Etihad Credit Insurance (ECI) took centre stage at Make It In The Emirates 2026 in Abu Dhabi this week, using the high-profile industrial forum to push for stronger financing access and long-term growth pathways for the UAE's small and medium enterprises.
Held at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi, the event brought together international manufacturers, investors and industry leaders to explore opportunities across the region's evolving industrial landscape. ECI's presence reflected its broader mandate to strengthen the UAE's non-oil export ecosystem and advance the country's economic diversification goals.
Haitham Al Khazaleh, Director of Underwriting and Reinsurance at ECI, moderated a panel discussion titled "Empowering Industrial SMEs – Finance, Growth and Societal Impact." The session drew key voices from across the financial and industrial sectors to address the capital access challenges that continue to limit SME expansion.
Panellists highlighted SMEs as the backbone of the UAE's industrial economy and outlined concrete steps to unlock their potential. Key recommendations included expanding credit guarantee and blended finance programmes, embedding ESG frameworks into SME financing models, and leveraging small businesses within national initiatives such as local sourcing and humanitarian supply chains.
Al Khazaleh said the forum was an opportunity to translate dialogue into action.
"By enhancing the use of risk-sharing and credit protection mechanisms, we can support SME expansion, help businesses scale into new markets, and contribute to a more resilient and diversified national economy,"
he noted.
ECI's participation reinforced its alignment with the National In-Country Value Programme and Dubai Industrial Strategy 2030, both of which prioritise building a competitive and innovation-driven economy. The company positioned itself as a facilitator bridging public and private sector collaboration to enable sustainable SME growth at home and in global markets.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
