Understanding your UAE credit score is essential if you plan to get a credit card, car loan, personal loan, mortgage, postpaid mobile contract, or tenancy contract linked to direct debit. Your score is issued by Etihad Credit Bureau (ECB), the national credit reporting authority of the United Arab Emirates.
This UAE Credit Score guide explains:
- What the UAE credit score is
- How ECB works and what data it collects
- How to check your credit score in the UAE
- What is considered a good or bad score
- How lenders use your score in approvals
- How to improve a low credit score
- How expats build a score after moving to the UAE
- Factors that reduce or damage your score
- How long negative information stays on record
It is written for:
- New expats establishing financial history
- Residents applying for credit products
- Property buyers seeking mortgages
- Business owners and freelancers needing banking facilities
- Anyone recovering from missed payments or bounced cheques
Key Takeaways
- Your UAE Credit Score Is Issued By Etihad Credit Bureau (ECB), The National Credit Agency.
- UAE Credit Scores Typically Range From 300 To 900, With Higher Scores Indicating Lower Risk.
- Banks, Finance Companies, Telecom Operators, And Some Landlords Use Credit Scores For Approvals.
- Your Score Is Based On Payment History, Outstanding Debts, Credit Utilization, And Number Of Credit Accounts.
- Missing Payments, Bounced Cheques, And High Credit Card Balances Can Rapidly Reduce Your Score.
- You Can Check Your Score Through The AECB Website Or Mobile App For A Small Fee.
- New Expats May Have “No Score” Initially And Must Build History Over Several Months.
- Improving Your Score Requires On-Time Payments, Low Utilization, And Avoiding Excessive Applications.
Our Sources & Further Reading
- Central Bank of the UAE
- Central Bank consumer protection and complaints
- Central Bank regulations and supervision
- Al Etihad Credit Bureau (credit reports & scores)
- UAE Government Portal – Banking and Financial Services
- UAE Government Portal – Taxation
- Ministry of Finance – UAE Tax Information
- Dubai International Financial Centre (financial hub regulator)
- Abu Dhabi Global Market (financial centre regulator)
What Is the ECB?
The Etihad Credit Bureau (ECB) is the federal credit bureau of the UAE. It collects, aggregates, and reports credit information on individuals and companies from licensed financial institutions and utility providers.
ECB maintains:
- Your personal credit report
- Your credit score
- Your credit history timeline
- Records of defaults, collections, and legal actions related to debt
ECB does not:
- Approve or decline loans
- Set interest rates
- Negotiate with banks
- Blacklist individuals
Instead, it supplies risk data used by lenders to make decisions.
All UAE Banking and Finance Guides
Banking and Finance in the UAE – Expat Guide
Opening a Bank Account in The UAE – Complete Expat Authority Guide
Loans And Consumer Finance In The UAE – Complete Expat Guide
UAE Credit Score & ECB – Complete Expat Guide
Islamic Banking In The UAE – Complete Expat Guide
What is the UAE Credit Score?
Your UAE credit score is a three-digit number between 300 and 900 predicting how likely you are to miss payments in the next 12 months.
General interpretation:
- 300–540 – Very High Risk
- 541–650 – High Risk
- 651–710 – Medium Risk
- 711–745 – Low Risk
- 746–900 – Very Low Risk
Each bank uses its own thresholds for:
- Loan approvals
- Interest rates
- Credit card limits
- Mortgage eligibility
In practice, many banks prefer scores above 680–700 for best products.
Who Reports Data To ECB?
ECB receives information from:
- Banks and finance companies
- Credit card issuers
- Mortgage lenders
- Telecommunications providers
- Utility companies in some emirates
- Courts and legal enforcement bodies relating to bounced cheques or judgments
This means telecom late payments also matter, not only loans.
What Information Does ECB Collect?
