Financial News
Trusted Partnership: CBD Offers Easy access to Banking Transactions and Services for UAE SMEs
Commercial Bank of Dubai (CBD) is a UAE-based banking and financial services corporation headquartered in Dubai. CBD is ranked as the number one bank in the UAE on the Forbes list of World’s Best Banks 2022. Amit Malhotra, General Manager – Personal Banking Group, at CBD speaks about the bank’s relationship with SMEs and specific products.
What role the CBD, as one of the longest established banks in the country, has played in helping SMEs to grow and thrive?
As a financial solution provider, we firmly believe in backing our customer’s ambitions. At CBD, we recognize that SMEs are the backbone of the UAE’s economy, accounting for around 94 percent of businesses in the country and they must get the right support to grow and expand their businesses.
As one of the first and most reputed banks in the UAE, CBD has always differentiated itself from the other competitors by truly being a bank focused on family-owned and managed businesses across the Emirates in the UAE. Over the years, it has supported numerous small and medium enterprises that have later grown with us to become large corporates.
Further, we have partnered with several government entities such as the Dubai Economic Department and Free zones such as JAFZA, DMCC, DCAA, and RAKEZ to offer a full suite of products that are specially tailored for the SME segment to fulfill their business requirements and back their ambitions.
What are the business solutions you offer for newly onboarded SMEs at CBD?
CBD provides SMEs with a wide range of solutions. We offer instant digital business accounts through our state-of-art, CBD Rise Digital account opening platform enabling SMEs to get access to banking transactions and services instantly. The digital business account offers attractive features such as no minimum balance requirement and a choice of six account currency denominations, as well as a complimentary business debit card with high daily cash withdrawal limits.
We offer SMEs fast and easy access to secured business loans and a wide array of financing solutions that suit their business needs. Our SME customers can avail of competitive rates on money transfers, remittances, and foreign currency exchange.
CBD also provides SMEs with experienced business banking relationship managers to provide them with the required advice, guidance, and individual client support.
Give us some insight into other business financing services you offer and their eligibility criteria
CBD provides SMEs with a comprehensive portfolio of financing solutions that include regular working capital facilities, collateral-free business term loans, business credit cards, overdrafts, and lots more.
Our business term loan is an award-winning product, which offers an advisory tool that helps SMEs manage their finances and supports their business growth through a customized business finance package. It combines purpose-specific business products which allows them to better manage their business growth efficiently, thus saving time and money by applying for one comprehensive and affordable solution instead of multiple loan facilities.
We offer SMEs market-leading financing facilities with high loan amounts, flexible repayment options, low-interest rates, and fast approvals granted within 48 hours of the application’s submission. Our facilities also include quick business loans for retailers and online trading and service sector businesses against their point of sale (POS) machines’ proceeds which can be easily repaid through monthly installments of sales proceeds collected from the POS machines.
Tell us a bit about the next few years’ growth prospects of SMEs in the UAE
After facing unprecedented challenges in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, 88% of SMEs in the UAE are optimistic about the next 12 months, according to the latest research study conducted by MasterCard, published in the 2021 Mastercard Economic Outlook.
The study also showed that 73% of UAE consumers are shopping more online than they did since the start of the pandemic and 97% of UAE shoppers would consider making a purchase with an emerging payment technology over the next year.
CBD has been pioneering this digital transformation and provides its customers with a wide range of digital tools that enable them to accept online payments as well as accept payments through POS and is well-positioned to meet the evolving digital needs of consumers.
In line with our purpose to back the nation’s ambitions, we will continue to support our SME customers, ensuring they get access to the financial and banking products they require to set up and grow their businesses.
Any new product or service initiated by CBD to grow its SME sector engagements
CBD launched its unique digital instant business account for SME customers through the CBD Rise Digital platform, offering four feature-rich business bank account packages that are not only value-packed but also designed to meet customers’ everyday banking needs and deliver a better banking experience.
CBD offers exclusive financing facilities, including unsecured loans of up to AED 2 million, with flexible repayment options of up to 48 months, low-interest rates, and fast approvals granted within 48 hours of the application’s submission. The benefits also include quick business loans for retailers and online trading and service sector businesses against their POS proceeds, with finance amounts up to AED 1 million. The loan payments can be easily repaid through monthly installments of sales proceeds collected from the points of sale.
SME customers can avail of CBD business credit cards with features that meet their personal and business needs such as free for life cards with credit limits of up to AED 250,000, a cash advance facility of up to 50% of the credit limit for urgent expenses, access to a flexible line of revolving credit and more.
