Business

Comera Financial Holdings, part of Abu Dhabi’s Royal Group, and SC Ventures have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to establish a strategic collaboration aimed at strengthening the small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) ecosystem in the UAE and beyond.

Announced in Abu Dhabi on December 23, 2025, the collaboration reflects a shared ambition to develop technology-driven, data-led financial solutions that align with the UAE’s economic priorities and support sustainable growth across key sectors.

Under the agreement, the two organisations will jointly explore opportunities to design financial solutions tailored for corporates with extensive SME networks. Key focus areas include supply chain finance, working capital optimisation, and sector-specific financing frameworks. By combining Comera Financial Holdings’ expanding fintech platforms with SC Ventures’ expertise in venture building and credit intelligence, the partnership aims to improve access to financing, enhance business resilience, and boost competitiveness across the SME segment.

Beyond product development, the collaboration also covers broader strategic opportunities, including potential investments, co-creation of new financial models, and closer coordination across selected business initiatives. These efforts are intended to accelerate corporate innovation and deliver scalable financial solutions that meet the evolving needs of the UAE’s economy.

Akhtar Saeed Hashmi, Managing Director and Group CEO of Comera Financial Holdings, said the collaboration represents a key milestone in building future-ready financial infrastructure for the country. He noted that working with SC Ventures would enable the development of innovative, digitally powered financing models to support both SMEs and large corporates.

Alex Manson, CEO of Standard Chartered Ventures, said the partnership aligns with SC Ventures’ mission to build businesses that address real market challenges. He added that collaborating with Comera would help create digital financial infrastructure that provides SMEs with better tools, insights, and access to capital in an innovation-led economy.

Both organisations will continue to assess the identified opportunities with the objective of establishing a long-term partnership. Further announcements are expected as the collaboration progresses.

SC Ventures is the innovation, venture-building, and investment arm of Standard Chartered, focused on developing and scaling breakthrough business models within and beyond the banking sector.

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