Top 7 Fintech Companies in Dubai for SMEs in 2026

Dubai has firmly established itself as a global centre for financial innovation, fostering a vibrant ecosystem of fintech companies that are transforming how businesses manage their finances. For small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the region, this presents a significant opportunity to enhance operational efficiency, improve cash flow, and drive growth. The challenge, however, lies in navigating this crowded market to find the technology partner that best fits your specific business needs.

This guide is designed to simplify that process. We provide a curated directory of the most relevant fintech companies in Dubai, with a clear focus on solutions for SME suppliers, B2B marketplaces, and finance leaders. Whether you are looking for advanced payment processing, platforms that help you unlock access to funds from your receivables, or simply a comprehensive view of the local market, this article offers a clear, practical roadmap.

Here, you will not find generic overviews. Instead, we offer actionable, educational insights into what each platform provides, who its target customer is, and its core product offerings. We delve into specific solutions like Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) for B2B transactions, embedded payment terms, and powerful data platforms. Each entry includes direct links and key details to help you quickly assess its suitability for your organisation. Our goal is to equip you with the knowledge to make an informed decision and select a fintech partner that can deliver real, measurable value to your business operations.

1. Comfi

Comfi stands out as a premier choice among fintech companies in Dubai, specifically for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) aiming to stabilise and accelerate their cash flow. The platform provides a powerful suite of B2B payment solutions designed to remove the financial friction that often hampers business growth. For suppliers, wholesalers, and B2B platforms in the MENA region, Comfi offers a streamlined, digital-first approach to managing receivables and extending payment terms to customers.

The platform’s core strength lies in its ability to give businesses immediate access to funds tied up in unpaid invoices. Instead of waiting weeks or months for clients to pay, suppliers can get their approved invoices funded within 24 hours. This rapid turnaround empowers businesses to reinvest in critical areas like inventory, marketing, and expansion without delay. Comfi manages the entire collections process, which not only removes a significant administrative burden but also eliminates credit risk for the supplier.

Key Features and Solutions

Comfi's offerings are built to address specific cash flow challenges faced by B2B businesses, providing flexibility for both sellers and their buyers.

• Invoice Discounting: This is the flagship service. SMEs can submit their invoices to Comfi and receive the funds almost immediately. This allows them to unlock their working capital and maintain operational momentum without disrupting customer relationships.
• B2B Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL): Suppliers can offer their business customers flexible payment terms of 30, 60, or 90 days at checkout. This is a significant competitive advantage, as it encourages larger order sizes and attracts new customers who value payment flexibility. Comfi funds the supplier upfront, so there's no cash flow gap. Learn more about Comfi's B2B BNPL solution to see how it can be integrated.
• Dealer Solutions: Tailored for industries like automotive, this product helps dealers manage inventory and sales more effectively by offering flexible payment options for their own purchases from distributors or auction houses.

Why It Stands Out

What makes Comfi a particularly strong partner for SMEs in Dubai is its clear focus on measurable business outcomes. Case studies and client testimonials consistently highlight tangible results, including sales uplifts of up to 100% and new customer acquisition growth of around 20%. The platform's high approval rate (approximately 85%) for SMEs makes its solutions accessible to a wide range of businesses that might struggle with traditional financial institutions.

The user experience is another key differentiator. From instant eligibility checks to a dedicated support team, the process is designed for speed and convenience, allowing finance leaders to focus on strategic growth rather than collections. While Comfi doesn't publish its pricing publicly—requiring a direct inquiry for a tailored quote—its value proposition is clear: it helps businesses sell more, get paid faster, and operate with greater financial predictability.

• Website: https://comfi.ai
• Best For: SME suppliers, wholesalers, and B2B platforms in the MENA region seeking to improve cash flow and offer flexible payment terms.
• Key Strengths: 24-hour funding for approved invoices, elimination of credit risk and collections burden, proven sales growth for clients, and easy tech integration.
• Considerations: Pricing is not public, and services are primarily focused on the MENA market.

2. DIFC Public Register

For any SME finance leader or supplier conducting due diligence, the first step is always verification. The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Public Register is not a fintech company itself, but rather an essential, authoritative tool for verifying the legal and regulatory standing of any fintech firm operating within this major financial hub. Think of it as the foundational layer of your vendor assessment process. It provides the official, regulator-backed truth about a company's existence, status, and licensed activities, which is critical before engaging in any partnership or financial transaction.

This free-to-use platform allows you to search for any entity by its legal name and instantly access core corporate details. This simple check can save you significant time and risk, ensuring the fintech partner you are considering is legitimate and properly licensed within one of Dubai’s most prominent free zones.

