Your credit score now follows you into property viewings. As of July 2026, landlords and agents across the UAE can run a formal credit check on prospective tenants through Al Etihad Credit Bureau (AECB) — the same body that scores you for loans and credit cards. The service was announced in May 2026 and is now live.
If you are hunting for a flat in Dubai, Abu Dhabi or anywhere else in the Emirates, this changes how you should prepare. Here is what the service does, what your rights are, and how to make sure your score works for you rather than against you.
What is the UAE tenant screening service?
It is a consent-based credit check for rental applicants, run by AECB. A landlord (or their agent) can request your credit score before deciding on your application. The score is built from your borrowing and repayment history — loan instalments, credit card payments, and other financial obligations.
In short: the same number that decides whether a bank gives you a car loan can now influence whether you get the keys to an apartment.
How the check works
The process is fully digital and runs through the AECB mobile app:
- The landlord opens the app and selects Tenant Screening
- They enter your Emirates ID number
- They pay the screening fee (Apple Pay and Google Pay are supported)
- You receive a consent request through UAE PASS
- You approve or reject the request
- If you approve, the landlord sees your credit score in the app
Two details matter here. First, nothing happens without your consent — the request arrives through your verified UAE PASS account, and only you can approve it. Second, if you reject the request or simply do not respond, the landlord's payment is and they never see your score.
