The Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development strengthens its financing system with 7 integrated programs to support the growth of companies

Abu Dhabi, July 20 / WAM / The Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development announced the development of its financing system to enable national entrepreneurship and enhance the growth of emerging, small and medium-sized companies, by providing seven integrated financing programs that meet the needs of projects at various stages of their growth, starting from establishment, through growth and expansion, all the way to innovation and advanced technologies, thus enhancing the ability of entrepreneurs to choose the financing solution that best suits the nature of their projects and their needs.

This strategic step represents a qualitative shift in the Khalifa Fund’s journey, embodying its commitment to supporting the goals of the Falcon Economy and the strategic development directions of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and the UAE, and enhancing its role as a major enabler of emerging, small and medium-sized companies and Emirati entrepreneurs’ projects, as they are a vital tributary of the national economy and a major driver of sustainable social and economic development.

The development of the financing system is based on a comprehensive evaluation process conducted by the Fund, which was based on its institutional strategy, followed international best practices, and included a standard study of financing programs and an analysis of the solutions available in the banking and financial sectors, in addition to involving entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized companies through questionnaires and workshops, in order to monitor financing gaps and challenges and assess market needs, with the aim of developing financing solutions that are more compatible with the requirements of Emirati projects, and ensuring that financing is directed towards the actual needs of projects, thus enhancing their ability to achieve sustainable growth.

The Khalifa Fund’s developed financing system focuses on a group of main tracks in line with the economic trends of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, including providing loans to enable Emiratis to enter the world of entrepreneurship, supporting innovation and digital transformation, bridging financing gaps for emerging companies, supporting the sustainability of project growth and expansion, enhancing the flexibility of cash flows, allocating support tools to meet the requirements of projects throughout the stages of their growth and keeping pace with the economic and technological changes taking place in the business environment, linking financing to the economic and social impact, and expanding the segment. Beneficiary of Khalifa Fund support.

His Excellency Moza Obaid Al Nasiri, CEO of the Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development, said: “The development of our financing system represents a qualitative shift in the financing strategy that we adopt at the Khalifa Fund, and reflects our commitment to keeping pace with the transformations taking place in the small and medium enterprises sector, continuing to develop more flexible and impactful solutions, and expanding our contribution to supporting national trends towards enhancing the sustainability of the UAE economy, diversifying its tributaries, and ensuring its readiness for the future.”

Her Excellency explained that the new programs were designed based on a deep understanding of the needs of entrepreneurs and the requirements for growth at various stages of projects, so that each project receives the financing solution most appropriate to the nature of its business and its stage of growth, which contributes to enabling it to achieve more sustainable growth, accelerate its expansion, and enhance its readiness to compete within an economy based on innovation and technology, in parallel with consolidating the culture of entrepreneurship in Emirati society.

Her Excellency added: “This strategic step is not limited to expanding the available options, but rather embodies a shift in the methodology of financing solutions to become more closely linked to economic impact and sustainable development. Through this integrated system, we are working to direct financing towards promising opportunities, increase the economic impact of the funded projects, and enhance the contribution of small and medium enterprises to diversifying the economy and consolidating its competitiveness in the long term.”

The new programs cover three main needs: empowering new entrepreneurs, supporting innovation and advanced technologies, and enhancing the operational liquidity of projects, within an integrated system that supports the projects’ growth journey.

Within the framework of this system, the Fund launched the “First-Time Entrepreneur Loan,” which targets Emiratis wishing to enter the world of entrepreneurship for the first time, by enabling them to obtain the necessary financing to establish and launch their projects according to more stable financial foundations, which enhances the chances of the projects’ success from their early stages.

The Khalifa Fund launched the “Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Loan” with the aim of stimulating the adoption of advanced technologies and expanding their use within small and medium enterprises, which raises the efficiency of operational and production processes, accelerates the pace of digital transformation, and enhances the competitiveness of projects in priority sectors.

The new system also includes a “revolving loan,” which reflects a flexible financing model that allows projects to benefit from financing and reuse it according to their changing business requirements, which enhances capital management, increases the efficiency of cash flows, and supports business continuity.

The financing system includes a “small loan,” a “working capital loan,” a “fixed assets loan,” and an “expansion loan,” which provides specialized solutions that meet the needs of projects with different requirements, whether to finance operational expenses, capital assets, or expansion plans, according to financing standards, maturity requirements, repayment periods, and financing limits that suit the nature of each project and its stage of growth.

Through this integrated system, the Khalifa Fund continues to consolidate its role as a major enabler of the growth of small and medium enterprises, through more efficient and flexible financing solutions that enhance the ability of entrepreneurs to establish, develop and expand their projects, which supports economic diversification, consolidates Abu Dhabi’s position as a stimulating environment for entrepreneurship and innovation, and confirms its commitment to developing a sustainable financing system that keeps pace with the aspirations of the future economy and enhances the competitiveness of Emirati projects in the long term.

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