As RAKBANK marks its 50th anniversary year, the Bank has launched a one-of-a-kind Female Entrepreneurs Package in celebration of International MSME Day, reinforcing its long-standing commitment to empowering female entrepreneurs.

Beyond just Banking

Launched under the theme “Empowering Women to Start, Grow and Scale with Confidence” the She Means Business Package reflects the growing contribution of female entrepreneurs to the UAE economy and the need for solutions that support them across different stages of their business journey. From managing banking costs, accessing finance and day-to-day operations, female founders often require support that goes beyond traditional banking. RAKBANK brings together its best-in-business banking solutions, practical business tools, financial protection and community support into one integrated package designed to simplify banking, reduce friction and enable female entrepreneurs to grow with confidence.

Limited time offer: As part of the launch, female entrepreneurs who activate their account by 10 December 2026 can enjoy the She Means Business package free for 12 months, subject to terms and conditions.

What entrepreneurs get:

1. Digital banking foundation

• A zero-balance business account, available in both Islamic and Conventional variants
• Multi-currency capability in AED, USD, GBP and EUR
• Digital onboarding in as little as 48 hours, enabling faster speed to market and seamless access to banking services

2. Everyday business tools

• WPS-enabled payroll processing
• QR-based payments powered by AANI
• Complimentary access to a cloud-based app for up to four users, helping entrepreneurs manage accounting, banking, payroll and VAT from a single platform.

3. Cost savings and financial benefits

• Four complimentary international remittances per month
• Preferential USD foreign exchange rates
• Monthly maintenance fees fully covered for 12 months, supporting early-stage growth

4. Built-in protection in Partnership with RAKInsurance

• Essential insurance/Takaful coverage including:
• Workmen’s compensation (including employer liability)
• Public liability protection of up to AED 1 million 

5. Community, learning and growth – Beyond banking, the package extends into capability building and community engagement, with access to: 

• Learning and business development opportunities, covering topics such as AI, leadership, pricing, cash flow management, marketing and business growth
• Curated networking opportunities and knowledge-sharing forums with ecosystem partners and industry experts
• AED 1,500 off the annual CrunchMoms membership — a community that connects female entrepreneurs with like-minded women, mentors, and new opportunities.
• A complimentary Personal Banking Financial Needs Assessment to help founders align their personal finances with their business ambitions

Who the Package is for

The package is available to new RAKBANK customers who are female founders operating as Sole Proprietors and Individual LLCs.

How to apply

Eligible founders can apply by visiting quickapply.rakbank.ae and selecting the RAKStarter Account.

Vishal Shah, Managing Director & Head of Business Banking Group, RAKBANK, said:

“For 50 years, RAKBANK has supported over 250,000 SMEs across the UAE, helping founders transform ambition into action and we proudly bank over 20,000 female-led businesses.

Female entrepreneurs are playing an increasingly important role in shaping the UAE’s economic future, contributing to the country’s entrepreneurship agenda, and access to the right ecosystem makes a meaningful difference in enabling founders toreach their full potential. Understanding the needs of entrepreneurs has long been at the heart of how we design and evolve our propositions, reinforcing our commitment to being the financial partner of choice for SMEs across the UAE. Through She Means Business, we are bringing Digital with a Human Touch to life by combining seamless digital banking, relationship-led financial partnership and ecosystem access.”

Athar+, Abu Dhabi’s first purpose-driven hub dedicated to accelerating social impact, operated by the Authority of Social Contribution – Ma’an, has launched the second edition of its HACK4IMPACT hackathon, bringing together changemakers to develop practical solutions that address key social priorities and contribute to positive social impact across Abu Dhabi.

Launched in line with the objectives of the UAE’s Year of Family, this edition of the hackathon focuses on addressing family-related challenges through innovative and community-driven approaches. Taking place from 16-18 June 2026 at Athar+, the three-day programme brings together aspiring entrepreneurs, innovators, professionals, and community members to develop solutions addressing three family-centred priorities: building stronger family foundations, enhancing financial wellbeing for parents, and supporting families caring for aging parents.

Guided through a structured innovation journey, participants will apply design thinking methodologies to explore challenges, validate ideas, develop prototype concepts, and present their solutions to a panel of judges.

High-potential concepts emerging from the hackathon have the opportunity to be considered for further support through Athar+’s incubation ecosystem, enabling participants to continue developing their solutions beyond the event. Through these challenge areas, the initiative aims to advance family wellbeing, strengthen social cohesion, and support the development of solutions that respond to the evolving needs of families in Abu Dhabi.

This initiative aims to strengthen practical innovation skills among participants while identifying high-potential ideas and scalable concepts capable of addressing key social priorities. It also encourages collaboration by bringing together individuals from diverse backgrounds and expertise. The hackathon provides an accessible entry point for youth and first-time innovators to contribute to solving community challenges through entrepreneurship and social innovation, inspiring them to play an active role in shaping impactful and practical solutions.

His Excellency Salem AlShamsi, Executive Director of Social Incubation and Contracting at Ma’an said: “HACK4IMPACT reflects Athar+’s commitment to empowering innovators and aspiring entrepreneurs to develop practical solutions that address real social priorities and enhance quality of life across our communities. By empowering future talent through Athar+, we are strengthening Abu Dhabi’s position as a regional hub for social entrepreneurship while advancing the Authority’s vision of fostering a culture of giving, participation, and measurable social progress.’’

Aligned with the objectives of the UAE’s Year of Family, the initiative also supports broader national efforts to strengthen family wellbeing, social resilience, and community cohesion through collaborative innovation and inclusive engagement.”

Through dedicated workspaces, expert mentorship, professional services, and tailored growth programmes offered by Athar+, participants will be supported in transforming ideas into prototype concepts while gaining access to opportunities within Abu Dhabi’s innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem.

Pakistan has successfully completed its inaugural Panda bond issuance in China’s interbank bond market, raising RMB 1.75 billion through a three-year transaction that marks the country’s first direct entry into China’s capital markets.

Standard Chartered (China) Ltd. Co acted as the only foreign bank serving as joint lead underwriter and joint book runner for the transaction, supporting Pakistan in broadening its international financing channels while strengthening financial connectivity between regional capital markets.

The issuance received strong support from multilateral development institutions, including the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), which together guaranteed 95 per cent of the bond’s principal and interest payments. The structure helped attract significant demand from Chinese banks, securities houses, and international financial institutions.

The transaction was reportedly more than five times oversubscribed, allowing Pakistan to price the bond at 2.50 per cent, the tightest end of the indicated pricing range.

Salman Ansari, Global Head, Capital Markets, Standard Chartered, described the issuance as a strategically important transaction that expands Pakistan’s access to global liquidity pools while demonstrating the growing relevance of regional capital markets within the international funding landscape.

The transaction also reflects the broader evolution of the Renminbi within global financial markets, as China continues expanding the role of its currency beyond trade settlement into cross-border financing and sovereign funding structures.

Jerry Zhang, Global Head of Banks & Broker Dealers and Head of Coverage, Greater China and North Asia at Standard Chartered, said the transaction highlighted the bank’s role in connecting international issuers with China’s domestic capital markets while also reflecting the continued internationalisation of the Renminbi.

The Panda bond market has increasingly attracted a wider range of sovereign, supranational, and institutional issuers in recent years as regional economies explore diversified funding channels and deeper access to Chinese liquidity pools.