• Badir Fund Partners with “Nahda Fund II” to Empower SME Growth
• Partnership Aims to Expand Access to Financing for Startups

The Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development has announced a new strategic investment through its financing arm, Badir Fund, by entering into a partnership with “Nahda Fund II”, a fund managed by Shorooq Partners.

 This initiative aims to accelerate the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the region.

Strategic Timing

This partnership comes at a crucial moment, as many startups struggle to access traditional bank financing.

 This growing challenge highlights the urgent need for more flexible and structured financial alternatives.

“Nahda Fund II” is a certified fund registered with the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) at the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) and is designed to support innovation and expansion within the tech sector and other vital industries.

Stakeholder Statements

Nathan Kwon, Partner and Head of Credit at Shorooq Partners, commented:

“Partnering with Bader represents a pivotal milestone in empowering SMEs, combining our expertise with Badir’s developmental capital to drive sustainable economic progress.”

The Nahda Fund II Fund has already provided tangible support to several notable startups, including:

• Abhi: a fintech company, which received $15 million to scale its salary advance services.
• The Box: a self-storage firm, which secured $12.5 million to improve its operational capabilities.

About Badir Fund

Established in 2009, Bader Fund operates as a special account managed by the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development.

 It focuses on financing and providing technical assistance to SMEs, with an emphasis on job creation and private-sector-led growth.

Dr. Essam Al-Qurashi, Secretary-General of Badir Fund, added:

“This investment opens new horizons for startups and contributes to expanding financial inclusion across the Arab world, especially for communities underserved by traditional banking.”

A Shift in Development Finance Philosophy

The announcement concluded by emphasizing that this partnership is more than a capital injection—it reflects a broader transformation in development finance.

 Investment funds are increasingly acting like development banks but with more flexible tools and a better understanding of the evolving needs of growing businesses.

العربية (Arabic) To read the article in Arabic, click here