How many total Consumer and SME Loans companies are there in United Arab Emirates?

As of May 2026, United Arab Emirates has 23 active Consumer and SME Loans companies.

List of 41 Consumer and SME Loans Startups in United Arab Emirates & Market Trends (May 2026)

Q: How many Consumer and SME Loans companies in United Arab Emirates are funded?

As of May 2026, 2 companies have received funding in this sector.

Q: Who are the top investors in Consumer and SME Loans companies in United Arab Emirates?

The top investors in Consumer and SME Loans companies in United Arab Emirates by number of investments are The Carlyle Group and Aviator Emerging Market Fund.

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The Consumer and SME Loans sector in United Arab Emirates comprises 41 companies, including 2 funded companies. Out of these, 4 are Series A+ funded.

Consumer and SME Loans sector in United Arab Emirates has seen 1 acquisition and 3 IPOs. This represents almost 9.8% of all such companies - which is higher than the 5.3% exit rate of tech companies in general.

This sector includes non-banking finance companies that are engaged primarily in lending to consumers for various personal needs and in providing various business loans to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

Consumer and SME Loans sector is also known as MSME Lending or MSME Financing.

All companies that primarily offer Consumer and SME loans including independent NBFIs, and subsidiaries of banks and OEMs. All internet-first lenders including marketplaces are also included. Other financial institutions that have a different focus compared to NBFI loan companies including banks, microfinance companies, unorganised money lenders, private debt funds, large corporate lenders, asset finance companies among others are excluded.

Key Metrics

Total Companies

Top Companies

Finance House, ADEX & more

Funded Companies

Series A+ Companies

Series C+ Companies

IPOs

Acquisitions

Also known as

MSME Lending or MSME Financing

View complete details of this sector

There are 41 Consumer and SME Loans startups in United Arab Emirates which include Finance House, ADEX, Mawarid Finance, aafaq Islamic Finance, Al Ain Finance. Out of these, 2 startups are funded, with 4 having secured Series A+ funding.

Over the past 10 years, an average of 2 new companies have been launched annually.

1. Finance House

Key facts about Finance House

Location: United Arab Emirates
Stage: Public
Investors: The National Investor
Tracxn Score: 41/100 What is this?
Competitors Rank: 3 of 35 Competitors

2. ADEX

Key facts about ADEX

Founded Year: 2019
Location: Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates)
Stage: Unfunded
Tracxn Score: 38/100 What is this?
Competitors Rank: 2 of 18 Competitors

View full list of companies in this sector

3. Mawarid Finance

Key facts about Mawarid Finance

Founded Year: 2006
Location: Dubai (United Arab Emirates)
Stage: Unfunded
Tracxn Score: 34/100 What is this?
Competitors Rank: 6 of 40 Competitors

4. aafaq Islamic Finance

Aafaq provides a sharia-compliant lending platform for businesses and enterprises. It offers various products such as Corporate Finance / Business Finance, Medical Equipment Finance, Retail Finance, Share Financing etc.

Key facts about aafaq Islamic Finance

Founded Year: 2006
Location: Dubai (United Arab Emirates)
Stage: Deadpooled
Tracxn Score: 32/100 What is this?
Competitors Rank: 6 of 41 Competitors

5. Al Ain Finance

Provider of alternative financing solutions for SMEs. This entity offers various financial products and services tailored to the needs of small and medium-sized enterprises. These offerings include credit cards, retail loans, corporate accounts, and various types of financing such as receivable financing, term loans, overdrafts, vehicle financing, equipment and machinery financing, and mortgage loans. They also provide payroll services and letters of guarantee. The focus is on providing liquidity and accessible financing options with minimal paperwork and transparent processes.

Key facts about Al Ain Finance

Founded Year: 2017
Location: Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates)
Stage: Unfunded
Tracxn Score: 22/100 What is this?
Competitors Rank: 3 of 18 Competitors

Access the full list of 41 Consumer and SME Loans Startups in United Arab Emirates

Companies founded year-on-year in the Consumer and SME Loans sector in United Arab Emirates

4 Consumer and SME Loans startups in United Arab Emirates were founded in 2022 - this is the most number of startups founded in any year in the last 10 years.

Total Number of Companies

Year	No. of companies
2025	-
2024	-
2023	2
2022	4
2021	3
2020	4
2019	4
2018	2
2017	1
2016	3

Stage-wise distribution of Consumer and SME Loans sector companies in United Arab Emirates

Out of the total 41 Consumer and SME Loans companies in United Arab Emirates, 2 have secured funding. Among them, 4 have reached Series A or higher, and 4 to Series B or beyond.

Founded - 41

Funded - 2

Series A+ - 4

Series B+ - 4

Series C+ - 4

Company Stage	No. of companies
Founded	41
Funded	2
Series A+	4
Series B+	4
Series C+	4

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The Carlyle Group is the top investor in Consumer and SME Loans companies in United Arab Emirates based on number of companies invested.

Here are some top investors in Consumer and SME Loans companies in United Arab Emirates:

Investor	Location	Top Portfolio Companies
The Carlyle Group	Washington, DC (United States)	-
Aviator Emerging Market Fund	Ebene City (Mauritius)	-
Everstone Capital	Singapore (Singapore)	-
Evolvence Equity Partners	Mumbai (India)	-
Evolvence India	Mumbai (India)	-