What is the DIFC Public Register Used For?

The register serves as a primary source for compliance and due diligence. For SME suppliers and finance managers, it is an indispensable resource to confirm critical details before onboarding a new fintech vendor or platform.

• Verifying Legal Status: Confirm if a company is active, dissolved, or has another status.
• Checking Licence Types: See the specific financial activities a company is authorised to conduct by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) within the DIFC.
• Confirming Registered Details: Verify the official company name and registered address, which helps prevent fraud and ensures you are dealing with the correct legal entity.
• Initial Compliance Checks: It is the perfect starting point for your Know Your Business (KYB) and vendor onboarding procedures.

Practical Tips for SME Finance Leaders

While the register is a powerful tool, it’s a database, not a marketplace. Its information is purely factual and regulatory. You won’t find marketing materials, product descriptions, or pricing. To use it effectively, approach it with a specific goal.

For example, if you are evaluating two different fintech companies in Dubai for payment processing, use the register to confirm both are actively licensed for "Providing Money Services" within DIFC. This simple step validates their regulatory foundation before you even look at their product demos. The user interface is straightforward, focused entirely on its search functionality. There's no complex navigation, making it quick and efficient for its intended purpose.

Key Insight for SMEs: Use the DIFC Public Register as your first compliance checkpoint. Before you invest time in sales calls and demos, a quick search can confirm a potential partner's legitimacy and licensed scope, ensuring they are a credible entity operating within a regulated framework.

• Access: Free public access.
• Primary Use Case: Due diligence, compliance, and vendor verification.
• Unique Offering: Authoritative, regulator-backed corporate data for all DIFC-registered entities.
• Website: https://www.difc.ae/business/public-register/

3. DIFC Innovation Hub / FinTech Hive

For SME finance leaders looking to stay ahead of the curve, the DIFC Innovation Hub is less a single platform and more an essential ecosystem for discovery. It serves as the launchpad for the next wave of financial technology in the region, including the renowned FinTech Hive accelerator programme. Think of it as a curated preview of emerging solutions, allowing you to identify innovative, pre-vetted startups that could solve your specific business challenges before they become mainstream. It is the best place to discover up-and-coming fintech companies in Dubai that are actively solving regional problems.

This hub provides a window into accelerator cohorts and community programmes showcasing fintech, regtech, insurtech, and Islamic finance startups. By tracking its alumni and current participants, you gain access to a pipeline of credible, growth-stage firms that have already been vetted by one of Dubai's core financial institutions.

What is the DIFC Innovation Hub Used For?

The Innovation Hub is primarily a resource for market intelligence and vendor discovery. For an SME supplier or finance manager, it offers a strategic advantage by providing early exposure to startups tackling MENA-specific use cases, from complex supply chain payments to sharia-compliant financial products.

• Discovering Vetted Startups: Access lists and profiles of startups that have participated in accelerator cohorts like FinTech Hive, providing a baseline of credibility.
• Tracking Market Trends: See what types of problems are being solved and which technologies are gaining traction within the DIFC’s regulated environment.
• Finding Niche Solution Providers: Identify early-stage firms with specialised offerings that larger, more established vendors may not provide.
• Networking and Events: The hub is a focal point for industry events, including the Dubai FinTech Summit, offering opportunities to meet founders and see new technologies demonstrated.

Practical Tips for SME Finance Leaders

Unlike a static directory, the Innovation Hub is dynamic. Information is often spread across news announcements, cohort showcase pages, and event summaries. The key is to use it as a starting point for your research. If you find a promising startup listed in a recent FinTech Hive cohort, you will typically need to navigate to their individual website for detailed product information and contact details.

For instance, if you are searching for a partner to streamline B2B online payments in Dubai, you could review the profiles of past accelerator participants focused on payments. Their association with the DIFC programme provides an initial layer of validation, signalling they have met a certain threshold of quality and potential. The user experience is that of a corporate ecosystem site, focused on news and programmes rather than a searchable database.

Key Insight for SMEs: Use the DIFC Innovation Hub to build a watchlist of emerging fintech partners. By following their accelerator cohorts, you can identify innovative and vetted companies that are specifically focused on solving financial challenges relevant to the MENA region.

• Access: Free public access to website content.
• Primary Use Case: Discovery of emerging fintechs, market intelligence, and tracking innovation trends.
• Unique Offering: A curated, DIFC-backed pipeline of startups that have gone through a structured accelerator programme.
• Website: https://www.innovationhub.difc.ae/

4. UAE FinTech (uaefintech.co) directory

After verifying a potential partner's regulatory status, the next step for an SME finance leader is often market discovery. The UAE FinTech directory is an expansive, UAE-focused catalogue designed for exactly this purpose. Unlike a regulatory database, this platform serves as a commercial starting point for identifying potential fintech solutions. It lists over 500 companies with a presence in the country, allowing you to quickly scan the landscape and build a longlist of vendors relevant to your specific business needs, from payment processing to digital banking.

