DUBAI, UAE, 7 October 2026 - Beehive, the DFSA-regulated SME finance provider and an etisalat company, has become a funding partner to Hal, the UAE-born B2B platform for small and medium-sized businesses launched today. The partnership is part of Beehive's wider aim of reaching more SMEs and supporting them as they grow.
Since 2014, Beehive has facilitated more than AED 5.4 billion in funding for more than 3,300 SMEs. Businesses apply online and get a clear answer from Beehive's credit team.
Securing timely finance is one of the challenges Hal has been built to address. For SMEs, growth often depends on timing. A new order or supplier can arrive long before the cash to fund it. Under the partnership, businesses on Hal can access Beehive funding.
Hal is a joint venture between SC Ventures, Standard Chartered's innovation and ventures arm, NeoVentures by Mashreq and LuLu Financial Holdings. Through it, SMEs can connect with buyers and suppliers, discover business opportunities and access financial and business services. Beehive joined Hal's other partners, including Microsoft, Visa and Aramex, at a signing ceremony at Investopia Bridge 2026.
Peter Tavener, CEO and Co-founder of Beehive, said:
"SMEs don't run their businesses in silos, so the support around them shouldn't come in silos either. Hal puts trade, services and finance on one platform, and that's exactly where funding belongs: right where SMEs find their next customer or supplier. Our job is to make sure that when the opportunity lands, the funding is ready. We're proud to be part of what SC Ventures, Mashreq and LuLu have built, and to help more UAE businesses grow through it."
About Beehive
Beehive provides Sharia-compliant business finance to established UAE SMEs. It's regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) and is an etisalat company. Founded in 2014, Beehive is based in DIFC, Dubai. Learn more at www.beehive.ae
About Hal
Hal is a UAE-born B2B platform created to support the evolving needs and ambitions of SMEs. It brings businesses and partners together across commerce, financial services and essential business needs, helping SMEs build relationships, transact and access opportunities through a more connected experience. Hal is a joint venture between SC Ventures, NeoVentures by Mashreq and LuLu Financial Holdings.
Media enquiries
Oliver Bass, Beehive
oliver.bass@beehive.ae
