Today's Edition
ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)
Zelo, the UAE-based private credit platform and a subsidiary of International Holding Corporation (IHC), has secured a $715 million capital allocation from IHC to accelerate the growth of its supply chain financing capabilities across the Middle East.
The company said the allocation marks one of the largest private credit commitments in the region’s B2B financing space.
The funding will enable Zelo to expand liquidity access for SMEs operating across key sectors of the economy. Zelo provides financing against receivables owed by government entities, major corporates, and large regional businesses. By originating receivables linked to strong buyers, the company is transforming regional supply chains into an investable private credit asset pool.
The Middle East continues to face a structural $250 billion SME credit gap, driven by extended payment cycles and limited access to working capital. Zelo aims to help close this gap by offering near-instant liquidity through invoice financing, enabling suppliers to redeploy capital toward growth, take on larger contracts, and invest in capacity expansion.
The new allocation will support Zelo’s plan to target $1 billion in gross financing volume in 2026, a fivefold increase over current levels. The company’s portfolio strategy is supported by partnerships with Emirates Development Bank, Trojan Construction Group and National Marine Dredging Company.
Zelo currently operates across sectors including oil and gas, construction, infrastructure, healthcare, retail, FMCG, industrial services and marine.
Syed Basar Shueb, CEO of IHC, said: "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. This investment enables Zelo to scale its platform and contribute to a more resilient, diversified financial ecosystem in the region.”
Dhanush Arjun, CEO of Zelo, said: “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. The company remains focused on enabling faster, more efficient access to capital for SMEs and suppliers, reinforcing its role as a foundational driver of private credit growth in the region.”
Licensed and regulated by ADGM’s Financial Services Regulatory Authority, Zelo has operated since 2020 and provides embedded invoice-to-cash services through systems used by major buyers. The platform also offers bank-guarantee solutions to support contractors participating in national infrastructure and development projects.
Zelo’s model aligns with the UAE’s transition to mandatory e-Invoicing by 2026. The company said the capital allocation from IHC will help scale its embedded financing infrastructure and strengthen the foundations for a modern private credit market, supporting the UAE’s position as a hub for digitised private credit assets.
