Vision Bank has launched a new Shari’ah-compliant SME trade finance proposition in the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), aimed at addressing the working-capital and US dollar liquidity needs of businesses engaged in cross-border trade.
The new offering focuses on short-term trade finance for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), particularly those operating across the GCC, India, and Southeast Asia. Through a platform-led model, Vision Bank plans to work with selected fintech companies and trade finance platforms to identify and originate financing opportunities linked to genuine commercial transactions.
Unlike conventional balance-sheet lending, which often relies heavily on historical financial statements and collateral, the new model places greater emphasis on the underlying trade transaction, counterparties, and associated credit risks. This enables financing to be linked more directly to real economic activity and businesses’ working-capital requirements.
Access to competitive US dollar financing remains a challenge for many SMEs operating in emerging trade corridors. Vision Bank’s proposition seeks to address this gap by providing Shari’ah-compliant liquidity to businesses involved in international trade, while leveraging technology-enabled distribution channels to improve access to financing.
The new trade finance proposition expands Vision Bank’s existing suite of business banking services, which includes business accounts, client money accounts, and deposit products. The bank operates within the ADGM regulatory framework, with its financing structures developed in accordance with Shari’ah principles and subject to the applicable regulatory requirements of the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA).
According to Vision Bank, SMEs are increasingly operating across borders, digital platforms, and complex supply chains, creating a need for financing solutions that better reflect the way modern businesses operate.
“SMEs are increasingly operating across borders, platforms and supply chains, but access to short-term trade finance has not always kept pace with how these businesses work. With this launch, Vision Bank is introducing a platform-led SME financing proposition designed to support real trade flows across markets in a Shari’ah-compliant and commercially practical way.”
Vision Bank is an Islamic financial institution headquartered in the Abu Dhabi Global Market. The bank is wholly owned by Gulf Islamic Investments (GII), a Shari’ah-compliant alternative asset manager established in 2014. GII has operations across the Middle East, including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Riyadh, and manages investments across areas such as private equity, real estate, and private credit.
The bank’s platform-led approach reflects the broader evolution of Islamic finance, where technology, alternative distribution channels, and transaction-based financing are increasingly being used to expand access to Shari’ah-compliant financial services.
By focusing on real trade flows rather than relying solely on traditional lending models, Vision Bank’s initiative could provide SMEs with greater access to working capital while supporting the development of cross-border trade. It also highlights the growing convergence between Islamic banking, fintech, and digital trade finance, particularly across emerging markets.
The launch further strengthens the role of the ADGM as a regional centre for financial innovation and provides another example of how Islamic financial institutions are adapting their products and delivery models to meet the evolving needs of businesses and investors.