- Zelo secured a US$715 million capital allocation from IHC to expand supply chain financing and strengthen SME liquidity across the Middle East.
- The platform targets the region’s US$250 billion SME credit gap by offering near-instant invoice financing to unlock working capital.
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Zelo aims to reach US$1 billion in gross financing volume by 2026, supported by strong institutional partnerships including Emirates Development Bank, Trojan, and NMDC.
Zelo, the UAE-based private-credit platform and subsidiary of International Holding Company (IHC), has received a US$715 million capital allocation to scale its supply chain financing solutions across the Middle East. This represents one of the largest commitments in the region’s B2B financing landscape and is positioned to significantly expand liquidity access for SMEs across key economic sectors.
Strengthening SME Access to Working Capital
Zelo provides SMEs and mid-market suppliers with financing against receivables owed by government entities, large corporates, and regional enterprises. By converting receivables linked to major buyers into investable private-credit assets, Zelo is enabling broader institutional participation in the region’s credit markets.
The Middle East currently faces a US$250 billion SME credit gap, driven by long payment cycles and restricted access to working capital. Zelo addresses this gap by offering near-instant liquidity through invoice financing, allowing suppliers to:
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Redeploy working capital into growth
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Take on larger contracts
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Expand output and operations
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Invest in hiring and capacity building
Fueling Regional Expansion and Scaling Credit Deployment
The new capital will accelerate Zelo’s regional deployment strategy. The company is targeting US$1 billion in gross financing volume by 2026, representing a fivefold increase from current activity levels.
Zelo’s portfolio strategy is built on strong institutional partnerships, including:
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Emirates Development Bank
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Trojan Construction Group
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National Marine Dredging Company
These partnerships expand origination channels and reinforce credit quality across Zelo’s portfolio.
Zelo currently operates across diverse sectors such as oil and gas, construction, infrastructure, healthcare, retail, FMCG, industrial services, and marine.
Leadership Perspectives
Syed Basar Shueb, CEO of IHC, stated:
“Private credit has become one of the fastest-growing asset classes globally. Our commitment to Zelo signals confidence in the region’s ability to originate institutional-grade receivables and to play a larger role in the global private credit market.”
Zelo CEO Dhanush Arjun added:
“With this milestone allocation, Zelo will continue expanding across the GCC and building a scalable private credit infrastructure platform rooted in predictable, real-economy assets.”
