Habib Al Mulla and Partners, a law firm based in the UAE, has signed a MoU with Emirates NBD.

The agreement forms part of Project 54, an initiative led by the firm to support Emirati entrepreneurs.

Dr Habib Al Mulla, Founder of Habib Al Mulla and Partners, said:

“As part of our mission to empower Emirati entrepreneurs, Project 54 reflects our commitment to building sustainable enterprises. With the support of Emirates NBD, we are creating a stronger foundation for entrepreneurship that will contribute to the UAE’s long-term economic growth.”

Marwan Hadi, Group Head of Retail Banking and Wealth Management at Emirates NBD, commented:

“We are committed to nurturing the next generation of Emirati entrepreneurs by providing them with the financial tools and advisory support they need to succeed. Through this collaboration with Habib Al Mulla and Partners, we aim to strengthen the ecosystem for home-grown businesses, helping them scale and contribute to the UAE’s vision of building a diversified economy.”

The agreement includes measures such as a dedicated contact for faster account opening, preferential loans with flexible terms, and guidance on compliance requirements.

Project 54, launched to mark the UAE’s 54th National Day in December 2025, offers legal support to 54 Emirati SMEs and is aligned with the country’s economic diversification agenda.

Emirates NBD now joins existing partners including Home Bakery, Habib Al Mulla Academy, Newrons, Flatrace, DED Café, Brunswick and HAMA Holdings.

To date, 35 Emirati entrepreneurs have joined the initiative, with a further 17 start-ups from Emirates NBD’s NDTI programme cohorts, moving the initiative closer to its target of supporting 54 Emirati-owned businesses by December 2025.

Featured image credit: Emirates NBD