Comera Finance Gains UAE Approval to Launch Regulated Lending Services

Comera Finance has just cleared a major hurdle, securing its final approval from the Central Bank of the UAE to operate as a Non-Banking Financial Company. It’s a mouthful of a title, I know, but in simple terms it means the company can now provide regulated lending and financing services to both retail and corporate clients. For a business sitting under Abu Dhabi’s Royal Group, this step feels quite spot on, especially as the UAE keeps nudging its financial sector toward more innovation and stronger compliance.

What stands out is that this approval didn’t come overnight. According to the company, regulators carried out an extensive review of Comera Finance’s governance, risk controls and readiness to actually run as a lender. Mr. Akhtar Saeed Hashmi, the Managing Director and Group CEO of Comera Financial Holdings, called the licence “a defining moment” and framed it as proof of the company’s “regulatory-first approach.” And believe it or not, that approach matters more than ever these days, with the UAE pushing hard for a financial system that’s resilient and future-ready.

The licence clears the way for Comera Finance to introduce a range of products for consumers, SMEs and corporates. They’re putting emphasis on responsible lending and transparency—two areas where I reckon many customers have felt let down by other players in the past. What caught my attention is how the company plans to operate strictly under the Central Bank’s standards, which can be a bit of a faff but usually keeps everyone safer in the long run.

This move also strengthens the wider Comera ecosystem, tying together digital communication tools, payment services and financial products in one platform. I remember chatting with a young founder at an Arageek event who joked that managing multiple platforms for finance and communication felt like keeping “five different kitchens running at once.” Integrating everything into one system should ease that headache… well, in theory anyway.

On the flip side, entering the market as a fully licensed NBFC puts real pressure on Comera Finance to deliver. Strong capital, experienced leadership and regulatory discipline look good on paper, but execution is where companies often stumble. Still, the timing aligns neatly with the UAE’s wider push for SME growth, financial inclusion and an innovation-driven economy. If Comera Finance plays its cards right, it could become a meaningful part of that story.

For now, the company says it’s gearing up for its next phase of expansion and will keep working with regulators and partners to build out its offerings. It’s early days, but this milestone definately sets the stage for what comes next in the UAE’s evolving financial landscape.

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