AGP Executive Report

SME Growth in Oman: A new piece argues Oman’s SMEs can drive jobs and diversification under Vision 2040, pointing to sectors like tourism, logistics, manufacturing, food processing and renewable energy, and highlighting support via the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority. Cybersecurity for Small Firms: Kaspersky warns that SMBs across the Middle East, Türkiye and Africa are still getting hit hard, with only 18% avoiding incidents over the past year and rising malware tactics like password stealers and spyware. Healthcare Services Go Digital (Turkey): Attelia launched a patient “Health Tour” app to streamline international care journeys, from pre-travel planning to post-treatment follow-up—an example of service businesses using software to reduce friction. UAE Working Capital for Scale-Up: Swvl secured its first UAE working capital facility with Zelo to fund enterprise account growth, aiming to convert its pipeline faster without shareholder dilution. Saudi SME Finance Push: Aajil Capital received a CMA licence to offer Shariah-compliant investment management focused on Saudi industrial SMEs, using data and origination from its sister platform. Quantum-Safe Security Demo (MENA): Arqit, Es’hailSat and AIEE demonstrated quantum-safe encryption integrated into live satellite operations in Doha, signaling new security services for critical infrastructure. AI Ads Expansion: OpenAI said ChatGPT Ads hit a $1B annualized run rate and is expanding ads access to India, Europe, the Middle East and North Africa—while critics flag measurement gaps advertisers can’t verify.

SME Cost Relief in Malaysia: Former finance minister Lim Guan Eng urged more reforms as living costs bite, pointing to Merdeka Day measures that expand petrol/diesel quotas, boost school maintenance funding, and add grants for hawkers, small traders, night-market vendors and home-based businesses. Qatar Smart Mobility Push: Qatar’s Ministry of Transport will host the second Autonomous e-Mobility Forum in Doha (Sept 7–8), spotlighting AI-driven electric and autonomous transport to cut emissions and improve safety—an angle that matters for local suppliers and logistics SMEs. Cybersecurity Pressure on Small Firms (META): Kaspersky research tied to GITEX Nigeria warns that 82% of SMBs in the META region faced cyber incidents in the past year, with spyware, password stealers and backdoors rising—raising the stakes for SMEs that lack dedicated security teams. Iran Trade Shock Hits Businesses: Euronews Farsi reports a reinstated US naval blockade has disrupted most of Iran’s heavy imports and non-oil exports, stranding cargo, spiking freight rates, and squeezing household budgets—directly impacting Iranian SMEs reliant on supply chains. Saudi AI Access for Creators and SMEs: Adobe expanded its partnership with Saudi MCIT and HUMAIN, offering 27m eligible Saudi citizens/residents free access to AI creative tools, including Firefly and Express, to support productivity and small business content creation. WhatsApp Business Charges Loom for Kenyan SMBs: Meta’s plan to start charging Kenyan businesses for WhatsApp Business messages signals higher operating costs for customer-facing SMEs.

Saudi SME Digital Boost: Adobe, MCIT and HUMAIN (PIF) will give over 27m eligible Saudi citizens and residents free access for 12 months to Adobe Firefly Standard and Adobe Express Premium, aiming to supercharge local creative output and small-business content creation. Oman SME Cash-Flow Relief: Riyada and Nama Electricity Supply launch “Riyada Plus” for SMEs with Riyada Entrepreneurship Cards, offering flexible payment plans for electricity dues and support to cut bills via more efficient usage. UAE Real Estate Dealmaking: Reportage Group joins Dubai’s IPS 2026 as a Diamond Sponsor, highlighting its fast sales growth and expanding international footprint—useful signals for developers and SME suppliers tied to construction demand. Iran Trade Shock: A reinstated US naval blockade is reported to have disrupted over 80% of Iran’s heavy imports and non-oil exports, with freight delays and soaring costs hitting everyday livelihoods and business continuity. Saudi Quantum Partnerships: KACST (NCQT) signs a research collaboration with Pasqal to develop quantum-safe cryptography readiness, a potential long-term tailwind for tech firms working on secure systems. SME Funding Trend: A new report projects global crowdfunding growth from $25.72bn (2026) to $96.40bn by 2035, driven by more accessible early-stage financing and tokenized, borderless micro-investing.

