- What
- Up to AED 2M per startup with no assets required, tenors up to 72 months.
- Who
- UAE-licensed startups and SMEs in priority sectors.
- From abroad
- Not stated on the programme’s site (checked September 2026) All programmes open to founders from abroad →
- Latest
- Last programme news May 2026 — Launched AED 350m SME liquidity programme with ZeloNewest dated item on its own site · checked Oct 2026
- Timeline
- EDB 360 app: business account in 48 hours, loan up to AED 5m within 5 working days ↗As published by the programme itself
edb.gov.ae/en · How we check ↗
In detail
Emirates Development Bank (EDB) is a federal development bank — loans, guarantees, co-lending in the UAE. Federal development bank of the UAE — AED 30 billion lending support, 13,500 companies to be supported (site). Lends to startups without collateral — up to AED 2 million on a financial and qualitative assessment, tenors up to 72 months — and offers asset-backed financing of up to 70% of the assets. Applications run through its digital platform.
- Amount
- Up to AED 2M per startup without assets · tenors up to 72 months
- Terms
- No equity — repayable finance and guarantees
- Eligibility
- UAE-licensed startups and SMEs in the priority sectors; no collateral required for the startup track
- Sectors
- Manufacturing, Food Security, Renewables, Healthcare, Advanced Technology
- Benefits
- No collateral on the startup track
- EDB 360 digital onboarding
- Credit Guarantee Scheme
- Business Lab mentoring
- Accelerator access via MBRIF, AgriX and MIITE
- Status
- Active
Is this for you?
Where is your company?
Are you open to giving equity?
We match them against what Emirates Development Bank (EDB) publishes.
A guide to the published criteria, not a decision — the programme selects.
What the source says
“The UAE established Emirates Development Bank (EDB) to chart a more sustainable path to economic success, an economy that is healthy, sustainable, and self-reliant.”
“Lending support AED 30 Billion Companies to be supported 13,500”
“Even without assets, we offer up to AED 2million based on our financial and qualitative evaluation of your business.”
“Flexible tenors of up to 72 months”
“Financing of up AED 2 million or up to 70% of the assets (Asset Backed Financing)”
“Through EDB 360, the Bank’s digital platform, entrepreneurs will be able to open business accounts in minutes, apply for financing without traditional collateral barriers and connect with ecosystem partners who can support them in launching or scaling their businesses.”
Closing soon on the map
No published deadline in the next 30 days · All published deadlines →
Compare loans & guarantees in the UAE
| Cost | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Emirates Development Bank (EDB)Up to AED 2M per startup with no assets required, tenors up to 72 months. | not published | No equity | Active |
| Amplify Growth FundGrowth loans from $3M (average $10M) over 3–4 years, with a warrant component. | $10M | Loan with warrants | Active |
| Khalifa FundLoans; amounts not published, vary by programme. | not published | No equity | Active |
| MBRIFGovernment-backed bank-loan guarantees. | not published | No equity | Active |
| Mohammed Bin Rashid Fund for SME (The Fund)Interest-free SME loans up to AED 1M; credit loans up to AED 3M via partner banks. | up to AED 3M | No equity | Open |
| Ruwad — Sharjah Foundation to Support Pioneering EntrepreneursInterest-free loans up to AED 400,000; bank Murabaha financing up to AED 2M. | up to AED 2M | No equity | Active |
| Stride VenturesVenture debt averaging $4M, repayable over 6 to 18 months. | $4M | Loan | Active |
| Partners for Growth (PFG)Growth debt and asset-backed lending to tech companies. | not published | Loan | Active |
| Ruya PartnersPrivate credit for mid-market companies in MENA. | not published | Loan | Active |
| Tenami CapitalRevenue-based growth capital for founder-led tech companies, from DIFC Dubai. | not published | Capped return, bought back from revenue | Active |
No programmes match these filters.
Highest amount in each programme’s own “What” line. Other currencies converted for sorting only (Gulf pegs; KWD, EUR, GBP approximate).
More programmes that take no equity →
Questions founders ask
What does Emirates Development Bank (EDB) offer?
Up to AED 2M per startup with no assets required, tenors up to 72 months.
Does Emirates Development Bank (EDB) take equity?
No equity — repayable finance.
Can founders from abroad apply?
Not stated on the programme’s site (checked September 2026).
How do I apply?
Through its own application form — the Apply button on this page goes straight there.
Sources
Primary source · edb.gov.ae/en · LinkedIn · linkedin.com/company/emirates-development-bank