- Cautious growth outlook amongst UAE SMEs in Q1 2016
- Collections, payments and the ability to access finance are key issues
Gulf Finance Corporation (GFC), a leading provider of finance to small and micro businesses, today announced the results of their Q1 2016 Gulf Finance SME Sentiment Survey.
Highlights:
- One in four respondents (23%) are still experiencing a deterioration in their ability to collect payments, only slightly down from the 29% reported in Q4 2015
- There was a rebound in company’s ability to raise funds, with 48% witnessing an improvement. However, it remains well below Q1 and Q2 2015, where funds were much readily available
- 62% of SMEs saw an increase in sales, up from 49%. Cautious optimism returns to the consumer and corporate sectors in the UAE
- 41% of respondents added to their headcount in the first quarter, with 58% remaining unchanged. More importantly, 82% are forecasting their headcount to remain unchanged in the second quarter with only 16% looking at adding personnel, the lowest position in over a year
- Negative growth outlook and sales forecast lessens as sentiment turns cautiously positive, with 78% and 53% respectively stating they are positive and expect a sales increase next quarter
- Nearly half of those surveyed reported they will invest in their businesses next quarter
No more layoffs
In the first quarter of 2016, 41% of respondents increased their headcount on the previous quarter (29%), with 58% saying they had remained the same, signaling a small uptick in recruitment. However, respondents were less effusive on quarter two, with a record high 82% declaring they would not be hiring. This is 67% higher than Q4 2015. Only one in six said they would be looking to hire.
Cautious uptick in growth and sales
Orders received in the first quarter 2016 were higher, claimed 62% of respondents. One in three claimed they remained the same. The former was 25% higher than the previous quarter and the latter remained the same. This is still short of the 84% in Q1 2015 but is a sign that we may have seen a bottoming out at the end of 2015 and early 2016.
Of those interviewed, 78% said the second quarter will see growth tick up, a 20% increase on quarter four 2015. From a sales perspective, 53% remain positive and anticipate a quarterly increase, whilst 42% remain unchanged.
Payments continue to struggle
When respondents were asked whether their ability to collect payments had improved over the last quarter, it is most interesting to note that half of respondents (49%) saw an improvement, double the previous quarter’s responses; yet, one in four (23%) saw a deterioration and one in three (29%) remained unchanged. Late payment remains a significant issue for SMEs despite witnessing a marked improvement.
Fundraising rebounds
When respondents were posed the question on their ability to raise capital in the last quarter, half of respondents said they observed a moderate improvement, double the previous quarter’s tally. There was also a sharp pullback in terms of deterioration with only 16% of respondents seeing weakness in the market as opposed to fourth quarter 2015’s 36%. However, it remains well below Q1 and Q2 2015, where funds were much readily available
Infrastructure expansion number one priority
Almost half the SMEs (47%) reported they will invest in infrastructure next quarter. In the fourth quarter 2015, over half said they would be investing in employee benefits. We see this shift as a natural progression as companies invest in new infrastructure as a primary tool to see relevant in a technologically demanding business environment.
