UAE landlords can now check tenants’ credit scores before renting homes; here’s how the new system works

Under a new Tenant Screening system, private landlords in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) can check the credit score of their future tenants via the Etihad Credit Bureau mechanism if the tenant has given their consent.

According to Emirates 24/7, Dubai’s state-owned media organisation, the Etihad Credit Bureau has introduced a new “Tenant Inquiry” service that allows property owners in the UAE to access the credit ratings of prospective tenants, but only with the tenant’s approval via the UAE PASS digital identity platform.

In a press release, Etihad Credit Bureau mentioned that this service boosts transparency in the real estate market by enabling secure, consent-based sharing of credit data. It’s one of the first services to integrate UAE PASS as a platform for obtaining user approvals.

According to the Emirates 24/7 report, this initiative was first announced during GITEX 2025 by Dubai Digital and the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority, before officially launching through the Etihad Credit Bureau application in April 2026.

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Landlord can only request Tenant’s credit score if tenant agrees

Under the new Tenant Screening system, landlords can request a tenant’s credit score, but the information will only be shared if the tenant agrees to it through the UAE PASS digital identity system, as reported by Khaleej Times, one of the oldest newspapers in the UAE.

The Khaleej Times report also noted that this service was created in collaboration with the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) and Digital Dubai.

Marwan Ahmad Lutfi, Director-General of Etihad Credit Bureau said:“By integrating the sharing of trusted credit data through the UAE PASS platform, along with enhancing cheque scanning with AI, we continue to boost transparency and confidence through new use cases in key sectors,”

Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, Director-General of Digital Dubai, said: “This integration demonstrates how unified digital infrastructure can unlock new service models that connect key sectors, enhance confidence in digital transactions, and reinforce a seamlessly integrated government ecosystem. It is particularly impactful in vital sectors such as real estate, where trust, speed, and transparency are essential.”

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Eng. Majed Sultan Al Mesmar, Director-General of the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA), said: “Leveraging UAE PASS as a secure consent management platform is in line with the UAE’s vision of building an interconnected digital ecosystem that enables trusted data exchange and empowers individuals and institutions to access seamless, efficient services. This collaboration between government entities and the financial sector further underscores the UAE’s commitment to advancing innovative digital business models that support the digital economy and advance the goals of digital transformation, digital governance, and the UAE’s future vision.”