AECB: Al Etihad Credit Bureau

The Al Etihad Credit Bureau (AECB) is a federal entity established by the UAE government to operate the country's centralised credit information system. It aggregates credit data - such as loan balances, credit card limits, repayment history, and defaults - from banks, finance companies, and other licensed lenders operating in the UAE. The AECB then uses this data to produce credit reports and a credit score for each registered individual or corporate entity.\n\nThe AECB credit score is a numerical rating that summarises a borrower's creditworthiness based on their repayment behaviour and outstanding obligations. UAE-licensed banks and financial institutions routinely pull an AECB credit report as part of their assessment when a customer applies for a personal loan, home finance, credit card, or other credit product. The bureau operates under oversight aligned with the Central Bank of the UAE's consumer credit framework.\n\nIndividuals can request their own AECB credit report and score directly through the AECB's official channels. Checking your own report is classed as a "soft inquiry" and does not affect your score. A hard inquiry - triggered when a lender checks your file - is recorded on your report and is visible to other lenders for a defined period. For precise fee schedules for obtaining your report, see the official AECB website at aecb.gov.ae.

For English-speaking expats in the UAE, the AECB credit file is the single most important financial record in the country. Because the UAE has no reciprocal credit data sharing with most expats' home countries, your AECB profile starts from zero when you arrive. Building a positive credit history here - by servicing a credit card or personal loan on time - directly affects whether a UAE-licensed bank will approve future finance applications and on what terms.\n\nExpats who are planning to leave the UAE should be aware that outstanding liabilities remain recorded on the AECB system. Unresolved defaults or bounced-cheque records can complicate a return to the UAE and, in some cases, have legal consequences under UAE law. It is advisable to obtain a full AECB credit report before cancelling a UAE residence visa to confirm that all credit obligations are settled and correctly reported.