SME Support & Cost Relief (Malaysia): Malaysia’s PM Anwar Ibrahim announced measures effective Sept. 1 to ease living costs and back small traders, including restoring higher quotas for subsidised RON95 petrol (300 litres/month) and diesel for certain users (400 litres/month), plus more funding for schools, digital health and micro-financing for small businesses. SME Finance (Kuwait): National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) is expanding integrated business banking and financing for SMEs, bundling payments, day-to-day banking and POS financing to help firms turn sales into growth and competitiveness. Local Content for Jobs (Oman): Oman is pushing local content beyond “buy local” toward building local service capabilities (engineering, logistics, IT, consulting, training, facility management) to retain more value in-country and create quality jobs. SME Licensing Reform (Kuwait): Kuwait’s Commerce Ministry is studying structural changes to freelance and micro-business licensing to make it easier to start businesses while improving transparency in real ownership and management. Banking Performance (Pakistan): Bank of Punjab (BOP) reported strong H1 2026 results and declared a record 16% interim dividend, signaling continued momentum for SME-linked economic activity. Digital Economy (Turkmenistan): Turkmenistan is drafting an electronic commerce law to formalize e-trade rules, protect consumers and sellers, and better connect transactions to the banking system. Microfinance/Fintech (UAE): A Gulf-backed decentralized lending protocol, LemLoans, says it has launched on BNB Smart Chain with plans for further integration and liquidity support.

Palestinian Christian Exodus: A new essay warns the decline of Palestinian Christians is “real, serious, and accelerating,” but responses remain mostly warnings without a workable plan. SME Banking Push (Kuwait): NBK is expanding integrated business banking and financing for SMEs, bundling payments, POS financing and day-to-day support under one roof. Local Business Support (Malaysia): Malaysia’s PM Anwar Ibrahim unveiled measures to ease living costs and back small traders, including higher quotas for subsidised petrol/diesel and more micro-financing. Freelance Licensing Reform (Kuwait): Kuwait’s commerce ministry is studying changes to freelance and micro-business licensing to make setup easier and curb licenses issued under non-beneficial names. Local Content for Jobs (Oman): Oman is shifting local content thinking beyond buying to building local service capabilities, aiming to retain more spend and create quality jobs. Decentralized Lending (UAE): A Gulf-backed initiative announced personal support for LemLoans, positioning decentralized lending as a new financial infrastructure track. Fuel Cost Pressure (Iran war): Reports link Iran-related disruptions to higher transport fuel surcharges, squeezing businesses and feeding broader cost pressures. Banking Results (Pakistan): Bank of Punjab posted strong H1 2026 growth and declared a 16% interim dividend, signaling momentum for SME-linked finance.

Kuwait SME Licensing Overhaul: Kuwait’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry is studying major rule changes to freelance and micro-business licensing, aiming to make it easier to start businesses while tightening transparency around real ownership and beneficiaries. Oman Local Content Push: Oman is shifting local content beyond “buy local” toward building local service capabilities (engineering, IT, logistics, consulting, training, tourism support), to keep more value and jobs inside the country. SME Banking Boost (Kuwait): National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) is doubling down on integrated SME banking and financing—payments plus POS financing and day-to-day support under one roof—to help firms scale. Pakistan Banking Results: Bank of Punjab (BOP) reported its strongest-ever first-half 2026 performance, with operating profit up 67% and a record 16% interim cash dividend. Fuel Surcharge Pressure (Iran-linked): Iran war disruptions are still feeding into higher transport fuel surcharges, with concerns that some shippers profit from the fees—raising costs for retailers, manufacturers, and small businesses. Digital Payments for SMEs (UAE/Region): e& UAE is launching a Business Pro offering bundled with Microsoft Copilot, targeting productivity for business users.