Financial
Rent Instalments Dubai: How Slices Reshape Tenant Loyalty


By Omar Abu Innab, CEO & Co-founder
In Dubai, the handover of a rent cheque often feels like a financial earthquake. For many tenants, it is the single largest outgoing of the year — one that empties savings accounts, spikes anxiety, and disrupts liquidity overnight. Traditional rent structures, whether annual lump sums or quarterly payments, may suit landlords, but they rarely reflect the way people actually earn and spend money. Salaries arrive monthly, bills are spread weekly, and life’s surprises never wait for cheque dates.
This mismatch does more than strain finances. It creates uncertainty and detachment. Tenants under pressure from upfront costs are less likely to renew, more likely to negotiate aggressively, and often hesitant to see their rental as a long-term home.
The Slice Effect: A Shift in Behaviour
Break the rent into twelve manageable instalments, however, and the entire psychology changes. Rent instalments in Dubai don’t just ease cash flow; they reframe how tenants view their homes. Instead of confronting a yearly burden, rent becomes a predictable routine woven into monthly salary cycles, much like utilities or car payments.
This subtle shift encourages tenants to stay longer. Not because they are tied down, but because they no longer face the stress of large financial shocks. Rent is reframed from a hurdle into a lifestyle expense, creating loyalty that landlords value. Lower turnover means fewer vacant periods, steadier income, and stronger landlord-tenant relationships.
Rent Now, Pay Later: A Quiet Revolution
Dubai’s rental market, once dominated by cheque culture, is transforming. Platforms like Keyper have introduced Rent Now, Pay Later (RNPL), enabling tenants to pay monthly while landlords continue receiving rent on their preferred schedule — even upfront.
The dual benefits are striking. Tenants enjoy breathing space and improved cash flow. Landlords retain financial security and stability. Automation bridges the gap, ensuring seamless transactions. Beyond convenience, RNPL creates ripple effects: tenants channel savings into investments or lifestyle upgrades, landlords attract stronger demand, and properties offering RNPL gain a competitive edge in the market.
Trust Through Proptech
Scepticism around flexible payments is natural. Landlords often worry about defaults or unreliable tenants. Proptech innovation addresses this head-on. By embedding tenant screening, open banking, and digital KYC processes, platforms ensure that only qualified tenants gain access to instalment options.
This screening provides landlords with confidence while giving tenants a frictionless, subscription-style experience. The outcome is a healthier rental ecosystem where both sides trust the process. Properties listed with RNPL attract interest faster, lease quicker, and enjoy higher renewal rates.
More Than Money: Cultural Change in Renting
Flexible rent payments are not only about financial management — they represent a cultural shift. Tenants paying monthly are more likely to personalise their homes, join neighbourhood communities, and think long-term. They do not just occupy apartments; they build lives in them.
In a global city like Dubai, where talent continually arrives from abroad, this cultural stickiness is invaluable. By reducing churn and fostering belonging, RNPL aligns Dubai with international leasing standards. For professionals moving from cities like London or New York, monthly rent instalments feel familiar, making Dubai more competitive as a destination.
Why Instalments Mean Belonging
The shift from lump sums to instalments does more than spread payments. It changes perceptions. Tenants breathe easier when the mountain of rent is broken into smaller hills. They stay longer, invest emotionally in their homes, and engage with their communities. For landlords, this means steadier returns. For the city, it enhances financial well-being and strengthens community ties.
Cheque culture once defined Dubai’s property landscape. Today, rent instalments in Dubai — powered by RNPL — are writing a new narrative. Flexible payments bring stability, foster loyalty, and encourage tenants not just to rent, but to settle in.
Read our previous post on Ryan Acquires Dhruva Stake Expanding Middle East Presence
Financial
US based Ryan and Dhruva Form Strategic Joint Venture to Expand Global Tax Services Footprint

Dhruva, a premier tax advisory firm with deep expertise across the Middle East, India, and Asia, today announced a strategic investment by Ryan, a leading global tax services and software provider. This partnership marks a significant step in Ryan’s expansion into the Middle East, India, and Asia, enhancing its ability to serve clients in high-growth markets while reinforcing its global capabilities.
As part of the transaction, US based Ryan will acquire a majority stake in Dhruva, creating a joint venture in India, Ryan’s senior leadership will join the Board of Dhruva, Partners of Dhruva will acquire equity in Ryan, ensuring long-term alignment, and Dinesh Kanabar, CEO of Dhruva Advisors, will take on the role of Vice Chairman at Ryan.
