Speaking at TXF Global 2026 in Prague, Raja Al Mazrouei, CEO of Etihad Credit Insurance (ECI), set out how the UAE continues to position itself as a resilient connector between developed and high-growth markets. Her remarks pointed to a deliberate shift: export credit agencies are no longer simply facilitating transactions — they are becoming structural enablers of economic diversification. For founders choosing the UAE as a base, this distinction matters.
ECI, established in 2018 as the UAE's federal export credit company, has substantially broadened its mandate since then. The organisation now operates across 30 African countries, supporting sectors including healthcare infrastructure, green energy, and digital transformation. It has also expanded its exposure appetite toward high-potential emerging markets that align with the UAE's growing Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) network. The tools on offer — credit guarantees, risk mitigation instruments, and trade finance support — are designed to improve the bankability of cross-border projects and draw in greater private-sector participation.
What this means for our clients
For UAE-based SMEs and founders with export ambitions, ECI's stated strategic priority is relevant. Al Mazrouei explicitly identified SMEs as central to the UAE's non-oil export agenda, and noted that ECI has adapted its underwriting processes to offer more accessible and flexible solutions for growth-oriented exporters. In practice, this typically means that UAE-registered companies — including free zone entities, in most cases — may have access to credit insurance and guarantee products that can help them enter markets that might otherwise carry prohibitive risk profiles.
The broader signal from TXF Global 2026 is that blended finance structures — combining public and private capital — are increasingly the mechanism through which large-scale projects in clean energy, logistics, and advanced manufacturing are getting done. Founders building businesses with a cross-border or export dimension should be aware that the institutional architecture supporting those transactions is actively evolving in the UAE's favour. Agility in financial structuring is becoming a competitive advantage, not a secondary consideration.
We follow developments like ECI's strategy evolution closely because they shape the operating environment for companies we help establish and structure. If you are considering a UAE setup with export or cross-border trade at its core, we encourage you to read the full source article at Economy Middle East and then book a consultation with our team to discuss how these dynamics apply to your specific structure.