SME Finance & Growth: Pakistan’s Bank of Punjab posted its strongest-ever first-half 2026 results, with operating profit up 67% and a record 16% interim cash dividend, signaling improving earnings momentum for the banking sector. Energy Costs Hitting Households & Small Firms: Northern Ireland’s Consumer Council warned of a “very serious” winter as wholesale gas prices surge; SSE Airtricity is set to raise gas bills by 19% from October, with knock-on pressure on small business customers. UAE Venture Capital & Supply Chains: A UAE VC report launch highlighted how Middle East supply chains are becoming a new investment focus, with AI and logistics/localisation expected to drive deals as disruption reshapes manufacturing. Digital Payments for SMEs: Iraq’s push to digitise payments points to a practical next step for merchants and small operators—less cash friction, faster settlement, and smoother trade. Banking & SME Credit Watch: The Bank of Thailand kept its policy rate steady at 1% but flagged that SME loan growth is still contracting, urging targeted support while monitoring Middle East conflict-driven inflation risks.

SME Export Push (Saudi Arabia): Monsha’at and the Saudi Exports Development Authority wrapped “Saudi Export Week,” a five-day drive to help small businesses sell abroad, drawing 1,600+ participants and 650+ consultative sessions across Riyadh, Jeddah, Madinah, Al-Khobar and more, with training on export requirements, financing and logistics. Energy Cost Pressure (Northern Ireland): The NI Consumer Council warned households and small business customers could face a “very serious” winter as SSE Airtricity raises gas prices by 19.2% from Oct 1, adding about £174 a year for roughly 205,000 customers, citing Middle East-linked wholesale gas volatility. UAE VC & Supply Chains: Dubai’s Global Ventures said Middle East supply chains are becoming a major venture capital opportunity, with AI and logistics/manufacturing localisation expected to attract investment as disruption reshapes regional trade. Banking for SMEs (Pakistan): Bank of Punjab reported strong H1 2026 results, including operating profit up 67% YoY and a highest-ever 16% interim cash dividend, signaling continued momentum in Pakistan’s financial sector. Digital Tools for SMBs (UAE/Tech): e& UAE launched “Business Pro AI” bundled with Microsoft Copilot, aiming to help businesses adopt AI faster without extra cost.

Energy Cost Shock: Northern Ireland’s SSE Airtricity will raise gas prices by 19.2% from October, adding about £170–£174 a year for roughly 200,000 domestic and small business customers, as wholesale gas spikes tied to the US-Iran conflict and Hormuz-related disruptions squeeze household and SME budgets. Trade & Export Support: Saudi Arabia’s Monsha’at and the Saudi Exports Development Authority wrapped “Saudi Export Week,” backing SMEs across Riyadh, Jeddah, Madinah and other hubs with training, matchmaking and consultative sessions to help firms sell abroad. Venture Capital Focus: A UAE VC leader says the next big opportunity is supply-chain startups—using AI to improve manufacturing, logistics and localisation—while expecting talent and funding to keep flowing even as regional conflict reshapes risk. SME Digital Payments: Uganda’s fintech story highlights how mobile money is evolving from basic transfers toward credit, savings and business payments as the economy grows and oil-related opportunities loom. Business Messaging Costs: Meta is set to charge Kenyan businesses per WhatsApp utility message from Oct. 1, raising the cost of customer service and pushing SMEs to rethink messaging and automation. SME Finance Signal: Pakistan’s Bank of Punjab reported strong half-year results and declared its highest-ever interim dividend of 16%, a positive read-through for local credit confidence.

WhatsApp Cost Shock for SMEs: Meta is set to start charging Kenyan businesses per delivered WhatsApp message from Oct. 1, adding a new cost line for customer-service “utility” chats and following earlier monetisation of WhatsApp marketing. Energy-Price Pressure on Local Businesses: A Pennsylvania governor candidate’s affordability pitch spotlights how rising wholesale food and utility costs are squeezing small restaurants, with voters linking price hikes to tariffs and Middle East-linked energy disruption. SME Digital Growth Push in Oman: Oman’s NBO is rolling out SME-focused workshops in Muscat, aiming to help smaller firms go digital and build practical capability. Regional Trade & Manufacturing Momentum: Saudi International Wood and Woodworking Machinery Show wraps in Riyadh, signaling demand for timber and production equipment as the Kingdom’s construction and urban projects keep expanding. Cyber & Fraud Risk for Operators: Israel-based KELA says it helped unmask alleged TeamPCP actors tied to credential-chaining and stolen-data brokering, a reminder for SMEs to tighten security and vendor access.

