The new UAE credit score model looks back 36 months, covers newcomers and shows exactly what moves your number.
Why the UAE Credit Score Just Changed
Etihad Credit Bureau has launched Credit Score 3i, its next-generation model. The UAE credit score now gives people with past defaults a faster route back to good standing.
What Credit Score 3i Does Differently
The new UAE credit score assesses up to 36 months of credit behavior, up from 24 months. It draws on a wider range of indicators tied to financial obligations and repayment patterns.
The bureau says it rebuilt the model around the UAE market rather than simply refreshing the old one.
When and Where It Was Announced
The bureau announced the UAE credit score update on October 29, 2026, according to the Emirates News Agency (WAM). The launch took place in Abu Dhabi.
Gulf News reports that it was unveiled at a media briefing held alongside the soft opening of the bureau’s new walk-in office.
Whom the UAE Credit Score Update Helps
The biggest winners are people recovering from defaults. Previously, a UAE credit score could stay in a low category for about two years after a default, Khaleej Times reports.
Under 3i, consistent repayment for six months after the last default can start moving someone out of the lowest range. WAM adds that an increase in that period is not guaranteed.
The model also introduces two scoring ranges based on customer categories. This is meant to cover people with limited credit history, such as new residents and first-time borrowers.
How to Check Your UAE Credit Score
You can access your UAE credit score on the bureau’s website, etihadbureau. ae. You can also use the Etihad Credit Bureau mobile app, available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.
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The app and website now show the positive and negative factors behind your number. Khaleej Times also reports that the fee for a score has dropped to Dh10 from Dh30.
What It Means for Lenders and Borrowers
Banks and financial institutions tested Credit Score 3i for several months before launch, Khaleej Times reports. Even so, lending decisions still rest with individual lenders.
A better UAE credit score may help, but it does not promise approval.
A Fairer Path Back
The 3i model rewards steady repayment and gives people clearer feedback.
If your UAE credit score has been held back by an old default, six months of consistent payments is now the benchmark to aim for.
Check your score, read the factors behind it, and keep payments on time.
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