Wio Bank and ADX Launch Digital Share-Backed Lending for UAE Investors
Wio Bank, in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX), has introduced a new digital financing product that allows UAE investors to borrow against their listed shares without selling their portfolios. The offering, called Loan Against Investments, is available through the Wio Personal app and is designed to provide short-term liquidity backed by ADX-listed equities.
According to the companies, the service enables customers to pledge eligible shares as collateral for the duration of the financing. Investors retain ownership of the underlying assets, including dividend entitlements and any potential market upside, while using the portfolio as security for credit.
The launch is being positioned as the first fully digital experience of its kind in the region. Wio Bank said the partnership with ADX provides the regulated infrastructure needed to support share pledging and allows the full process to take place within the app, from collateral transfer to repayment, without paperwork or branch visits.
How the Product Works
The financing amount is evaluated automatically based on the current market value of the customer’s holdings. Once the loan is repaid, the shares are returned to the investor’s portfolio. The structure is intended to give retail investors access to liquidity while enabling them to remain invested in the market.
The product expands Wio Bank’s existing investment offering, which already includes stocks, exchange-traded funds, virtual assets, commodities, and fractional bonds. With the addition of asset-backed lending, the bank is broadening the range of financial tools available to individual users through a single digital platform.
Comments from Wio Bank and ADX
Jayesh Patel, CEO of Wio Bank PJSC, said the product responds to a recurring need among investors for access to liquidity without having to give up their investments.
“This is the first time retail investors in the UAE can access a fully digital Loan Against Investments experience,” Patel said. “Access to liquidity without having to give up their investments came up again and again. This is our answer to that.”
Abdulla Salem Alnuaimi, Group CEO of ADX Group, said the solution gives investors a way to unlock cash using listed shares as collateral while remaining invested.
“This new solution allows investors to unlock liquidity and access cash by using their listed shares as collateral, without needing to sell them,” Alnuaimi said. “It gives investors greater flexibility in managing their money, while staying invested and continuing to benefit from potential market gains.”
Industry Analysis
The launch highlights a growing trend in the UAE toward digitally enabled wealth and lending services that combine convenience with portfolio efficiency. For retail investors, share-backed financing may offer a practical alternative to liquidating holdings during periods when cash is needed, particularly in a market where maintaining long-term exposure can be strategically important.
For the broader market, the move suggests increasing collaboration between banks and exchanges to develop products that deepen liquidity and expand the utility of listed assets. ADX also indicated it is working with additional financial institutions to introduce similar financing solutions in the future, pointing to potential further development in the region’s investment and lending ecosystem.
