Page 12 - ETIHAD CREDIT INSURANCE PR REPORT - OCTOBER 2025

Press Release

During ‘EDB Connect’– Sharjah Edition organized by Emirates Development Bank
Etihad Credit Insurance showcases innovative credit solutions for

UAE-based SMEs and startups

October 09, 2025: Etihad Credit Insurance (ECI), the UAE’s Federal export credit company,

reinforced its commitment to boosting the UAE’s global trade competitiveness and supporting the
expansion of SMEs and startups at the ‘EDB Connect’– Sharjah Edition.

Held at the Sharjah Research Technology and Innovation Park, the forum brought together key public
and private sector stakeholders under the theme ‘Empowering Sharjah’s Economy Through SMEs

and Entrepreneurship.’ Organized by Emirates Development Bank (EDB), in collaboration with the
“Make It in the Emirates” initiative led by the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology

(MoIAT), the event focused on enabling sustainable economic growth through industrial
development, innovation, and strategic partnerships.

Mohammad Sulaiman, Director of Governance, Risk, and Compliance at ECI, represented the
company in a panel session, titled ‘Financing Growth and De-Risking Expansion: How Founders

Can Compete Globally from the UAE’, which addressed how UAE-based founders and early-stage
businesses can leverage financial tools to reduce risk, unlock new markets, and scale operations

internationally.

The discussion highlighted ECI’s tailored support for startups and SMEs across sectors such as clean

energy, advanced manufacturing, and industrial services. The discussion centred around the
accessibility of credit insurance solutions, particularly for asset-light businesses and first-time

exporters.

Several flexible mechanisms designed to support early-stage exporters were outlined, including
invoice insurance, supply chain finance, and export factoring. ECI’s approach prioritizes the
creditworthiness of the buyer as a key factor, making credit protection more accessible to smaller