This free-to-browse directory is particularly useful for SME suppliers and finance managers who need to understand the available options in a specific category. Whether you are searching for a new payment gateway or exploring regtech solutions, the platform provides a broad overview of both established and emerging players operating in the UAE.

What is the UAE FinTech Directory Used For?

The directory is an essential tool for initial market research and vendor discovery. It helps SME finance leaders move from a general business need to a specific list of potential fintech companies in Dubai to evaluate further.

• Building Vendor Shortlists: Quickly identify companies in key categories like Payments, Lending, BNPL, Regtech, and Wealthtech.
• Rapid Market Scanning: Get a high-level view of the fintech ecosystem in the UAE to understand the key players and emerging startups.
• Direct Access to Vendors: Each profile includes an outbound link, allowing you to click directly through to the company’s website for more detailed information.
• Staying Updated: The site includes a news feed covering recent developments, funding rounds, and partnerships in the local fintech scene.

Practical Tips for SME Finance Leaders

The UAE FinTech directory is a discovery tool, not an evaluation one. Its strength lies in its breadth, not its depth; some company profiles are brief and require you to visit the vendor’s site for specifics. To use it effectively, start with a clear objective.

For instance, if your SME needs to implement a new online payment solution, use the "Payments" category to generate a list of 5-10 potential providers. From there, you can visit their individual websites to compare features and then use the DIFC Public Register to verify the regulatory standing of your top choices. Be aware that some listings may be prioritised based on membership, so it’s wise to browse the entire relevant category rather than just focusing on the top results.

Key Insight for SMEs: Use the UAE FinTech directory as your market-mapping tool. It’s the fastest way to turn a business requirement into a preliminary list of potential fintech partners, saving you hours of fragmented searching and helping you discover companies you might not have found otherwise.

• Access: Free to browse, with paid membership options for enhanced company listings.
• Primary Use Case: Vendor discovery, market research, and building shortlists.
• Unique Offering: A comprehensive, UAE-specific catalogue of over 500 fintech companies across all major categories.
• Website: https://uaefintech.co/directory-all/

5. MAGNiTT

For SME finance leaders looking beyond a single vendor and aiming to understand the entire fintech landscape, MAGNiTT is the essential market intelligence platform. Based in Dubai, it serves as the definitive source for data on start-ups, investors, and venture capital deals across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Instead of providing a direct financial service, MAGNiTT offers the critical data needed for strategic decisions, such as mapping out potential partners, conducting due diligence on their financial stability, and benchmarking them against competitors. It's the go-to tool for a bird's-eye view of the fintech companies in Dubai and the broader region.

This platform allows you to move from general market curiosity to specific, data-backed insights. By filtering by industry (FinTech), location (UAE), and even funding stage, you can build a comprehensive list of potential partners, analyse market trends, and identify which companies are gaining traction and investor confidence. For an SME, this intelligence is invaluable for de-risking the vendor selection process.

What is MAGNiTT Used For?

MAGNiTT is a strategic tool for market research, competitive analysis, and partner sourcing. SME finance managers and business owners use it to gain a deeper understanding of the ecosystem they operate in, validating the credibility and growth trajectory of potential fintech partners.

• Market Mapping: Visualise the entire fintech landscape in Dubai and the UAE, categorised by service offerings like payments, lending, and more.
• Due Diligence: Investigate a potential vendor's funding history, key investors, and founding team to assess their financial health and long-term viability.
• Partner Sourcing: Discover emerging and established fintech firms that meet specific criteria, creating a pipeline of potential vendors to evaluate.
• Trend Analysis: Access research reports and data analytics to understand which fintech sectors are growing, helping you align your strategy with market trends.

Practical Tips for SME Finance Leaders

While MAGNiTT is rich with data, its true power lies in how you use it. It's not a simple directory; it's an analytics platform. The most valuable features, like detailed funding data and market maps, are part of its paid subscriptions.

For instance, before engaging a new payments provider, you could use MAGNiTT to check their last funding round. A recently funded company may be more stable and innovative, but a bootstrapped one could offer more competitive pricing. This platform helps you understand the story behind the numbers, which is crucial for finding the right long-term partner. For those looking to understand the broader context of how fintechs support businesses, you can explore insights on topics like small business lending platforms and their role in the market.