Founded in 2014 by Dinesh Kanabar, Dhruva has rapidly grown into one of the most respected tax advisory firms in India and the UAE. With 38 partners and senior leaders, supported by over 500 professionals across 11 offices in the Middle East, India, and Singapore, Dhruva advises leading businesses across industries such as aerospace, automotive, chemicals, finance, healthcare, technology, and real estate.
“Joining Ryan is a major milestone in Dhruva’s global growth journey as this partnership extends our global reach,” said Dinesh Kanabar, Chairman and CEO of Dhruva. “My leadership team and I chose to partner with Ryan because we believe it provides the strongest platform for our clients and team members for continued success. I am encouraged by the alignment of our respective leadership teams to meet the growing needs of our multinational clients and look forward to driving that growth in my new role as Vice Chairman at Ryan.”
“This partnership with Ryan is a defining moment for Dhruva. For the Middle East, this partnership is more than just scale – it’s about combining global expertise and regional insights. Together we are not only expanding scale but also shaping the future of tax advisory in the Middle East,” said Nimish Goel, Partner and Head of Middle East at Dhruva.
“We are excited to enter into this strategic partnership with Dhruva, which gives us a client-facing presence in the Middle East for the first time. The combination of our two firms will provide clients with unrivalled service in one of the fastest-growing markets for tax advisory services in the world,” said Tom Shave, President, Europe & Asia Pacific, Ryan.
Dhruva’s services span corporate tax and regulatory advisory, M&A tax structuring, indirect tax, transfer pricing, and cross-border trade compliance.
This move builds upon Ryan’s longstanding presence in India, where the firm has operated for over two decades with a primary office in Hyderabad, while marking its first client-facing entry into the Middle East. Together, Ryan and Dhruva will now expand across the Middle East and Asia with offices in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, and Singapore.
Financial
White-glove banking reinvented for a digital generation

By Sara Hoteit, Regional Sales Lead, Backbase Middle East

For decades, white-glove banking in the Middle East relied on personal trust. High-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) and family offices turned to relationship managers (RMs) for access, expertise, and discretion. However, today’s digital-first generation of clients is inheriting wealth, and they expect faster, more transparent, and more personalised service than traditional models can deliver.
Why are younger clients walking away?
Recent surveys show a dramatic shift. Capgemini reports that 81% of affluent heirs plan to change their wealth managers. The reason is not a lack of expertise, but dissatisfaction with slow, opaque, and disconnected experiences.
Traditional private banking often resembles a black box: clients see limited transparency, receive quarterly reports, and rely on infrequent meetings. In contrast, new generations want data, control, and insights at their fingertips. EY research confirms this gap, noting that only 7% of Gen Z trust bank advisers for financial guidance. Digital-first wealth platforms like Sarwa and StashAway are stepping in to meet these demands.
The human role in private banking
Despite this shift, the human element remains essential. Relationship managers still play a critical role in building trust and offering tailored advice. However, many spend most of their time on administrative tasks rather than client-facing work. McKinsey estimates up to 70% of RM time goes to back-office processes.
For banks, the solution lies in rethinking the role of advisers and empowering them with technology that eliminates inefficiencies while elevating client engagement.
Digital tools that elevate wealth management
Digitisation should enhance, not replace, personal service. Clients now expect customisable dashboards that reflect estate planning, performance analytics, or ESG-focused investments. Both advisers and clients benefit when these tools deliver real-time insights that support collaboration.
In addition, clients want flexible access to their advisers. EY notes that 85% still value personal advice, but they prefer it delivered on their terms—through secure chat, video calls, or collaborative digital platforms.
How AI empowers relationship managers
Technology can give RMs the edge they need. AI tools identify risks, recommend diversification, and flag liquidity needs. When embedded in RM workspaces, these insights keep advice timely and proactive.
Automation further reduces administrative work, allowing advisers to spend more time building meaningful client relationships. This shift restores the core value of wealth management: trust, loyalty, and personalised advice.
From products to financial journeys
Wealthy clients no longer want just products; they want holistic support. They expect advisers to guide them through succession planning, family governance, philanthropy, and alternative investments. Global disruptors like Robinhood proved how fast expectations can change, and regional players such as Baraka are echoing this trend.
Reinventing the white-glove model
Private banking is not obsolete, but it must adapt. Banks that reinvent white-glove banking for digital-first clients will combine AI-driven efficiency with human empathy. By empowering advisers, streamlining processes, and blending digital convenience with trust, banks can keep this premium model relevant.
In the end, successful institutions will prove that strong relationships, enhanced by smart technology, remain the most valuable currency in wealth management.
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