AGP Executive Report

Open Finance in the UAE: Commercial Bank of Dubai’s CBD says it’s the first UAE bank to let customers initiate payments from other banks’ accounts inside the CBD mobile app, following Central Bank approval under the Open Finance initiative—aimed at making cross-bank payments simpler for everyday users and small firms. Oman SME scrutiny: In Salalah’s Khareef season, “Khareef kiosks” are under scrutiny over who really controls permits—concerns focus on whether permit holders keep effective management and profit risk, or whether expatriate workers run kiosks under arrangements that may sidestep the spirit of licensing. Food safety pressure on small operators: A Cardiff Bay Turkish restaurant, The Sultan, fought an “unfair” food hygiene rating and after reinspection earned a top score again—highlighting how inspection outcomes can quickly strain small family businesses. Medical travel growth: Istanbul’s DentSpa wins Global Healthcare Accreditation for its international patient experience, signaling continued demand for organized, service-led healthcare for overseas patients. Startup expansion via partnerships: Turkey’s Ballipinar Dental Clinic boosts international visibility through a sponsorship tie-up with English club Gillingham, using football branding to attract cross-border patients.

SME Export Push: Oman’s phased e-invoicing rollout is moving from policy to law, with a voluntary pilot starting end-Aug and mandatory secure e-tax invoices from 1 Apr 2027 (OMR5m+ suppliers) and 1 Oct 2027 (below threshold), forcing businesses to update ERP, procurement and supplier workflows. Digital Business Growth: Shufti says it earned a Gartner Magic Quadrant Honorable Mention for identity verification, highlighting in-house document intelligence for 150+ languages—useful for fintech and SMB onboarding across diverse ID systems. Tourism & Services Branding: Turkey’s Ballipinar Dental Clinic is using a UK football club sponsorship to boost international patient visibility, while Istanbul’s DentSpa touts GHA certification for medical travel patient experience. Tech & Investment Signals: Türkiye’s GITEX Ai Türkiye is positioning Istanbul as an AI funding corridor for industrial AI, fintech and enterprise software. Food Tech Expansion: Israel’s Ever After Foods acquired Belgium’s Fishway to broaden cultivated-protein platform capabilities and secured an extra $2m investment. Infrastructure & Jobs: Kandiyohi County Economic Development in the US says it’s now fully staffed, aiming to restart local business support after staffing troubles.

UAE Entrepreneurship: Expat women are building businesses across the Emirates, citing the country’s business-friendly environment, global connectivity and innovation culture as key tailwinds. Oman Digital Compliance: Advintek’s Al Faisal became an Oman Tax Authority approved authorized service provider for Fawtara e-invoicing, aiming to help firms meet Phase 1 compliance ahead of April 2027. Oman SME Procurement: be’ah (MUSCAT) says it directed 23.4% of its 2025 budget to SMEs, awarding RO 4m via contracts and boosting in-country value to 38.4%. Oman Tourism & Local Spend: Dhofar’s Khareef season is being framed as a local-content opportunity, pushing procurement and jobs so tourism value stays in the governorate. Oman Manufacturing Push: Oman’s “Made in Oman” initiative is expanding competitiveness and explicitly backing SMEs with quality upgrades and market access. Egypt Tech Growth: Egypt is positioning itself as a Middle East AI startup hub, backed by a national AI strategy, incentives and smart-city infrastructure. Egypt Women’s Funding: Egypt’s MSME agency reports women-led projects received over EGP 1.3bn in 2025, supporting tens of thousands of initiatives. Israel Business Building: A Jerusalem nonprofit is helping new olim set up businesses, focusing on practical support for early-stage entrepreneurs. Cyber & Payments: Mastercard CEO Michael Miebach highlighted cybersecurity as its fastest-growing business, tying fraud risk to the future of B2B commerce. SME Finance: Suez Canal Bank posted H1 2026 net profit of EGP 3.63bn, with deposits up and lending growth supporting credit demand.

