Al Etihad Credit Bureau launches the third generation of credit assessment 2026

Dubai, 12 November / WAM / Marwan Ahmed Lutfi, General Manager of Al Etihad Credit Information Company, confirmed that the company has made a qualitative journey over the past decade that has made credit data one of the most important pillars of economic decision-making in the country, noting that the volume of credit reports and evaluations issued by the company annually has increased from one million reports in 2015 to more than 17 million reports and evaluations by the end of 2025, that is, an increase of more than 16-fold in ten years.

Lutfi revealed during a press interview at the company’s headquarters in Dubai on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the launch of the first credit report, that Al-Etihad Credit Bureau is currently working, in cooperation with the UAE Central Bank and the banking sector, to launch the third generation of credit assessment before the end of the first half of 2026, explaining that this new system will bring about a “radical change” in the method of calculating the assessment and allows for the possibility of amending the assessment on an ongoing, quarterly basis. It will also allow individuals who have faced financial difficulties to amend their situation faster than at present.

He explained that under the current approved evaluation, a person who has defaulted in more than three consecutive payments is placed in the default classification for a period of 24 months, but with the new system, the customer will be able to exit the scope of default (the so-called red zone) within a period of six months and adjust the credit evaluation within less than a year.

He explained that the current credit evaluation depends on more than 2,000 variables according to precise algorithms, with results ranging between 300 and 900 points, where the score starts at the top and points are gradually deducted based on credit behavior, such as late payment, the number of defaulted installments, and the ratio of liabilities to income, indicating that the new system will allow users to know the exact reasons for the change in their evaluation through the digital platform and the company’s smart application.

He said that the company’s database has expanded significantly since the launch of the first credit report in 2015, to include today more than 32.6 million bank accounts and 22 million credit facilities, in addition to data for 18 million individuals and companies. He explained that the company began collecting information from banks, then gradually expanded to include the sectors of communications, electricity, water, and courts, and will soon add real estate departments and “buy now, pay later” companies.

He explained that the big jump reflects the pivotal position of information in the modern economy, not only in the banking sector, but in various economic and governmental sectors, as credit data today has become a major element in risk management and financial decision-making in public and private institutions.

He added that the partnerships have established a strong database that is currently used by hundreds of government and private agencies, as the company includes about 180 joint entities between banks, financial institutions, technology companies, and government agencies.

Lutfi explained that this growth reflects the growing role of information in supporting the modern economy, as credit data today has become a major tool for managing risks and making rational financing decisions at the level of individuals and institutions, stressing that Al-Ittihad Credit Information has become one of the main pillars of the financial infrastructure in the country.

He pointed out that the credit database has expanded significantly since the start of operations in December 2014, and today includes data from more than 119 information providers, including banks, financial institutions, government agencies, telecommunications, electricity and water companies, and courts, adding that this comprehensive integration has enabled the company to create a reliable national registry that covers the financial behavior of individuals and companies in various sectors.

Lutfi stressed that all its operations are carried out 100% digitally thanks to the digital transformation strategy it adopted early, the mobile application that was launched in 2018 to provide its services through digital channels, before in 2025 it enters a new phase of digital transformation by launching its updated application and the new electronic portal with an international award-winning design, pointing out that the new application provides an integrated digital experience that enables users to view their reports and credit ratings and review their data in an interactive and easy-to-use manner.

He added that the application includes the check collection indicator service, which enables individuals and institutions to estimate the probability of cashing checks and make safer financial decisions, explaining that these services have also become available through smart government platforms such as “Dubai Now” and “Tamm”, as part of cooperation with government agencies to simplify access to credit information.

He stressed that the company pays great attention to raising financial awareness among members of society, noting that about 10% of the country’s population has viewed their credit reports and evaluations in recent years, a clear indication of the growing awareness of the importance of self-monitoring of financial behavior.

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