Here’s how UAE’s new credit score screening system will work for tenants, landlords
Dubai: Is the UAE rental market now entering a new phase of financial screening? Private landlords across the country can now request the credit scores of prospective tenants through a new “Tenant Screening” solution launched by Etihad Credit Bureau in collaboration with UAE PASS.
For UAE residents searching for homes, the move could gradually change how rental applications are assessed. For landlords, it introduces an additional tool to evaluate payment risk before signing tenancy contracts.
The system allows landlords to access a tenant’s credit score only after the tenant approves the request through UAE PASS, the country’s national digital identity platform. The feature was initially previewed at GITEX 2025 by the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) and Digital Dubai before being rolled out through the Etihad Credit Bureau mobile app in April 2026.
UAE tenant expectations
For tenants in the UAE, the introduction of credit screening means financial history could increasingly become part of the rental evaluation process alongside salary certificates, Emirates IDs, visa status and cheque arrangements.
Under the new system, a landlord can send a request for a prospective tenant’s credit score through the Etihad Credit Bureau platform. The tenant then receives a notification through UAE PASS and decides whether to approve or reject access to the information.
“The information is only shared once tenants accept through their UAE PASS,” Etihad Credit Bureau said. If the tenant declines the request, the landlord cannot access the credit score.
For many UAE residents, particularly those applying for high-demand or high-value properties in areas of Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the system could become another factor considered during rental applications.
The platform could also give landlords additional visibility into a tenant’s repayment history when assessing financial reliability linked to rent payments or post-dated cheques.
What if credit score is low?
While the system remains consent-based rather than mandatory, landlords may seek additional financial assurances in some cases where tenants choose to share lower credit profiles, particularly in situations involving:
- missed loan repayments
- high outstanding debt
- cheque-related disputes
- inconsistent payment history
Etihad Credit Bureau has not announced any minimum score requirements for tenancy approvals, and the system is not currently mandatory for rental contracts.
What UAE landlords can gain
For landlords, the platform offers a formal financial screening mechanism before entering into tenancy agreements. Until now, many landlords relied primarily on:
- employment status
- monthly salary
- employer reputation
- post-dated cheques
- previous tenancy records
The Tenant Screening system adds verified credit information into that process. Still, landlords are likely to assess broader indicators tied to a tenant’s financial behaviour, including repayment consistency and overall credit exposure. The service may become particularly relevant for landlords leasing:
- luxury villas
- premium apartments
- high-rent properties
- homes requiring multiple post-dated cheques
In those segments, landlords often face larger financial exposure if tenants default or delay payments.