Key Insight for SMEs: Use MAGNiTT to validate the business momentum of a fintech vendor. A company with strong investor backing and consistent growth signals is often a less risky partner than an unknown entity. This data-driven approach complements product demos by providing a crucial look into the company's operational and financial stability.

• Access: Limited free data; full functionality requires a paid subscription.
• Primary Use Case: Market intelligence, competitor analysis, and due diligence on start-ups.
• Unique Offering: The most comprehensive, verified database of venture capital deals and start-ups native to the MENA region.
• Website: https://magnitt.com/

6. Zawya (by Reuters) – Fintech hub and company finder

While not a fintech provider itself, Zawya, a service by Reuters, is an indispensable intelligence platform for any SME finance leader operating in the MENA region. It serves as a crucial tool for market research, competitive analysis, and vendor discovery. Think of it as your high-level overview of the financial technology landscape, providing the news, data, and context needed to make informed decisions about potential partners and emerging trends.

For SMEs, Zawya’s power lies in its combination of authoritative regional news and a searchable company database. This allows you to not only find fintech companies in Dubai but also to understand their recent activities, funding rounds, and regulatory standing through associated news coverage. It helps you connect the dots between a company's marketing claims and its actual market presence.

What is Zawya Used For?

Zawya is primarily used for business intelligence and initial vendor discovery. For a finance manager, it offers a strategic lens through which to view the fintech ecosystem before diving into product specifics.

• Discovering New Vendors: Use the company search filters for "United Arab Emirates" and "Financial Technology" to generate a list of potential partners you may not have been aware of.
• Conducting Market Research: Stay updated on regional fintech developments, new regulations, and major funding announcements that could impact your business or signal a vendor's stability.
• Initial Due Diligence: Find official company snapshots and read related news coverage to get a preliminary sense of a fintech firm's credibility and recent performance.
• Competitive Intelligence: Analyse the fintech landscape to understand what solutions your competitors might be using or what new technologies are gaining traction in your industry.

Practical Tips for SME Finance Leaders

Zawya is most effective when used for research and context rather than for direct product comparison. Its strength is providing credible, third-party information. For example, if you're evaluating a new payment gateway, you can search for the company on Zawya to see if it has been featured in recent news about partnerships or technology updates.

Keep in mind that while much of the news and basic company data is free, deeper analytics and some profiles may require a subscription. For deeper analysis or to build your own targeted list from public sources like Zawya, consider learning about efficient data extraction methods. There are guides available that explain how to scrape leads directories without any code, which can help automate the process of gathering initial vendor information for your evaluation pipeline.

Key Insight for SMEs: Use Zawya to build a well-rounded view of a potential fintech partner. Combining its news coverage with its company database gives you a powerful tool to vet credibility and market relevance beyond what a sales brochure can offer.

• Access: Freemium model; free access to news and basic company search, with premium features behind a paywall.
• Primary Use Case: Market intelligence, vendor discovery, and initial due diligence.
• Unique Offering: A combination of a searchable MENA company directory with authoritative Reuters news coverage.
• Website: https://www.zawya.com/en/business/fintech/

7. Dubai FinTech Summit (exhibitor directory and networking)

While not a fintech company itself, the Dubai FinTech Summit is an indispensable resource for discovering and engaging with the region's most active players. For SME finance leaders and suppliers, its exhibitor directory serves as a high-signal, curated list of vendors who are actively investing in their UAE presence. It’s a practical and efficient way to shortlist potential partners, from payment processors to trade finance platforms, all in one place. Think of it as an annual, concentrated marketplace for financial technology solutions.

The summit, organised by the DIFC, brings together established institutions and emerging start-ups, making its exhibitor list a dynamic snapshot of the current market. This allows you to move beyond online searches and connect directly with the teams behind the technology, accelerating your procurement and partnership evaluation processes significantly.

What is the Dubai FinTech Summit Used For?

The summit and its associated digital tools are primarily used for discovery, networking, and initial vendor evaluation. It provides a focused environment for SME leaders to identify and assess fintech companies in Dubai that are relevant to their business needs.

• Vendor Discovery: The exhibitor directory is a curated list of active fintechs, making it an excellent starting point for creating a vendor shortlist.
• Live Demonstrations: It offers the invaluable opportunity to see product demos in person, ask detailed questions, and gauge a platform's capabilities firsthand.
• Direct Networking: The event provides direct access to founders, product managers, and senior executives, facilitating deeper conversations than a standard sales call.
• Partnership and Lead Generation: Both fintechs and potential clients can use networking tools like the Deal Room and matchmaking services to schedule targeted meetings.

