Numou links procurement financing to SME contract funding

Abu Dhabi Global Market’s Numou has launched a procurement financing initiative that directly connects small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with lenders based on verified government and corporate contracts. The digital solution aims to modernise national procurement and reduce SME cash flow barriers in contract execution.

Through Numou’s platform, financial institutions can evaluate SMEs using real-time data tied to confirmed government contracts, creating a transparent and data-driven credit environment. This system aligns lenders’ risk assessments with tangible contract performance, easing access to capital and improving delivery efficiency in public procurement.

The initiative integrates a broad ecosystem that includes fintech lenders such as CredibleX, Erad, Klubwork, Ahbi, Zelo, and FlapKap, along with government programmes like the Khalifa Fund’s SME Champions initiative. It also introduces plans to establish the UAE’s first SME Data Warehouse — a national platform aggregating business data from public and private entities to support accurate, timely lending decisions.

Numou General Manager Mohamed Al Binali said the platform’s goal is to eliminate funding delays for SMEs holding government contracts and to strengthen long-term diversification within the private sector. The Khalifa Fund and Hub71 welcomed the initiative, noting its alignment with Abu Dhabi’s wider economic strategy.

By directly linking procurement contracts to financing, the UAE aims to make lending faster, more transparent, and aligned with national development priorities — a model that could redefine SME engagement in public procurement across the region.

Read the full article for a deeper look at Numou’s role in transforming government contract financing in the UAE.