Deem Finance taps Biz2X for data-driven SME lending

By Vriti Gothi

Deem Finance, part of the Gargash Group, has partnered with AI-powered lending platform Biz2X to expand data-driven embedded finance solutions for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the UAE.

The collaboration will see Deem integrate Biz2X’s lending technology to introduce point-of-sale (POS)-based SME financing, allowing eligible merchants to access credit based on real-time sales and transaction data rather than traditional balance-sheet metrics. The approach is designed to align financing decisions more closely with day-to-day trading performance and cash-flow patterns.

Access to working capital remains a structural challenge for many UAE SMEs, particularly businesses with seasonal or transaction-heavy revenue streams that may not be adequately reflected in conventional underwriting models. By embedding POS-derived cash-flow insights into its credit assessment process, Deem aims to offer financing structured around actual business activity rather than static financial snapshots.

Under the partnership, SMEs will have access to a fully digital onboarding process, with credit assessments and approvals typically completed within 48 hours. Repayment terms will be linked to sales performance, enabling merchants to manage obligations in line with revenue fluctuations.

“SMEs are the backbone of the UAE economy, yet many still face barriers to accessing finance that reflects how they really operate,” said Chris Taylor, CEO of Deem Finance. “This partnership allows us to lend differently using real transaction data to offer fairer, more practical financing that moves with a business, not against it.”

Biz2X, which powers more than $37 billion in SME lending globally, provides digital infrastructure and analytics tools to financial institutions across multiple markets. Its platform focuses on automated underwriting, risk analytics and scalable digital loan management.

“Our mission at Biz2X is to make access to credit simpler, faster, and more aligned with real business performance,” said Rohit Arora, CEO and Co-Founder of Biz2X and Biz2Credit. “Partnering with Deem Finance allows us to bring that mission to the UAE SME ecosystem through a regulated institution that understands local market realities.”

The partnership reflects a broader shift in SME finance toward embedded and data-driven models, as lenders seek to close credit gaps using alternative data sources and digital workflows. In the UAE, where SMEs play a central role in economic diversification and employment, such initiatives are increasingly positioned as critical to supporting sustainable growth and financial inclusion.