Abu Dhabi Global Market, Zand Bank join hands to support SMEs

Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) and Zand Bank, the UAE’s first all-digital bank licenced by the UAE Central Bank, have inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The agreement aims to support SMEs and offer them preferential banking services.

Zand Bank will be the sixth bank that ADGM has partnered with in addition to other prominent banks operating in Abu Dhabi and across the UAE.

Read: Abu Dhabi Global Market partners with ADIB, Wio Bank, RAKBANK to support SMEs

The agreement will see Zand Bank provide preferential banking services, including bank account opening for ADGM-licenced entities, including SMEs, virtual assets companies, funds and corporations.

ADGM and Zand Bank will work together on developing a capacity-building programme to improve knowledge exchange between employees and potential clients through educational sessions across sectors and stakeholders, networking and training.

ADGM partners with Zand Bank to support SMEs#WamNews https://t.co/fuNbzRqzwI

— WAM English (@WAMNEWS_ENG) February 20, 2023

ADGM and Zand Bank to push UAE national work placement

ADGM and Zand Bank will work together to drive UAE national work placements and offer tailored finance training programmes, SME financing platforms, a fintech sandbox, and corporate innovation programmes.

The ADGM community will be supported by dedicated client managers from the bank during the client onboarding and engagement process.

Additionally, the partnership will enable awareness of the fintech opportunities and initiatives in Abu Dhabi and develop an ecosystem of Fintech partners.

ADGM will support Zand Bank in its business development efforts and the penetration of the largest 100 ADGM-incorporated entities through investment banking services.

Based on the MoU, Zand Bank will allocate a help desk to serve the needs of the employees of ADGM, and ADGM-incorporated entities.

The help desk will serve as the initial point of contact for all employee banking needs, including providing information, responding to inquiries, receiving complaints, and introducing employees who are interested in Zand’s offerings.

Dhaher bin Dhaher Al Mheiri, CEO of ADGM, said, “We are pleased to partner with Zand Bank to collaborate on mutually beneficial initiatives and empower ADGM’s community with dedicated banking services. SMEs exist as one of the main pillars of economic diversification in the UAE and Abu Dhabi. They are important contributors to ADGM’s vibrant ecosystem.

“Enabling digital financial services through Zand bank in both the retail and corporate space for these SMEs is a testament to our continued efforts to support their growth and expansion in the global financial hub. We look forward to witnessing the long-term growth this impactful partnership presents to the ADGM community and the SMEs of the UAE.”

Michael Chan, CEO at Zand Bank, said, “We are delighted to partner with ADGM to support technology SMEs and startups across the UAE. As the international financial centre in Abu Dhabi, ADGM houses a number of diverse businesses, all looking to grow and expand their footprint in the region.

“We strive to financially empower these businesses in the ADGM community, through our innovative, customer-centric and superior digital banking offerings.”