SME Finance & Inclusion (Egypt): Suez Canal Bank reported EGP 3.63bn net profit in H1 2026, with net interest income up 47.4% and deposits rising 14.3%, a sign of steadier funding for credit demand. Women’s Entrepreneurship (Egypt): Egypt’s MSMEDA backed 25,900 women-led projects in 2025 with over EGP 1.3bn, prioritizing micro-enterprises and pairing financing with training and capacity support. E-Invoicing Compliance (Oman): Advintek’s Al Faisal won Oman Tax Authority Approved Authorized Service Provider status, positioning it to help firms meet the Fawtara e-invoicing mandate from April 2027. Local Procurement for SMEs (Oman): be’ah said it directed 23.4% of its 2025 budget to SMEs (RO 4m) and raised its In-Country Value index to 38.4%, backed by digital transformation and local supplier inclusion. Tourism Spend with Local Content (Oman): Khareef Dhofar coverage highlights how visitor spending can be converted into local economic value through procurement from Omani agriculture, fishing and services. Business Support for Newcomers (Israel): MATI Jerusalem continues mentoring new immigrant and underserved entrepreneurs, including women and haredi business owners, with tailored guidance to help firms start and scale. Cross-border Trade (Egypt–Libya): Egypt’s Federation of Egyptian Industries signed a protocol with Benghazi chambers to plan an Egyptian-Libyan Industrial Integration Exhibition in April 2027, aiming for joint ventures and value-chain partnerships. Digital Economy Push (Egypt): Egypt’s AI startup growth is framed as government-led, with a national AI strategy, smart-city infrastructure and incentives meant to help startups test and scale. SME Growth via Loans (Philippines): GCash lending arm Fuse backs MSMEs with accessible loans, aiming to expand financial inclusion at community level.

SME Digital Compliance (Oman): Advintek’s Oman unit Al Faisal was approved by the Oman Tax Authority as an Authorized Service Provider for Fawtara e-invoicing, aiming to help firms meet Phase 1 compliance ahead of an April 2027 rollout. Industrial Integration (Egypt–Libya): Egypt’s Federation of Egyptian Industries and Libya’s chambers signed a protocol to stage an annual Egyptian-Libyan Industrial Integration Exhibition in Benghazi, targeting joint ventures, tech transfer, and value-chain links across sectors like chemicals, engineering, textiles, and food. Banking & MSME Finance (Egypt): Suez Canal Bank reported H1 2026 net profit of EGP 3.63bn and a 47.4% jump in net interest income, with deposit growth and retail funding supporting future credit demand. New Immigrant Business Support (Israel): MATI Jerusalem’s mentoring push backs new entrepreneurs and small businesses, including new immigrants and women, with practical guidance for setting up and scaling in Jerusalem. Diaspora Finance (Somalia–Horn of Africa): Coverage highlights Dahabshiil’s role in remittances that help households and small businesses survive and invest when formal banking access is limited. Local Business Ecosystems (Saudi Expo 2030): Saudi Arabia’s Expo 2030 planning draws lessons from Osaka 2025, stressing procurement discipline and legacy infrastructure that can keep benefiting SMEs after the event. Crypto Access via Banks (Israel): Bank Leumi partnered with Galaxy to bring direct Bitcoin, Ether, and Solana trading through its app from early 2027, potentially widening financial services for small firms and households.

Expo Strategy: Saudi Arabia is studying Osaka 2025 as it gears up for Expo 2030 Riyadh, with a focus on procurement discipline, contingency buffers, and repurposing most build-outs for long-term tourism, real estate, education, and business services. SME Finance: In the Philippines, GCash’s lending arm Fuse is backing MSMEs with a more accessible, digital, interest-free loan product aimed at easing documentary barriers that block traditional credit. Digital Finance in the Region: Israel’s Bank Leumi is partnering with Galaxy to bring Bitcoin, Ether, and Solana trading inside its app from early 2027—an expansion of mainstream crypto access for households and small businesses. Entrepreneur Support in Israel: MATI Jerusalem is helping new immigrant and underserved entrepreneurs launch and grow businesses through tailored mentoring and city-linked support networks. Diaspora Remittances: A Somalia-focused report highlights Dahabshiil’s role in sustaining households and small businesses via cross-border remittances after the collapse of formal banking. Policy & Risk: Iran-linked conflict is pushing up borrowing costs for small businesses, adding pressure to already tight operating margins.

