Zamanat Unveils $100M Tokenized Private Credit Fund on ZIGChain for GCC SMEs

Financial technology firm Zamanat has introduced a regulated investment vehicle leveraging tokenized private credit to tackle the chronic funding shortfall facing small and medium-sized enterprises across the Gulf region. Sponsored by Zamanat and domiciled in the Dubai International Financial Centre, the Zamanat Fund CEIC Limited aims to raise up to $100 million, deploying institutional liquidity on the ZIGChain network, according to BeInCrypto.

The strategic initiative directly targets the estimated $250 billion financing gap experienced by small and medium enterprises throughout the Gulf Cooperation Council member states. Traditional commercial banking structures across the region often present stringent collateral demands and lengthy underwriting cycles, leaving creditworthy mid-market enterprises underserved and constrained in their capital expansion efforts.

By leveraging tokenization on ZIGChain, the fund converts debt obligations and private credit portfolios into programmable, compliant digital tokens. This structure permits fractional investment, enhances secondary liquidity, and offers institutional allocators transparent, real-time auditing of portfolio performance and collateralization ratios under a clear regulatory framework within the DIFC.

The tokenization of real-world assets has emerged as one of the fastest-growing sectors in decentralized finance, attracting traditional asset managers seeking operational efficiency. Structured private credit, in particular, benefits from onchain settlement by reducing administrative overhead, automating coupon distributions via smart contracts, and widening the potential capital pool beyond conventional institutional channels.

While institutional enthusiasm for tokenized credit instruments continues to climb, industry participants note that macroeconomic factors, including regional interest rate shifts and SME default risks, remain critical considerations. Enforcing legal claims and collateral liquidations across borders in the GCC will serve as an important test for the long-term resilience of onchain credit facilities.

Market observers and regional regulators will watch the capital deployment phase closely as Zamanat begins issuing credit facilities to regional businesses. The success of the $100 million fund could establish a blueprint for other asset managers in the Middle East seeking to bridge traditional private wealth with institutional decentralized finance networks.