The new UAE PASS-based service allows landlords to verify prospective tenants with consent, helping improve trust and transparency in the rental market.
UAE PASS-based system lets landlords request tenants’ credit scores with their consent
Landlords across the UAE can now verify the credit scores of prospective tenants before signing rental agreements, as Etihad Credit Bureau (ECB) has officially launched its new Tenant Screening Service.
The service, which was announced in May, is now available through the ECB mobile app. It allows landlords to request a prospective tenant’s credit score before making a leasing decision. However, the information is shared only after the tenant provides explicit consent through a verified UAE PASS account, ensuring the process remains secure, transparent, and fully digital.
The launch introduces an additional screening tool for landlords while giving tenants complete control over whether their financial information is shared.
How the Tenant Screening Service works
The screening process takes place entirely through the ECB mobile application.
A landlord starts by selecting the Tenant Screening feature and entering the prospective tenant’s Emirates ID details. After completing the payment, the system sends a secure consent request to the tenant through UAE PASS.
Once the tenant approves the request, the credit score becomes available in the landlord’s ECB app. The service also supports digital payment methods, including Apple Pay and Google Pay.
If the tenant declines the request or does not respond before it expires, no credit information is shared, and the landlord automatically receives a refund.
Tenant approval is required before any information is shared
The new service places tenant privacy at the centre of the process.
Landlords cannot access a person’s credit score without the tenant’s permission. Every request requires approval through a verified UAE PASS account, giving residents full control over their personal financial information.
ECB has confirmed that tenants must have a fully verified UAE PASS profile before landlords can submit a successful screening request.
What landlords can see
The Tenant Screening Service provides landlords with a prospective tenant’s credit score before a tenancy agreement is signed.
According to ECB, the service helps landlords gain deeper insight into an applicant’s financial reliability and supports more informed rental decisions. The bureau has clarified that landlords receive only the tenant’s credit score rather than unrestricted access to the individual’s full credit report.
A UAE credit score reflects a person’s borrowing and repayment history. It is calculated using information such as loan repayments, credit card payments, and other financial obligations, and banks routinely use it when assessing loan applications.
Why the service matters for landlords
The launch introduces a more consistent and data-driven approach to tenant verification.
Many landlords already review salary certificates, employment letters, bank statements, and references from previous landlords before approving a lease. A credit score adds another indicator of an applicant’s financial discipline and repayment behaviour.
When multiple applicants compete for the same property, the additional information can help landlords make more confident leasing decisions. However, the service is intended to complement existing screening practices rather than replace them.
What it means for tenants
The introduction of the service also increases the importance of maintaining a healthy credit profile.
Applicants with stronger credit scores may improve their chances of securing rental properties, particularly in competitive areas where landlords have multiple prospective tenants to choose from. Those with lower scores may benefit from resolving outstanding financial obligations before beginning their property search.
ECB also encourages residents to review their own credit reports before applying for a rental property. Doing so allows tenants to check their latest credit score, monitor their payment history, and identify any inaccurate information that should be corrected before a landlord submits a screening request.
A step towards greater transparency in the rental market
ECB first announced the Tenant Screening Service in May as part of its broader effort to expand the use of credit information beyond traditional lending decisions.
With the service now live, landlords can request prospective tenants’ credit scores directly through the ECB app, while tenants retain full control over whether that information is shared through the UAE PASS consent process.
The new system is expected to strengthen transparency in the UAE’s rental market by helping landlords make better-informed decisions while protecting tenants’ privacy through a secure, consent-based process.
Photo: Shutterstock
Source: Gulf News
