UAE Credit Score Guide: How the AECB Works and How to Improve Yours

The Al Etihad Credit Bureau (AECB) is the UAE's national credit bureau, established by federal law. Every UAE resident who has taken a loan, credit card, or utility connection has an AECB credit file — and your score determines whether banks approve your applications and at what interest rate.

What the AECB score looks like

The AECB credit score ranges from 300 to 900. Scores above 700 are generally considered good; above 750 puts you in the best approval bracket for most banks. Below 600, you'll struggle with most credit applications. The score is calculated from your full UAE credit history.

What affects your score

Payment history is the most important factor. Late or missed payments on any UAE credit product — credit cards, personal loans, car loans, mortgages — are recorded and significantly damage your score. Even a single 30-day late payment can drop your score by 50-100 points.

Credit utilisation matters. Using more than 70% of your credit card limit consistently signals financial stress to scoring models. Keeping utilisation below 30% of your total limit has a positive effect.

Number of recent credit applications also counts. Every hard inquiry (when a bank pulls your full credit report for a loan or card application) reduces your score temporarily. Multiple applications in a short period can look like financial distress.

Length of credit history is positive. Older accounts, in good standing, improve your score over time. Don't close your oldest credit card just because you don't use it much — the age of the account is valuable.

How to check your score

The AECB app (available on iOS and Android) allows you to check your own credit report and score. A basic report is AED 10; a detailed report with full account breakdown is AED 84. Checking your own score does not affect it (this is a soft inquiry). You can also get a free annual report from some UAE banks.

How to improve your score

Pay every bill on time, every month. Set up direct debits for minimum payments as a safety net. Keep credit card balances low relative to limits. Don't apply for multiple products at once — space applications at least 3 months apart. If you have a missed payment in your history, catch up immediately and then maintain a clean record — the impact of a missed payment fades over time with consistent on-time payments.

If you're building credit from scratch

Expats with no UAE credit history typically start with a secured credit card (backed by a fixed deposit) or a bank-linked card tied to their salary account. Using this responsibly for 6-12 months builds enough of a credit history to qualify for standard products.