Mastercard has launched Built Small. Moving Strong, a regional SME resilience program designed to support small and medium-sized enterprises across the Middle East as they navigate supply chain disruption and tightening financial conditions. The initiative brings together banks, government entities and ecosystem partners to help SMEs sustain operations and accelerate recovery in challenging market conditions.
The program addresses a critical need in the region. Across MENA, SMEs account for more than 90% of all businesses and contribute between 50 to 60 percent of GDP and employment. However, regional instability including trade disruptions and rising energy and logistics costs has placed increasing strain on small enterprises seeking to maintain continuity.
Financial Pressures on Regional SMEs
Research from the World Bank and International Monetary Fund shows that SMEs in conflict-affected markets face significant revenue pressures, disrupted trade flows and rising operating costs. Many businesses report sharp declines in income and constrained access to finance, making coordinated support essential for survival and growth.
Onur Kursun, Executive Vice President, Commercial and New Payment Flows, EEMEA, Mastercard stated: “SMEs are not just adapting to change – they are absorbing its impact in real time. What matters now is ensuring businesses have access to liquidity, actionable insights, and digital capabilities that allow them to keep operating and position themselves for recovery.”
SME Resilience Program Core Components
Built Small. Moving Strong combines financial tools, policy alignment and digital enablement to support SME continuity and long-term resilience. The initiative aligns with regional government priorities to strengthen SME ecosystems as part of broader economic transformation agendas focused on entrepreneurship, digitalization and private sector growth.
Initiatives developed in collaboration with government entities aim to ease operational burdens through licensing support, enablement programs and targeted SME initiatives. Mastercard’s role centers on enabling resilient infrastructure by ensuring payments continue to flow, businesses remain connected to customers and suppliers, and digital tools are accessible at scale.
Partnership Initiatives and Support Mechanisms
Mastercard is working alongside public and private sector partners to amplify SME support through multiple channels. With Female Fusion, an entrepreneurs’ network reaching more than 60,000 SMEs and founders, the company is delivering an interactive session on 8 May bringing together entrepreneurs and ecosystem partners to explore insights from the Mastercard Economics Institute, cyber resilience strategies and practical business tools.
First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) has launched a three-tier SME commercial card suite designed to enhance working capital flexibility, expense control and payment visibility. Through a Mastercard campaign, SMEs spending over AED 3,000 abroad using their Mastercard cards can claim an AED 300 Amazon voucher.
Pemo is offering SMEs up to AED 500 when spending with their cards until the end of June 2026. RAKBANK has committed approximately AED 2 billion in additional credit limits for both existing and new customers, spanning secured lending, term loans, trade finance and working capital solutions. The bank has granted deferrals to around 1,700 trade and working capital customers with total limits of AED 2.2 billion, as well as support for 2,320 retail business lending customers with outstanding balances of AED 680 million.
Global Digital Inclusion Goals
Globally, Mastercard has already surpassed its goal of bringing 50 million micro, small and medium enterprises into the digital economy, and is now advancing a new target to connect and protect 500 million individuals and small businesses by 2030. This reflects a long-term commitment to inclusive and resilient growth across markets.
Kursun added: “Resilience is not built in isolation – it is enabled through collaboration, innovation and access. When small businesses are equipped with the right tools and supported by a strong ecosystem, they don’t just withstand disruption, they emerge stronger, more agile and ready to lead the next phase of economic growth.”