UAE Parking Relief: Parkonic says Dubai and Abu Dhabi parking will be free on the Prophet Mohammed’s birthday public holiday, with Dubai RTA waiving charges for most public spaces (excluding multistorey car parks) and Parkonic offering free parking at several Abu Dhabi and Dubai sites. Saudi SME Trade Push: Riyadh’s Third Saudi International Wood and Woodworking Machinery Show (Sept 1–3) spotlights timber, machinery and furniture components, aiming to connect local demand from major projects with international suppliers. Saudi–China Education Tech Link: Ruanyun Edai Technology (RYET) signs a Saudi-China MOU with NIST and Intersect to build a vocational-to-university research and commercialization platform, including links to Umm Al-Qura University. Pakistan-to-Saudi Fintech Benefit: ABHI partners with Saudi’s NOX Group to offer Earned Wage Access, letting employees tap part of earned salary in real time. SME Cost Pressure: A regional survey flags businesses struggling to pass rising costs to customers, with higher input prices squeezing profits. AI for Small Firms: A piece argues generative AI boosts SME capacity, but competitive edge shifts to judgment and context, not just faster content.

UAE Business Relocation: LMCT+ founder Adrian Portelli says he’s moved to Dubai, pointing to lower personal taxes and frustration with Australia’s government and media oversight. SME Digital Skills: Seattle’s Rainier Avenue Business Coalition used Verizon-backed Technology Matching Fund support to help immigrant and refugee small businesses fix online listings, build basic websites, and learn maps/social tools. Health Costs for Small Firms: Connecticut insurers are seeking double-digit premium hikes for individual and small-group plans, with lawmakers and residents warning coverage may be dropped—hurting small business employees. Competition Fight for Grocers: NYC immigrant-led coalition sues to block Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s city-run grocery stores, arguing subsidized discounts will unfairly undercut minority-owned bodegas. Food Supply Market Pressure: US senators urge the FTC to scrutinize Sysco’s $29.1bn bid for Restaurant Depot, warning higher costs and reduced options for independent restaurants. Morocco Reputation Boost: Morocco ranks top in Africa and the Arab world in a 2026 reputation report, improving perceptions tied to tech, public resource management, and business environment. SME Financing in Oman: Oman expands alternative lending sources and launches NBO SME-focused workshops to support growth. Kazakhstan Farm Risk: Teniz Capital flags diesel supply disruptions tied to Russia and Middle East uncertainty as a harvest-season risk for Kazakhstan’s wheat inputs and inflation. Crypto/SME Tech: Entagl launches “Mirror,” an AI preview tool for appointment-based service businesses to help convert leads by letting customers visualize outcomes before booking.

SME Energy Pressure: Hong Kong’s power surcharges jumped again, with HK Electric’s fuel clause rising to 60.7 HK cents/kWh and CLP Power’s to 45.1 cents—sparking calls for SME subsidies as shops struggle to pass costs on. Regional Finance & Trade Risk: China vowed retaliation over new U.S. sanctions tied to Iran, warning the measures could destabilize global finance while targeting smaller entities. Middle East Macro & Hiring: Long-bond yields stayed elevated amid Hormuz-linked hostilities, a mix that could keep corporate hiring cautious. Oman SME Support: Oman rolled out SME-focused workshops in Muscat, adding to local capacity-building efforts. Israel Tech & Security: SciSparc added Technion AI professor Carmel Domshlak to its AI/cybersecurity advisory board, while SEALSQ’s QASIC roadmap pushes quantum-resistant, customer-owned chips. Data Center Growth in MENA: Nexera’s Fort unit completed its Logia USA fuel-integrity acquisition, aiming to support mission-critical data center operations. Tourism & Small Operators: Reports of rising Israeli travel to Thailand point to shifting demand patterns—mostly short stays—raising local business and community tensions.

