Ruya Partners’ Partner and Chief Capital Formation Officer, Omar AlYawer, joined Youssef Salem — CFO of ADNOC — on Episode 8 of The Mal Show for a wide-ranging conversation on private credit, SME financing, and alternative investments in the Middle East. The discussion explores why small and mid-sized businesses across the region remain underserved by traditional banks, how private credit differs from venture capital and growth debt, and why the asset class is becoming one of the fastest-growing opportunities in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Omar also unpacks the role of sovereign and institutional capital, the impact of the region’s mega-projects on financing demand, and the outlook for alternative finance across MENA.
In this episode:
- The SME funding gap in the Gulf — why the region allocates only around 2% of financing to SMEs, versus nearly 28% globally
- Why traditional banks tend to avoid startups and SMEs
- How private credit compares to venture capital and growth debt
- Direct lending versus sponsor-led deals, and how target returns are generated
- The role of sovereign wealth funds and institutional capital, and the impact of regional mega-projects on capital demand
- Why private credit is booming globally, and the future of alternative finance in MENA