The UAE’s rental market has taken a significant step towards greater transparency and financial accountability. Etihad Credit Bureau, the UAE’s federal entity for credit information, has officially launched a new Tenant Screening solution that allows private landlords to securely request and verify the credit score of prospective tenants — all through the UAE PASS digital identity platform.
What Is the UAE Tenant Screening Service?
The Tenant Screening service enables landlords to send a formal credit score request to a prospective tenant via the Etihad Credit Bureau mobile application. Crucially, the information is only disclosed once the tenant provides explicit consent through UAE PASS — the country’s trusted national digital identity platform. This consent-based mechanism ensures that tenant financial data is never accessed without permission, striking a balance between landlord due diligence and tenant privacy.
The service was first previewed at GITEX 2025 by the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) and Digital Dubai, before its official rollout in April 2026. Etihad Credit Bureau is among the first entities in the UAE to integrate UAE PASS as a secure consent channel for financial data sharing.
Why This Matters for the UAE Rental Market
The UAE real estate sector has long relied on post-dated cheques and unverified financial assurances as the primary means of assessing a tenant’s creditworthiness. This new digital solution removes that friction entirely. Landlords can now make data-driven leasing decisions grounded in verified financial history, rather than informal assurances.
Credit scores issued by Etihad Credit Bureau range from 300 to 900, with scores above 700 generally considered favourable. The service is expected to reduce rental defaults, minimise disputes, and bring UAE landlord-tenant dynamics in line with global best practices.
How to Access the Service
Landlords and tenants can access the Tenant Screening service, along with personal credit scores, credit reports, and the Cheque Clearance Indicator, through the Etihad Credit Bureau mobile app, available on both the Apple App Store and Google Play, as well as via the bureau’s official website at www.etihadbureau.ae.
A Step Forward for UAE Digital Infrastructure
This launch reflects the UAE’s broader commitment to building an interconnected digital economy. His Excellency Marwan Ahmad Lutfi, Director General of Etihad Credit Bureau, noted that the service is a practical outcome of close collaboration between government entities and the private sector, delivering solutions that are easy to use and aligned with market needs.
For UAE landlords, the message is clear: tenant screening just got smarter, faster, and fully digital.
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