UAE launches credit screening solution for landlords; here's how it works

UAE has introduced a new tenant Screening solution, in a bid to develop a reliable tenant verification system. The system will allow landlords to request prospective tenants' credit scores and improve transparent data sharing. Etihad Credit Bureau (ECB), the UAE’s federal entity for credit information, launched the credit screening system in collaboration with UAE PASS.

It is the country’s first secure national digital identity for citizens, residents and visitors in the UAE. Its integration into the screening process allows data exchange subsequent to the tenant’s approval. Thus, enabling a trusted and transparent data exchange system.

How this system works:

Request for credit score: Landlords use the ECB mobile application to request a prospective tenant's credit score.
Tenant’s approval: To ensure data privacy, the credit score will be shared only after the tenant authorizes the request via the UAE PASS digital identity app.
Additional layer of security: Prior to the launch, landlords relied on documents like post-dated cheques, previous tenancy records, employer reputation, monthly salary and employment status. The credit score gives an additional layer of security to landlords.
AI-driven data: The system complements the ECB’s existing Cheque Clearance Indicator feature, which uses AI to assess whether the received cheque is likely to clear.

The UAE Pass: ‘Cornerstone of UAE’s digital infra’

Director general of digital Dubai Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori described the platform as a “cornerstone of the UAE’s digital trust infrastructure,” as cited by The Gulf News.

He added, “Our collaboration with Etihad Credit Bureau reflects a strategic step toward activating a responsible data economy, empowering individuals with control over their data while enabling its use to deliver more transparent, efficient, and user-centric services.”

The director-general of telecommunications and digital government Regulatory Authority (TDRA), Eng. Majed Sultan Al Mesmar stated that the integration of the UAE PASS with financial services makes real estate transactions more efficient and transparent, driving the nation's digital economy and future vision.

“Leveraging UAE PASS as a secure consent management platform is in line with the UAE's vision of building an interconnected digital ecosystem that enables trusted data exchange and empowers individuals and institutions to access seamless, efficient services.”
Talking to the Khaleej Times, “this collaboration between government entities and the financial sector further underscores the UAE's commitment to advancing innovative digital business models that support the digital economy and advance the goals of digital transformation, digital governance, and the UAE’s future vision."

According to the Emirates News Agency-WAM, prior to the launch of this system, it was announced and previewed by the telecommunications and digital government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) and Digital Dubai at GITEX 2025 in April 2026.
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