The MBRIF Guarantee Scheme is a UAE Ministry of Finance initiative operated by Emirates Development Bank. It helps innovative companies obtain affordable debt financing from an MBRIF-listed bank through a federal government-backed credit guarantee.
Applicants submit online and proceed through eligibility review, detailed due diligence, an independent committee decision and lender checks. The scheme supports business growth in the UAE without taking equity.
Benefits & funding
- A government-backed credit guarantee enables access to affordable bank loans with reduced collateral requirements.
- Financing is non-dilutive, so the scheme takes no equity in the applicant’s company.
- The lender disburses an approved loan after its own checks and after all MBRIF letter-of-intent conditions are met; the official pages do not publish a fixed loan or guarantee amount.
Eligibility
- Companies must be UAE-based; MBRIF also invites innovative companies willing to establish a UAE base.
- Applicants may be of any nationality, and no age, gender, degree or stated work-experience requirement is published.
- The innovation must be beyond ideation and the business must show strong market potential with scalable, high-impact prospects.
- Technology, education, water, transport, clean energy, health and space are priority sectors, but MBRIF states that innovations outside them may still apply.
- MBRIF typically seeks companies that have commercialized their product or service and can show a clear path to breakeven; this is a stated selection profile, not an absolute nationality or sector bar.
Can you apply?
Open to all applicants
No nationality, residency, education, or experience limits are listed.
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Application process
- 1Register and submit the online Guarantee Scheme application.
- 2Complete the light due-diligence review for eligibility and preliminary clearance.
- 3Provide the information requested for detailed innovation, commercial, industry and credit-risk due diligence.
- 4The independent Advisory & Decision Committee reviews the application and makes a final decision.
- 5If approved, receive a letter of intent, complete the introduced lender’s checks and conditions, and proceed to loan disbursement.
Program timeline
Rolling
Online applications are accepted without a published closing date.
Up to 10 business weeks
The main program page’s estimate from online application to final decision when submissions and responses are timely.
Up to 4 months
The FAQ’s broader estimate from initial application through selection and communication of the final decision.