SME Finance Access: GCash’s lending arm Fuse backs MSMEs with more accessible digital working-capital loans via GLoan Negosyo, aiming to cut the paperwork barrier that keeps many small firms out of formal credit. Banking & Digital Assets: Israel’s Bank Leumi is partnering with Galaxy to let customers trade Bitcoin, Ether and Solana inside its Leumi Trade app from early 2027—an SMB-relevant shift as banks broaden services beyond traditional accounts. Entrepreneurship Support in Israel: Jerusalem nonprofit MATI helps new immigrants and underserved entrepreneurs launch and grow businesses through tailored mentoring and city-linked programs. Diaspora Money Flows: Dahabshiil’s role in Somali diaspora finance is highlighted as remittances keep households afloat and can seed small business investment where banking access is limited. Tech & Startup Push (Türkiye): Türkiye’s fast-growing ICT and AI push—backed by major data centre and AI investment plans and large-scale talent training—signals more opportunity for local tech SMEs. SME Cost Pressure (Canada): Canada’s end of a federal gas/diesel fuel excise tax break is set to raise operating costs for small businesses, with restaurant owners warning about shipping and supply-price knock-ons.

Tech & AI Push in Türkiye: Türkiye’s ICT market is framed as a US$58B by 2031 opportunity, with $3B earmarked for data centres and AI, a bid to raise $10B in private funding, and plans to train 10,000 advanced AI specialists plus 100,000 AI application professionals—aimed at turning Istanbul into a regional AI hub. SME-Ready Payments in the Gulf: UAE banks are rolling out “school fee” instalment plans that let parents split payments into 3–12 months via mobile apps and credit cards, easing cash-flow pressure for households and education spend. Israel’s Digital Assets Banking: Bank Leumi is partnering with Galaxy to offer regulated digital asset trading—another step toward mainstreaming fintech services for customers. Defense Tech Credentials: Israel’s Maris-Tech wins AS9100D certification, clearing a key quality threshold to bid as a prime contractor in defense and aerospace tenders. Energy Trade Risk Watch: Saudi Aramco results are being read through Hormuz disruption and war-risk insurance spikes, highlighting how shipping constraints can reshape energy portfolios and costs. Local Business Growth Angle: Egypt’s North Coast roadshow for SOUEAST’s S08 DM spotlights demand for hybrid SUVs and local customer engagement as brands expand.

UAE Fintech for Families: FAB, HSBC UAE, National Bank of Fujairah and RAKBANK are rolling out school-fee instalment plans that let parents split payments into interest-free monthly terms (often up to 12 months), easing cash-flow for households. Oman Tourism & SME Boost: Taqah’s 15-day Khareef festival (to Aug 27) is pushing longer stays and local spending, with a dedicated exhibition and retail fair for home-based businesses. Saudi Health Tech Licensing: Diagnos won Saudi FDA marketing authorization for its CARA AI retinal screening system, targeting diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration with an “affordable unit cost” pitch. Gulf Business Setup & Payments: Emirates NBD and Dubai Future District Fund are partnering to drive fintech innovation, while a separate UAE data-hosting push supports regional communications needs. Türkiye Startup & AI Push: Türkiye’s tech market is being positioned for a major scale-up, with plans for data centre and AI investment plus a large AI talent drive, and a big GITEX Ai Türkiye event set for Sept 9–10. Regional Tech Ecosystem: Staffbase opened a Middle East and Africa office and launched UAE data hosting, aiming to close a regional communications gap.

