Shams and RAKBANK Partner to Simplify Banking for UAE Startups

Editorial Team

Last updated 23-10-2025

2 min

Sharjah Media City (Shams) and RAKBANK are enhancing UAE startups' access to finance and digital tools.

The collaboration aims to simplify the entrepreneurial journey and offer quick funding access for SMEs.

Emphasising trust and flexibility, the partnership aligns with the UAE's global entrepreneurship ambitions.

Bridging banking with business ecosystems could significantly boost the UAE's burgeoning media startups.

Success relies on translating intentions into practical benefits for daily startup operations.

Sharjah Media City (Shams) has teamed up with RAKBANK in what looks like a meaningful boost for the UAE’s startup and SME scene. The two have signed a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at giving small businesses better access to finance and smoother digital banking tools. In plain terms, it means entrepreneurs can spend less time faffing about with paperwork and more time building their dream ventures.

I’ve often seen how new founders in MENA juggle admin, bank visits, and endless forms—that alone can slow early growth. This partnership could ease that pain point quite a bit, combining Shams’ energetic business hub with RAKBANK’s digital-first approach. It’s about making that first business account or capital request as frictionless as possible.

Rashid Sahoo, Shams’ Director of Operations, said the free zone is pushing to “simplify the entrepreneurial journey” and nurture innovation across the UAE. He described the move as a major step towards giving startups essential tools and quick access to funding. Meanwhile, Emad Ahmed from RAKBANK echoed the sentiment, stressing that speed, flexibility, and trust are key in business banking—a trio every startup founder secretly prays for.

I reckon this collaboration couldn’t be more timely. With the UAE doubling down on creative industries and media startups, having an easy bridge between financial services and free zones is spot on. On the flip side, execution will be the real test—announcing partnerships is one thing, but turning signatures into day-to-day value is another story altogether.

Still, the intent is clear. By connecting banking and business ecosystems, Shams and RAKBANK are aligning neatly with the UAE’s national push to become a global entrepreneurship hub. It’s also a quiet reminder that financial inclusion for SMEs isn’t just policy-speak; it’s the daily grind behind sustainable economic growth.

At Arageek, we’ve always got our eyes on moves like this—especially when they touch that sweet spot between policy and passion. Startups are the beating heart of innovation here, and seeing institutions finally treating them less like clients and more like partners… well, that’s something to be chuffed about. It’s not perfection yet, but it’s definately a step in the right direction.

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