Mashreq has teamed up with healthcare platform Toothpick to introduce what the companies describe as the UAE’s first fully digital loan solution designed specifically for healthcare services. Announced on April 16, 2026, the initiative enables patients at clinics within Toothpick’s network to apply for financing at the point of care rather than relying solely on upfront payment. The rollout centers initially on dental and aesthetic treatments, two categories where procedure costs can often be significant and immediate payment can delay care decisions.
Partnership Launch
Under the agreement, customers using Toothpick-affiliated clinics across the UAE will be able to access Mashreq NEO Credit Loans for treatment financing of up to AED 150,000. The companies said the offering is built as an embedded finance product, meaning the loan application is integrated directly into the clinic experience rather than handled through a separate banking journey. That structure is intended to reduce friction for patients while also helping clinics secure payment through a formal and digital process.
Customer Financing Model
The financing workflow begins when a clinic starts the request through Toothpick’s platform during the patient’s visit. Mashreq then verifies the customer and sends a secure digital link that allows the application to be completed without additional paperwork or an in-person banking step. Once approval is granted, the funds are transferred directly to the clinic, creating a process that the companies say is faster and more streamlined for both providers and patients.
Strategic Significance
For Mashreq, the partnership extends its Banking-as-a-Service strategy and broadens the application of digital lending into a new service category. Ghazal Al Sakaal, Global Head of Ecosystems and Platform Banking at Mashreq, said the collaboration is meant to make financing more accessible at moments when customers are making important healthcare decisions. Her remarks framed the launch as part of a wider effort by the bank to embed financial services into everyday customer journeys rather than limiting them to conventional retail banking channels.
Market Context
The announcement also reflects a broader market opportunity in healthcare financing, especially for treatments that exceed the lower spending caps typically associated with buy-now-pay-later products. By offering larger-ticket financing, the new solution is positioned to cover both medically important and discretionary procedures, particularly in dental and aesthetic care where costs can rise quickly. Toothpick Co-founder and Chief Growth Officer Sary Azakir said the partnership sets a new benchmark for healthcare financing in the UAE and aligns with the company’s focus on using technology to widen access to treatment.
Company Context
Toothpick operates a network of more than 1,000 dental and aesthetic clinics, giving the financing product immediate access to a sizable healthcare distribution base across the country. Mashreq, headquartered in Dubai, is one of the region’s established financial institutions and has been expanding its digital banking and embedded finance capabilities as customer expectations shift toward app-based and integrated services. The bank said the initial focus will remain on dental and aesthetic clinics, while the partners evaluate expanding the model into other healthcare verticals in the coming months.
The partnership signals a convergence of digital banking and healthcare access at a time when consumers are increasingly expecting financing to be available within the services they use. By placing higher-value credit options directly inside clinic workflows, Mashreq and Toothpick are attempting to remove a major barrier that can prevent patients from proceeding with treatment. Whether the model expands beyond its initial categories, its launch marks a notable development in how healthcare payments may evolve in the UAE.