Turkey Tech & AI Push: Türkiye’s ICT market is projected to jump from US$38B (2026) to US$58B by 2031, with $3B earmarked for data centers and AI this year, a goal of 1GW data-center capacity by 2030, and plans to train 10,000 advanced AI specialists plus 100,000 AI application professionals—fueling startup and SME opportunities around new digital infrastructure. Aerospace AI Contracts (Israel): Odysight.ai reported H1 results and a Boeing purchase order to demo AI predictive maintenance at two Boeing sites, alongside orders tied to Elbit Systems and Honeywell—signals of growing demand for tech-enabled maintenance services that SMEs can partner into. AI Power for Data Centers (Turkey): Noon Energy and Sabanci Renewables agreed to co-develop up to 1GW of ultra-long duration storage to supply 24/7 clean power for AI infrastructure, with potential commercial deployments from 2027. Gaza Financial System: Realign for Palestine outlines a “closed-loop” digital finance architecture for Gaza focused on secure, regulated everyday payments for individuals and SMEs to support reconstruction and aid distribution. UAE HR Tech Hosting: Staffbase launched Middle East & Africa regional data hosting from Dubai, targeting frontline-heavy sectors that need locally hosted enterprise tools. SME Tax Relief (UAE): UAE extended small business corporate tax relief until 2029, easing cost pressure for smaller firms. SME Finance Inclusion (Gulf/Region): BRICS trade ministers backed stronger SME support and discussed invoice discounting to close the MSME trade-finance gap.

Gulf SME push: Sheraa launched SWIF 2026 to back women-led entrepreneurship in the UAE, using its LEAD Framework plus coaching and investor/partner access to help founders scale. SME finance gap: A new GCC-focused piece argues SMEs still get under 5% of bank lending and face fragmented support, weak asset registries, and limited dispute resolution—leaving a financing gap of $250B+. UAE tax relief: Multiple reports say the UAE extended small-business corporate tax relief until end-2029, a direct boost for cash-strapped operators planning hiring and investment. Payments growth: Yuno raised $45M Series B to scale an AI-native payments and finance operating system, with Gulf-linked investors including Rasmal Ventures and Abu Dhabi’s Further Ventures. Regulatory cost pressure: DHS finalized new fees for some H-1B/L-1 employers tied to an entry-exit biometric system, raising compliance costs for firms that sponsor talent. Local ecosystem spotlight: Dubai South Business Hub Free Zone said it’s deepening SME growth support via a strategic collaboration with DHL Express.

Afghanistan Women’s Entrepreneurship: In western Afghanistan, women like Ruqia Rezai are keeping small workshops alive despite Taliban-era restrictions, using soap-making and family-run production to employ local workers and stabilize household income. UAE Corporate Tax Relief: The UAE is extending small-business corporate tax relief, giving SMEs breathing room as war-linked supply shocks and higher operating costs squeeze margins. UAE SME Resilience in Wartime: A Dubai emergency-kit maker says the Iran war boosted demand but also disrupted logistics and raised costs, highlighting how SMEs are adapting to volatile supply chains. Iraq Delivery Sector Squeezed: Iraqi delivery firms warn that overlapping regulations and rising licensing fees are pushing more than 25 companies to close daily, threatening a key link between small businesses and customers. Turkey Tech Push: Türkiye is staging GITEX Ai Türkiye in Istanbul as it scales AI and data-center investment, aiming to train thousands of AI specialists and grow its startup ecosystem. Fintech Leadership: Mastercard appoints Yasemin Bedir to lead its EEMEA region from Dubai, signaling continued focus on payments and fintech partnerships across the Middle East. SME Enablement via AI/IT: UAE-based Synergy Gravitas completes its acquisition of Perpetual Technologies, expanding enterprise and SME IT services and AI workflow capabilities. Local Business Impact from Oil Spill: East Los Angeles businesses report slow reimbursement after an oil spill disrupted deliveries and appointments, with many still waiting on promised payments.

SME Finance Shock (UK): Azets debt advisory warns Iran-linked geopolitical risk is pushing up borrowing costs for UK SMEs, squeezing margins and investment across manufacturing, logistics, haulage, hospitality and construction. Market Mood (US): Despite the same Iran-driven uncertainty, US small-business optimism hit an 11-month high in July, with more owners planning hiring, though uncertainty remains elevated. Digital Skills for SMEs (Pakistan): Pakistan’s IT ministry and Meta launched a Small Business Growth Academy training 1,000+ businesses in nine cities, with a focus on women-led firms and sectors like textiles, handicrafts and IT services. AgTech in Qatar (Desert Farming): Hydrovest Technology says combining controlled-environment agriculture with traditional farming can help growers manage freshwater and soil limits in hyper-arid climates. Tourism Pressure (Cambodia): Siem Reap vendors report foreign arrivals down sharply, with domestic tourism keeping some businesses afloat but at low levels. UAE Tax Relief: UAE finance authorities extend corporate tax relief for small businesses until 2029, easing near-term compliance and cash pressure. Real Estate & Proptech (Dubai): IPS Congress previews a Dubai World Trade Centre program focused on innovation-led real estate investment, startups and services as transactions keep growing.

