Home Industry Finance In numbers: Emirates Development Bank’s role in boosting UAE’s economy The development bank has set an ambitious target of providing Dhs30bn in financing support to 13,500 companies by 2026 by Gulf Business April 8, 2024 Image: Getty Images The Emirates Development Bank (EDB) is firing on all cylinders, with the aim to bolster and drive the UAE’s economic development and industrial progress. The bank has supported the country’s key growth sectors since launching its ambitious strategy in 2021, achieving key milestones along the way. Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, chairman of the EDB Board: “EDB’s outstanding results reflect its pivotal role in empowering businesses and enabling key development sectors… These efforts are pivotal in empowering over 13,500 companies by 2026, cementing our commitment to fostering a resilient, diversified, and competitive economy.” Ahmed Mohamed Al Naqbi, CEO of Emirates Development Bank: “Our focus remains on sectors that are crucial for the nation’s future development, driving forward innovative and sustainable financing solutions… As we move forward, we continue to innovate and elevate our financing solutions to empower more and more businesses.” In numbers: We look at the key achievements of the bank since 2021 EDB has achieved a record-breaking Dhs10.4bn in total financing, significantly impacting the nation’s industrial GDP by a whopping Dhs4.9bn. It has strategically target five key sectors crucial for the UAE’s future: Manufacturing, food security, healthcare, technology and renewables The bank has been a champion for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the backbone of the UAE’s economy. Cumulative financing to SMEs has skyrocketed by a remarkable 665 per cent, reaching a total of Dhs3.4bn. It has provided Dhs5.5bn in cumulative financing to large companies, marking a surge of 2,942 per cent in the past three years. EDB’s financing initiatives have directly contributed to the creation of 18,606 industrial jobs in the UAE, highlighting their commitment to fostering business growth and job creation. 46 per cent of EDB’s financing has empowered the manufacturing sector, while 21 per cent has fuelled the vital renewables sector. Emirates Development Bank has unveiled a record increase in total financing since the launch of EDB’s strategy in 2021 to AED 10.4 billion, bringing its cumulative contribution to the nation’s industrial GDP impact to AED4.9 billion. pic.twitter.com/05eMKBrF3Q — Emirates Development Bank (@EDB_UAE) April 4, 2024 Looking ahead EDB has set an ambitious target of providing Dhs30bn in financing support to 13,500 companies by 2026. Tags 2021 Emirates Development Bank finance Industry milestones in numbers strategy UAE You might also like US-UAE climate-friendly farming partnership grows to $29bn From humble beginnings to global heights: Sheikh Mohammed’s journey unveiled in new biography Financial gap to meet SDGs in MEASA hits $5tn annually: NYUAD UAE, Saudi Arabia lead M&A activity in MENA in 2024: EY