Deem Finance and airpay Launch Human-Centered Fintech Collaboration for Merchant Financing

In a major move for the UAE’s fintech landscape, Deem Finance LLC  has announced a strategic partnership with airpay Technologies Limited.  This collaboration is designed to provide Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) with “Purpose-Powered Liquidity,” integrating Deem’s merchant financing solutions directly into airpay’s global digital ecosystem. By embedding credit at the point of need, the two companies aim to eliminate the traditional barriers that often stall the growth of entrepreneurs and small business owners.

Bridging the SME Financing Gap

SMEs are widely considered the backbone of the UAE economy, representing over 94% of all businesses. However, accessing capital remains a significant hurdle due to rigid legacy credit models. This partnership addresses the issue by shifting the focus toward “cash-flow-based” lending. airpay will refer qualified SMEs within its network to Deem, which will then offer tailored, short-to-medium-term lending solutions that reflect the actual day-to-day turnover cycles of the business rather than just historical balance sheets.

Strategic Impact and Delivery

The partnership leverages airpay’s extensive digital platform, which supports over 160 payment methods, to bring financial support closer to the user. Christopher Taylor, CEO of Deem Finance, emphasized that this human-centered approach ensures financial access meets entrepreneurs exactly where they operate. By combining “responsible finance” with innovative technology, the collaboration aims to transform business resilience into measurable economic progress.

Key Features of the Partnership:

• Contextual Credit: Financing is embedded within airpay’s platform, allowing SME owners to access capital without leaving their primary business management tool.
• Agile Lending: Solutions are designed to help founders seize time-sensitive opportunities or manage fluctuating turnover cycles.
• Inclusive Reach: The model focuses on underserved segments that are often overlooked by larger, traditional banking institutions.
• Disciplined Performance: Both entities have committed to a “shared performance” model that prioritizes long-term portfolio health and responsible distribution.

Saurabh Arora, Regional VP of airpay, noted that the initiative is built on the belief that technology should remove barriers rather than replace human ambition. This strategic alignment supports the UAE’s national vision for a diversified and digitally enabled future, empowering the people building tomorrow’s businesses with the liquidity they need to scale confidently.