UAE Fintech Push: Emirates NBD teamed up with Dubai Future District Fund (DFDF) to source, pilot and deploy fintech/AI solutions, with a focus on SME services, compliance tech and next-gen banking infrastructure. Turkey SME Credit Pressure: Turkey’s business chambers renewed complaints about high loan costs and slow rate cuts, arguing SMEs face the steepest financing squeeze as banks react late to policy changes. Iran Subsidy Crackdown: Iran will suspend subsidized food coupon benefits for households failing in-person residency checks, with August 3–Sept 21 deadlines and household-wide suspension if verification isn’t completed. Oman SME Tourism Boost: Oman’s Khareef programme is highlighted as a driver for SMEs and local tourism, supporting small operators through seasonal demand. Israel Defense Tech Contract: Maris-Tech won an option exercise expanding a defense contract for a vehicle-mounted audio-based system for armored fighting vehicles. Kuwait Energy Innovation: Baker Hughes signed a multi-year deal with Kuwait Oil Company to accelerate upstream tech innovation via Ahmadi Innovation Valley, including digital and AI automation. Turkey AI Market Spotlight: GITEX Ai Türkiye 2026 in Istanbul will spotlight Türkiye’s fast-growing AI and data centre ambitions, including plans to train thousands of AI specialists. SME Sentiment Watch: Hong Kong’s latest SME business survey shows cautious sentiment, with receipts and new orders slightly softening amid uncertainty tied to Middle East developments.

UAE SME Tax Relief: The UAE Ministry of Finance extended corporate tax relief for small businesses (up to Dh3m revenue) until Dec 31, 2029, easing compliance and freeing cash for hiring, marketing, and early-stage growth. UAE Fintech Push: Emirates NBD partnered with Dubai Future District Fund to accelerate fintech and AI progress, aiming to boost innovation and adoption. Oman Tourism & Micro-Enterprise Support: Khareef Dhofar Season 2026 runs through Sept 21 with 136 free stalls for home-based businesses and artisans, plus a large agri-tourism destination to drive local demand. Syria Return Risks: Ras al-Ain’s first coordinated return convoy in over seven years faced assaults and gunfire, underlining ongoing security and property concerns for displaced families. Trade & SME Financing: BRICS trade ministers backed stronger trade links and agreed to study invoice discounting mechanisms to close the global trade finance gap for MSMEs. Energy Pressure on Businesses: Talks to reopen the Strait of Hormuz remain stalled, with Iran’s conditions seen as non-starters, pushing oil and gas prices higher and adding cost pressure across supply chains.

UAE Tax Relief: The UAE Ministry of Finance extended corporate tax relief for small businesses (up to Dh3m revenue) until Dec 31, 2029, cutting early-stage tax friction and freeing cash for hiring, marketing and rent. Fintech Partnerships: Emirates NBD teamed up with the Dubai Future District Fund (DFDF) to source, pilot and scale AI and fintech solutions, including embedded finance, digital assets, SME tools and compliance tech. SME Procurement Push: Dubai Customs said it boosted Emirati supplier purchases/contracts by 18% in 2025, supporting local firms through the Emirati Supplier Programme and government procurement reforms. Payments & Growth: Nayax reported Q2 momentum—revenue up 28% to $123m, installed base above 1.55m devices and plans to expand embedded financial services via Lynkwell and Nayax Capital. Supply Chain Risk Cover: Rokstone launched a cyber supply chain disruption extension under its Athena Cyber Division, aiming to protect SMEs when attacks hit key suppliers or customers. Micro-business Access to Finance: Invest NI’s Business Innovation Grant backed 160 micro and SMEs with £3.6m for innovation and productivity. Market Watch: Kaspi.kz posted strong 2Q/1H growth, with e-commerce still the main engine and AI shopping assistant Kasper rolling out nationwide.