The UAE emerged as the global leader in planned investment in digital supply chain finance platforms. This comes as businesses increasingly turn to technology to strengthen supplier networks, improve financial visibility and manage disruption.
According to Standard Chartered’s latest Future of Trade report, 69% of UAE businesses surveyed plan to invest in digital supply chain finance platforms over the next three to five years. The figure is the highest among the 27 markets covered in the study.
The findings show that UAE companies are placing greater emphasis on resilience and financial visibility as global trade faces geopolitical and supply-chain uncertainties.
The UAE ranks third globally for planned investment in real-time cash visibility, with 76% of respondents identifying it as a priority. It also ranks second for planned investment in automated payments, with 53% of businesses planning to increase spending in this area.
Supplier-focused strategies gained particular importance. Their priority among UAE businesses rose 26 percentage points from the previous year, compared with a 4.3 percentage-point increase globally. Inventory management priorities also increased by seven percentage points in the UAE.
UAE companies are already reporting measurable benefits from digitalization. Around 90% of respondents said digital tools help them respond faster to supply-chain disruptions, compared with 83% globally.
Another 85% said, “Digital technologies improve decision-making by providing better visibility and forecasting across supply-chain and financial operations. Around 87% reported clear and measurable benefits from at least one digital capability.”
The findings underline the growing role of digital platforms in helping businesses manage disruptions while improving operational efficiency.
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