The UAE has a new credit score. Etihad Credit Bureau launched Credit Score 3i on 29 October 2026, and it changes how your borrowing history is judged when you apply for a loan, a credit card, a mortgage or even a rental.
Three things matter for most Dubai residents: the score now looks back further, newcomers finally get a score of their own, and settling an old default can start helping you within months.
What is Credit Score 3i?
Credit Score 3i is Etihad Credit Bureau’s new scoring model for individuals, replacing its previous methodology. Banks, finance companies and eligible fintechs use the score, alongside their own checks, to decide whether to lend to you and on what terms.
What has changed
| What | Under Credit Score 3i |
|---|---|
| History assessed | 36 months, up from 24 |
| Score range, established credit | 300 to 850 |
| Score range, new to credit or the UAE | 300 to 650 |
| Recovery after settled defaults | Improvement possible within about 6 months |
| Buy now, pay later | Reported since 2026 |
It looks back 36 months, not 24
A longer window gives lenders a fuller picture. That cuts both ways: a steady record counts for more, but a missed payment from two and a half years ago can still show up.
Newcomers get their own range
Eligible people with a short credit history, including those who have recently moved to the UAE, are scored on a 300 to 650 range. People with an established history are scored from 300 to 850.
Wow-Emirates Expert Tip: If you arrived in Dubai in the last year or two and see a score near 650, do not panic. That is the top of the newcomer range, not a mediocre mark on the full scale. The 300 to 850 scale is for people with an established credit history, so compare yourself against the right one.
Settled defaults can recover faster
If you have cleared an old default and now pay on time, your score can start improving within around six months. It is not guaranteed: any new missed payment slows the recovery, and lenders still make their own decisions.
Buy now, pay later counts
Since 2026, buy now, pay later accounts and other short-term credit are reported to the bureau. Those small split payments at checkout now sit on your record alongside cards and loans, so treat them the same way.
How to check your credit score in the UAE
- Go to the Etihad Credit Bureau website, etihadbureau.ae, or download the Etihad Credit Bureau app for iPhone or Android.
- Register and complete the identity verification.
- Request your credit report and score. Fees are listed on the bureau’s official channels.
Renting soon? Landlords can now check tenants too, and our guide to the UAE tenant credit check explains what they see. Planning a bigger move? Read our UAE visa changes 2026 breakdown and our guide to the Dubai shared housing law.
How to improve your score under 3i
- Pay every card, loan and buy now, pay later instalment on time, every month.
- Settle any outstanding defaults now. The six-month recovery clock only starts once they are cleared.
- Keep card balances well below your limits.
- Avoid applying for lots of credit in a short space of time.
- Check your report once a year and dispute anything that is wrong through the bureau.
Frequently asked questions
Credit Score 3i is the new individual credit scoring model from Etihad Credit Bureau, launched on 29 October 2026. It assesses 36 months of credit behaviour instead of 24 and introduces two score ranges.
Credit Score 3i runs from 300 to 850 for people with established credit histories, and from 300 to 650 for eligible people who are new to credit or new to the UAE. Higher is better on both ranges, and each lender sets its own threshold.
Credit Score 3i looks at 36 months of history. Once a default is settled and you keep up consistent repayments, your score may start to improve within around six months, but this is not guaranteed.
Yes. Since 2026, buy now, pay later accounts and other short-term credit products are reported to Etihad Credit Bureau, so missed instalments can affect your score.
Register on the Etihad Credit Bureau website or app, complete the identity verification and request your credit report and score. Fees are published on the bureau’s official channels.
Eligible newcomers with a limited credit history are now scored on a 300 to 650 range under Credit Score 3i, so you can build a record from your first year.
Last updated: 31 October 2026. This guide is general information, not financial advice. Check Etihad Credit Bureau’s official channels for current fees and procedures.
