Union Export Credit backs $50m Gerald Metals facility to boost UAE export finance
Union Export Credit is supporting a $50 million, three-year commercial financing facility to accelerate UAE export finance for non-oil goods, the agency said on Tuesday.
Union Export Credit backs $50 million three-year finance facility
Union Export Credit announced its backing of a $50 million commercial financing deal arranged for Gerald Metals Sàrl, part of the Geneva-based Gerald Group.
The facility, structured over three years, is intended to facilitate trade flows and broaden financing options for exporters of UAE-origin non-oil goods.
The announcement positions the transaction as a targeted example of how export credit support can unlock private-sector funding and expand export corridors.
Union Export Credit said the move is aligned with national objectives to diversify the UAE economy and strengthen non-oil export competitiveness.
Deal structure and participating institutions
Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB) served as the originating financing bank on the transaction, providing the underlying lending capability for Gerald Metals Sàrl.
Clyde & Co acted as legal counsel to Union Export Credit, advising on documentation and regulatory considerations related to the export credit support.
Gerald Metals Sàrl, part of the Gerald Group headquartered in Geneva, will access the facility to underwrite trade flows that involve UAE-manufactured or UAE-origin goods.
Union Export Credit’s involvement is intended to de-risk the transaction for the lender and improve financing terms available to the exporter.
Purpose of the facility: strengthening non-oil exports
The financing is specifically aimed at facilitating the export of non-oil products from the UAE, a priority sector for policymakers seeking long-term economic resilience.
By improving trade liquidity for exporters, the facility targets both immediate shipment financing needs and longer-term market expansion opportunities for UAE producers.
Supporters say such facilities help close gaps in trade finance that can limit the ability of medium and large exporters to compete in distant or volatility-prone markets.
The transaction is presented as an example of how blended solutions — combining private bank lending with export credit guarantees — can scale trade finance capacity.
Alignment with ‘We the UAE 2031’ and export diversification goals
Union Export Credit framed the deal as consistent with the UAE’s “We the UAE 2031” national agenda, which emphasizes economic diversification and global trade positioning.
Officials highlighted that export credit instruments are a policy tool to broaden the country’s export base beyond hydrocarbons and to enhance competitiveness.
The facility contributes to multiple strategic aims, including supporting value-added manufacturing, expanding access to new markets, and increasing the resilience of export supply chains.
This approach reflects a broader government and industry push to build sustainable export pipelines that withstand global market shifts.
Strategic importance amid geopolitical shifts and supply‑chain changes
The transaction comes as global trade faces heightened geopolitical uncertainty and periodic supply-chain dislocations that raise financing risk.
According to market participants, export credit support helps mitigate those risks by providing lenders with structured protections and exporters with continuity of access to capital.
Such arrangements can be particularly valuable when buyers or logistics channels are disrupted and when banks seek additional comfort to deploy cross-border trade lines.
Union Export Credit’s role in this deal underscores the perceived need for targeted instruments that keep goods moving and trade relationships intact during turbulent periods.
Leadership remarks and institutional intent
Raja Al Mazrouei, chief executive of Union Export Credit, said the company welcomes the partnership with Gerald Group and ADCB and reiterated its commitment to expanding the commercial finance ecosystem.
She described the transaction as a “landmark” example of how structured finance and export credit support can jointly accelerate UAE-origin trade flows while reinforcing the country’s role as a global trade hub.
Al Mazrouei added that Union Export Credit will continue to develop financing solutions that support sustainable export growth and resilience, echoing the national agenda to diversify the economy.
The institution pointed to ongoing collaboration with local and international banks as central to scaling similar transactions in coming years.
The $50 million facility signals growing cooperation between export credit bodies, domestic banks and international trading platforms to unlock liquidity for UAE exporters.