MBRIF Mohammed Bin Rashid Innovation Fund

MBRIF Mohammed Bin Rashid Innovation Fund

Funds innovation ventures in the United Arab Emirates with capital and enterprise support for scalable ideas.

The Mohammed Bin Rashid Innovation Fund (MBRIF) is a UAE federal innovation financing initiative launched by the Ministry of Finance and operationally supported by the Emirates Development Bank (EDB). Named after the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, MBRIF was established to advance the UAE's National Innovation Strategy through two primary programs: a loan guarantee scheme and a non-equity accelerator. The fund's aggregate capitalization is AED 2 billion, and its ecosystem has collectively facilitated over AED 2.8 billion in funding raised by member companies across more than 89 countries of origin.

The Guarantee Scheme — the primary financing instrument — provides government-backed loan guarantees to UAE-based growth-stage SMEs, enabling them to access commercial bank credit without equity dilution. Guarantees cover up to 50 percent of a qualifying loan, with an estimated ceiling of approximately AED 15 million per transaction (roughly USD 4 million). There is no grant component; the instrument is a credit enhancement, not a direct award. Eligible applicants must have a UAE commercial presence, a proven operating track record, and a viable plan for market expansion. Priority sectors include technology, education, renewable energy, water, transport, health, and space. Applications pass through a five-stage process — initial submission, light due diligence, heavy due diligence, independent committee review, and final commercial bank assessment — spanning approximately ten business weeks.

For founders, the core value of the MBRIF guarantee is that it unlocks conventional debt at lower collateral requirements than an unguaranteed bank loan would demand. The scheme suits post-revenue SMEs seeking working capital or capex financing for market expansion who cannot or prefer not to raise equity. Companies at earlier stages or requiring non-financial support may engage through the MBRIF Accelerator program, which provides mentorship and ecosystem access separately from the guarantee instrument.