Etihad Credit score Insurance coverage (ECI), the UAE’s federal export credit score firm, introduced the influence of its ‘Xport Xponential’ programme, which has helped increase AED 174 million in funding to help the expansion of SMEs, through the closing ceremony of the programme. The working capital was raised with the help of 4 of ECI’s banking companions: First Abu Dhabi Financial institution, Business Financial institution of Dubai, Ajman Financial institution, and Al Maryah Group Financial institution. ECI additionally stays dedicated to securing related funding and capital for SMEs in collaboration with its different banking companions.
The programme’s closing ceremony was held beneath the patronage of H.E. Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri, the Minister of Economic system and Chairman of the Board of Administrators of Etihad Credit score Insurance coverage. The occasion aligns with the Ministry’s mission to develop a versatile future financial system and sturdy entrepreneurial ecosystem by facilitating funding and expertise attraction.
H.E. Bin Touq said: “The ‘Xport Xponential’ programme performs a pivotal function in advancing the UAE’s ongoing efforts to extend the contribution of small and medium-sized enterprises to the nation’s non-oil GDP. It additionally immediately helps the targets of the ‘We the UAE 2031’ nationwide technique, which goals to extend non-oil exports to AED 800 billion and increase overseas commerce quantity to AED 4 trillion by the following decade. Furthermore, with export and re-export actions between the UAE and international locations with which we have now Complete Financial Partnership Agreements (CEPA), already exceeding AED 390.5 billion, the initiative leverages present commerce momentum to assist SMEs unlock the untapped potential of those markets, notably because the UAE continues to increase its financial and commerce partnerships with key strategic markets worldwide.”
On her half, H.E. Raja Al Mazrouei, CEO of Etihad Credit score Insurance coverage, highlighted ECI’s function in empowering UAE-based companies to compete on a worldwide stage. Her Excellency said that ‘Xport Xponential’ serves as a dynamic platform for native companies and potential importers to attach. H.E. Al Mazrouei additional said that the programme identifies high-potential export markets for a variety of merchandise, permitting small companies to increase globally with higher ease and confidence.
Her Excellency added: “ECI’s ‘Xport Xponential’ programme aligns with the UAE’s strategic imaginative and prescient to diversify its income sources away from oil. It presents built-in monetary and insurance coverage options, notably to SMEs, enabling them to scale internationally, whereas mitigating main export-related dangers.”
Futoon Hamdan AlMazrouei, Group Head of Private, Enterprise, Wealth and Privileged Consumer Banking Group at First Abu Dhabi Financial institution (FAB) mentioned: “First Abu Dhabi Financial institution is happy to be a banking associate of “ECI’s Xport Xponential programme”, an initiative that displays the UAE’s strategic imaginative and prescient for financial diversification and sustainable development. We’re strongly aligned with the Ministry of Economic system’s mission to foster a versatile, future-ready financial system and a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem by enabling funding and attracting high expertise. By empowering SMEs with entry to working capital and modern commerce finance options, we’re unlocking new alternatives for international development. The programme strengthens the UAE’s competitiveness and helps its ambition to increase commerce throughout strategic worldwide markets.”
On the collaboration, Dr. Bernd van Linder, CEO of Business Financial institution of Dubai, said: “Business Financial institution of Dubai is proud to be a foundational associate in ECI’s Xport Xponential programme. With a legacy of over 5 many years in backing the expansion of the UAE, we proceed to display our dedication at the moment by empowering the nation’s vibrant SME sector and creating tangible influence that helps the financial diversification and international competitiveness of the UAE. We stay up for persevering with our work with ECI to unlock even higher alternatives for companies throughout the Emirates, constructing on the numerous momentum already achieved.”
Mustafa Al Khalfawi, CEO of Ajman Financial institution, mentioned: “We’re proud to be a part of the ‘Xport Xponential’ programme in collaboration with Etihad Credit score Insurance coverage, which represents a major milestone in empowering SMEs to entry new development frontiers. Our participation displays Ajman Financial institution’s unwavering dedication to supporting the UAE’s nationwide agenda, notably Ajman Imaginative and prescient 2030 and We the UAE 2031, by offering Sharia-compliant financing options that allow native companies to scale internationally. The AED 174 million in funding collectively raised via this initiative is a robust testomony to the power of public-private sector collaboration. We’ll proceed to construct on this momentum by enabling modern commerce finance and increasing our function as a catalyst for sustainable financial growth.”
Mohammed Wassim Khayata, CEO of Al Maryah Group Financial institution, commented: “We’re proud to associate with Etihad Credit score Insurance coverage on the ‘Xport Xponential’ programme, which represents a major milestone in empowering the UAE’s SMEs to entry international markets with confidence. At Al Maryah Group Financial institution, we’re dedicated to providing absolutely digital, quick, and modern financing options that simplify exporters’ every day operations and improve their international competitiveness. This initiative not solely aligns with the UAE’s imaginative and prescient to diversify its financial system and enhance non-oil exports but in addition opens new alternatives for native companies in very important sectors to thrive internationally. We stay up for persevering with our collaboration with ECI to make sure that producers and exporters are geared up with the instruments, data, and capital they should scale past borders.”
The ‘Xport Xponential’ programme was launched to fulfil the twin targets of catalysing SMEs’ international growth and driving SME financing with the assistance of associate banks. It was launched through the third version of ‘Make It within the Emirates’ (MIITE), held in Might 2024, with the intention of accelerating the worldwide growth of UAE-based SMEs by providing monetary help and making certain their export readiness via modern commerce finance and credit score insurance coverage options.
As many as 42 corporations utilized for the programme, out of which 10 have been shortlisted primarily based on rigorous analysis standards. These corporations have collectively generated AED 2.1 billion in turnover thus far and at the moment are focusing on growth into 4 key markets—Indonesia, India, Saudi Arabia, and Oman—with a mixed export potential of AED 31.3 billion over the following 4 years throughout ten very important sectors. Applied in collaboration with 19 strategic companions, the programme exemplifies ECI’s function in driving sustainable financial development by connecting companies with worldwide alternatives and tailor-made commerce finance options.
Because the programme’s inception, ECI’s partnerships with authorities entities and banks have elevated by 27 per cent, reflecting its function in nurturing a strong export-enablement ecosystem that connects the private and non-private sectors beneath a unified imaginative and prescient. Partnerships with main monetary establishments have helped facilitate constant, dependable help and entry to growth-oriented funding for UAE SMEs. ECI additionally hosted a workshop in January 2025 to supply the chosen corporations’ important instruments and assets, additional supporting their export development journey. As well as, these corporations belong to various financial sectors, showcasing this system’s wide-reaching influence throughout key industries.
Xport Xponential’s huge associate listing options 19 key strategic companions, together with each federal and native entities, that are: the Abu Dhabi Division of Financial Improvement, Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Improvement, Dubai Division of Economic system and Tourism, Dubai Airport Free Zone, Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Trade, Ajman Division of Financial Improvement, Ras Al Khaimah Financial Zones, in addition to Fujairah Division of Trade and Economic system. Its monetary and banking companions embody Emirates Improvement Financial institution, Abu Dhabi Business Financial institution, First Abu Dhabi Financial institution, Business Financial institution of Dubai, Ajman Financial institution, RAKBANK, Nationwide Financial institution of Fujairah, Worldwide Improvement Financial institution, Wio Financial institution, Al Maryah Group Financial institution and Reem Finance. It’s also value noting that since its inception, ECI has insured AED 21 billion in help of native exports and accomplished underwriting for premiums totalling AED 447 million.