Your report may include:
- Current and closed loans and credit cards
- Payment history on each facility
- Missed or late payments
- Credit limits and utilization
- Number of applications for credit
- Bounced cheques recorded through UAE banks
- Collections and legal actions
It does not include:
- Salary history outside banking records
- Landlord opinions or references
- Personal data such as race, religion, or nationality
How To Check Your UAE Credit Score
You can obtain your score via:
- ECB mobile application
- ECB official website
- ECB customer service centers
You will typically need:
- Emirates ID
- Active phone number
- Email address
A fee applies per report or score purchase.
You can obtain:
- Credit Score
- Credit Report
- Credit Report With Score
The score alone is helpful, but the full report explains why.
How Expats Build a UAE Credit Score
New UAE residents often begin with no score because ECB has no data.
You build a score by:
- Obtaining a mobile phone contract
- Opening a bank account
- Using a credit card responsibly
- Paying utilities under your name
- Taking small personal loans and repaying on time
Most expats see scores generated within 3–6 months of activity.
How Lenders Use Your Credit Score
Banks and institutions use your score to determine:
- Whether to approve or reject applications
- How much they will lend you
- Required salary multipliers
- Interest rates or profit rates
- Required deposits or guarantees
A high score may provide:
- Faster approvals
- Higher limits
- Lower fees and interest
- Access to premium credit cards
A low score may lead to:
- Higher pricing
- Lower limits
- Collateral requirements
- Full rejection
Factors That Improve Your UAE Credit Score
Your score increases when you:
- Pay all credit cards and loans on time
- Keep utilization below 30–40 percent of limits
- Avoid frequent loan and credit card applications
- Maintain long-standing bank relationships
- Use credit regularly but responsibly
- Close unused extra cards only when necessary
Consistency is more valuable than speed.
Factors That Damage Your UAE Credit Score
Your score declines when you:
- Miss card or loan payments
- Default or enter collections
- Bounce cheques
- Keep credit cards at or near limit
- Apply frequently and get rejected
- Allow Emirates ID or visa to expire
- Ignore telecom or utility bills
One missed payment can cause a sudden drop.
How Long Negative Marks Remain On Your Record
In most cases:
- Late payments remain for 2–5 years
- Defaults and collections remain longer
- Closed facilities remain visible historically
- Cheque cases show depending on legal outcome
Improvement happens progressively after corrective action.
UAE Credit Score And Mortgages
Mortgage lenders analyze:
- Your ECB score
- Debt burden ratio (DBR)
- Length of employment
- Salary stability
A poor score may:
- Increase down payment requirements
- Reduce approved borrowing amount
- Increase lending rate
- Cause rejection
You can read our full detailed guide on Mortgages here:
How To Improve A Low Credit Score
Practical actions include:
- Paying all late balances immediately
- Bringing utilization below 30 percent
- Consolidating fragmented debt
- Avoiding new applications temporarily
- Setting automatic payments
- Clearing telecom and utility arrears
- Allowing 3–6 months for improvement
Avoid “credit repair companies” promising instant fixes.
Do You Have a Separate Credit Score If You Leave The UAE?
Your ECB score applies only within the United Arab Emirates. Foreign lenders cannot normally access it; however, UAE banks may share data under legal or treaty obligations in limited cases.
Unpaid debt in the UAE can still:
- Affect collection processes
- Trigger legal action locally
- Create travel or re-entry risk
Frequently Asked Questions
Do prepaid mobile plans affect credit scores?
No. Only postpaid contracts recorded under your identity are reported.
Does salary size determine my credit score?
No. Salary influences loan eligibility but not the numerical score itself.
Can landlords check my UAE credit score?
Yes, some do. It is increasingly common in premium developments.
Can I dispute incorrect items on my report?
Yes. Reports may be disputed via ECB with documented proof.
Does closing a credit card hurt my score?
Sometimes yes, because it increases utilization ratio. Strategy matters.
Suggested Internal Links
- Opening A Bank Account In The UAE
- Mortgages In The UAE
- Cost Of Living In The UAE
- Real Estate Hub
- Expat Financial Planning Hub