Practical Tips for SME Finance Leaders

To maximise the value of the summit's resources, approach it with a clear objective. Before attending or browsing the directory, define the specific financial challenge you need to solve, whether it’s streamlining cross-border payments, automating invoicing, or improving cash flow management. Use the exhibitor list to identify a handful of relevant companies and schedule meetings or demos in advance.

Keep in mind that while the summit provides unparalleled access, many of the advanced networking features and full event access require a paid pass. The exhibitor list itself, however, is often publicly available and serves as a powerful research tool even without attending. Remember that the list is not a permanent database and changes annually, reflecting the most current and active players in the market.

Key Insight for SMEs: Use the Dubai FinTech Summit's exhibitor directory as an annual "market map" to identify promising fintech partners. A live demo and a face-to-face conversation at the summit can often accelerate your decision-making process more effectively than weeks of emails and virtual meetings.

• Access: Exhibitor directory is often public; full event access and networking tools require paid passes.
• Primary Use Case: Vendor discovery, in-person demos, and strategic networking.
• Unique Offering: A curated, annual showcase of active fintechs in the region, with opportunities for direct engagement with leadership teams.
• Website: https://dubaifintechsummit.com/exhibitors/

Finding Your Strategic Fintech Partner in Dubai

The landscape of fintech companies in Dubai is no longer just a collection of payment gateways and digital banks. As we have explored, it is a dynamic ecosystem of specialised tools, directories, and innovation hubs designed to solve specific challenges for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) across the UAE and the wider MENA region. From foundational due diligence using the DIFC Public Register to discovering emerging players at the Dubai FinTech Summit, the resources at your disposal are vast and powerful.

Your journey to finding the right partner begins not with a frantic search, but with a clear understanding of your own business needs. Are you struggling with delayed B2B payments that are trapping your working capital? Are manual invoicing and collections processes consuming valuable time? Or are you seeking to modernise your sales channels with embedded payment terms to attract more buyers? Answering these questions first will transform your search from an overwhelming task into a strategic selection process.

Your Action Plan: Moving from Research to Implementation

The tools and platforms detailed in this article provide a clear pathway to making an informed decision. Don't just browse; engage with these resources actively.

• Start with Verification: Use the DIFC Public Register as your first step. Before engaging deeply with any potential partner, confirm their regulatory status. This is a non-negotiable step that builds a foundation of trust and security.
• Broaden Your Search: Leverage directories like UAE FinTech and Zawya to create a longlist of companies that appear to solve your primary business challenge. Use their filters to narrow down options based on your industry and specific needs, such as invoice management or payment automation.
• Analyse the Innovators: For a forward-looking perspective, explore the DIFC Innovation Hub and MAGNiTT. These platforms help you identify which companies are not only established but are also attracting investment and pioneering new technologies. A well-funded fintech is often a signal of market validation and long-term stability.

Once you have a shortlist, the focus shifts from what these companies do to how they do it. The best fintech partners for SMEs are those that prioritise simplicity, integration, and measurable ROI. When evaluating a platform like Comfi, for instance, the key is not just that it helps you get paid faster; it's how it achieves this. It does so by embedding directly into your existing sales process, automating collections, and providing your buyers with flexible payment options without complicating your operations.

Key Considerations Before You Commit

Selecting a fintech partner is a significant business decision. As you finalise your choice, keep these critical factors in mind:

• Ease of Integration: How much technical effort is required to get started? Look for solutions that offer seamless integration with your existing e-commerce platform, ERP, or accounting software. A lengthy and complex setup can erode the very efficiency you seek to gain.
• Transparent Cost Structure: Understand the fee model completely. Is it a per-transaction fee, a monthly subscription, or a percentage of the transaction value? Avoid partners with hidden costs or confusing pricing tiers. The financial benefit should be clear and predictable.
• Dedicated SME Support: Does the company understand the unique challenges of an SME? Evaluate their customer support channels. A partner who provides dedicated support and clear communication is invaluable, especially when you need to resolve issues quickly.
• Scalability: Choose a solution that can grow with your business. As your sales volume increases, your fintech partner should be able to handle the increased load without a drop in performance or a prohibitive increase in cost.

By moving through this structured process, you can confidently navigate the rich ecosystem of fintech companies in Dubai. The right technology partner will do more than just solve a single problem; they will become a strategic enabler of your growth, helping you build a more resilient, efficient, and profitable business in the competitive MENA market.

Ready to streamline your B2B sales and unlock your working capital? Comfi offers a powerful platform designed for MENA's SME suppliers, embedding flexible payment terms and automated collections directly into your checkout process. Discover how you can get paid faster and grow your sales by visiting Comfi.