
+            return all(
+                [idx.equals(other.indexes[k]) for k, idx in self.indexes.items()]
+            )
+
+    def join(
+        self: T_MultiPandasIndex, other: T_MultiPandasIndex, how: str = "inner"
+    ) -> T_MultiPandasIndex:
+        new_indexes = {}
+
+        for k, idx in self.indexes.items():
+            new_indexes[k] = idx.join(other.indexes[k], how=how)
+
+        return type(self)(new_indexes)
+
+    def reindex_like(
+        self: T_MultiPandasIndex, other: T_MultiPandasIndex
+    ) -> dict[Hashable, Any]:
+        dim_indexers = {}
+
+        for k, idx in self.indexes.items():
+            dim_indexers.update(idx.reindex_like(other.indexes[k]))
+
+        return dim_indexers
+
+    def roll(self: T_MultiPandasIndex, shifts: Mapping[Any, int]) -> T_MultiPandasIndex:
+        new_indexes = {}
+
+        for k, idx in self.indexes.items():
+            if k in shifts:
+                new_indexes[k] = idx.roll({k: shifts[k]})
+            else:
+                new_indexes[k] = idx
+
+        return type(self)(new_indexes)
+
+    def rename(
+        self: T_MultiPandasIndex,
+        name_dict: Mapping[Any, Hashable],
+        dims_dict: Mapping[Any, Hashable],
+    ) -> T_MultiPandasIndex:
+        new_indexes = {}
+
+        for k, idx in self.indexes.items():
+            new_indexes[k] = idx.rename(name_dict, dims_dict)
+
+        return type(self)(new_indexes)
+
+    def copy(self: T_MultiPandasIndex, deep: bool = True) -> T_MultiPandasIndex:
+        new_indexes = {}
+
+        for k, idx in self.indexes.items():
+            new_indexes[k] = idx.copy(deep=deep)
+
+        return type(self)(new_indexes)