SME Finance (UAE): Channel Capital Advisors bought a minority stake in Beehive’s Emirati SME funding programme, backing a wider AED600m pool for scaling local SMEs and deepening UK–GCC specialty finance ties. SME Funding (Dubai): Dubai Chamber says it added 70,500 new member companies in 2024, pushing membership to 258,318—good news for entrepreneurship, but also a reminder that SMEs are competing for visibility. Business PR (Gulf): Baden Bower is pitching a “guaranteed placement” PR model in named publications with a money-back promise if coverage doesn’t run—aimed at founders who want certainty, not vague outreach. Payments & Growth (MENA/Global): Global Payments is rolling out “Genius World” to help merchants test AI-enabled point-of-sale tools, part of a broader turnaround push to win small business customers. Digital Finance (India): UPI marks 10 years since launch, with transaction volumes exploding from 1.78 crore to 24,162 crore in FY2025–26—another signal that fast rails can unlock SME commerce. SME Risk (Iran sanctions): China warned it will retaliate against new U.S. sanctions targeting Chinese entities tied to Iran, raising uncertainty for cross-border small traders and service providers.

UAE Business Setup: GenZone launched a single “LaunchPad” dashboard for Dubai company setup and US LLC formation, aiming to cut the usual patchwork of PRO, legal, banking and accounting steps for globally mobile entrepreneurs. UAE Digital Services: e& UAE rolled out “Business Pro AI” bundled with Microsoft Copilot at no extra cost, pushing AI tools into everyday business workflows. Bahrain Islamic Finance: Bahrain is doubling down on digitising Islamic finance by combining Sharia-compliant banking with fintech, open banking, AI and alternative lending—helped by a mature regulator and established Islamic institutions. Iraq Payments: Iraq is digitising payments; the key question now is what comes after the payment rails for SMEs and merchants. Oman SME Support: Oman’s NBO launched SME-focused workshops in Muscat, while alternative lending sources are growing to back small firms. Israel/Palestinian Business Impact: A coalition of immigrant grocers is suing over city-run subsidised grocery stores—an example of how taxpayer-backed competition can squeeze small retailers. Israel First Politics: Sharren Haskel outlined “Israel First” plans to fix ministries and coalition policy, with potential knock-on effects for public spending and procurement. Saudi Trade & Industry: Saudi WoodShow returns in Riyadh to connect timber and furniture supply chains with fast-growing construction demand under Vision 2030. India Digital Payments: PM Modi marked 10 years of UPI, highlighting massive transaction growth that keeps lowering friction for merchants and small businesses.

Tariffs & SME pressure: The U.S. is weighing a 7.5% tariff on Chinese goods tied to “overcapacity” claims ahead of a Trump-Xi summit, a move that could ripple into supply chains and raise costs for small importers and manufacturers. Iran squeeze: Washington is tightening economic sanctions on Iran as shipping disruption around the Strait of Hormuz feeds inflation fears, with analysts warning ordinary Iranians could be hit hardest through weaker purchasing power. SME finance & payments: Iraq’s payments are rapidly digitising—card transfers and mobile/e-wallet activity are surging—yet only about 30% of adults have financial accounts, leaving a big opportunity for merchants and fintechs on what comes next. Local business under threat: In New York City, immigrant-led merchants sued to block Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s government-run supermarkets, arguing discounted pricing will harm competition and put small shops out of business. UAE SME support: The UAE extended small business corporate tax relief through 2029, offering breathing room for SMEs planning investment and hiring. Oman SME push: Oman’s NBO launched SME-focused workshops in Muscat to support growth and capability-building. Energy tech for industry: UAE robotics firm Micropolis says it’s now supplying ADNOC with autonomous robotics and Physical AI for inspections and monitoring—potentially opening new contracts for local suppliers.