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Data note: FOUAE (Founders of UAE) took these UAE credit score facts from bureau statements reported from July to October 2026 and in September 2023. The bureau has not published score bands for the new model.

The UAE credit score now runs on Credit Score 3i, a model Etihad Credit Bureau announced on 29 October 2026. Arabian Business reported that it scores established borrowers from 300 to 850, and people new to credit or new to the UAE from 300 to 650. It also reads 36 months of history, up from 24.

In short

  • Credit Score 3i has two ranges: 300 to 850, and 300 to 650 for newcomers.
  • A settled default may lift a score within six months, Khaleej Times reported.
  • Tabby and Tamara accounts appear on credit reports, but Gulf News says the score does not currently count them.

What is the new UAE credit score range?

Etihad Credit Bureau is the UAE’s official credit bureau, and lenders report repayment data to it. The bureau now uses two ranges, Arabian Business reported on 29 October 2026. Established borrowers score from 300 to 850. By contrast, eligible people who are new to credit or new to the UAE score from 300 to 650.

The old model ran from 300 to 900, The National reported in September 2023, citing the bureau’s website. Gulf News reported on 29 October 2026 that the bureau rebuilt Score 3i, its third generation, around UAE conditions.

The bureau’s Director General, Marwan Ahmad Lutfi, framed the change around time. The model provides “deeper insights into individuals’ credit behaviour over longer periods”, he said, Arabian Business reported.

The FOUAE calculation: one score, two ranges

Two ranges make one number harder to read, so take the same score of 600 on each scale. Within the newcomer range, 600 sits 300 points into a 350-point span, about 86 per cent of the way up. Under the main range, that same 600 sits 300 points into a 550-point span, or about 55 per cent.

So, on FOUAE’s arithmetic, a newcomer’s 600 sits near the top of its scale. Meanwhile, an established borrower’s 600 sits near the middle. The comparison holds only within one model.

The bureau has not published bands for Score 3i, and each lender sets its own cut-off. Under the old model, the bureau’s website marked 657 or above as a high score, The National reported in September 2023. Because the ranges differ, old and new scores are not like for like.

Why does a newcomer need a separate range?

The UAE has an unusual credit problem. Many adults arrive with a job and a salary but no local repayment record. On FOUAE’s reading, a single range would judge a short record by the standard of a long one.

The 300 to 650 range answers that problem, because it scores a thin-file resident on their own terms. In addition, on FOUAE’s reading, the range itself tells a lender how much evidence sits behind the score.

Scale explains why this matters. The bureau’s active database held about 11.6 million individuals and businesses in September 2026, Khaleej Times reported. It also counted 20.2 million active credit contracts in September 2026, Khaleej Times reported. Reports and scores issued rose from about 1 million in 2015 to over 17 million in 2025, the same report said.

For founders who hire from abroad, the shift has a practical edge. An eligible new hire with a limited UAE credit history can now hold a score built for short records. FOUAE’s guide for entrepreneurs moving to Dubai covers the wider move.

How does the 36-month window change things?

Score 3i reads up to 36 months instead of 24, Arabian Business reported. On FOUAE’s arithmetic, that is 50 per cent more history.

That cuts both ways. On FOUAE’s reading, a missed payment from 30 months ago now falls inside the period the model can assess. Equally, a longer run of steady repayments sits in view. However, the bureau has not said how it weights older events.

Recovery is the second change. After a borrower settles a default, the score may improve within six months if repayments stay steady, Khaleej Times reported. Still, the bureau says this is not guaranteed, and a new default can delay it. Gulf News added that 36 months is the period assessed, not a waiting period. So a settled default does not freeze a UAE credit score for three years.

Do Tabby and Tamara affect your UAE credit score?

Not currently, on Gulf News’s reporting. From July 2026, Etihad Credit Bureau began adding Tabby and Tamara accounts to credit reports, Khaleej Times reported. However, Gulf News reported on 29 October that this buy now, pay later data is not currently part of the Score 3i calculation.

The difference matters. A score is one number, but a report lists every account. So a bank that reads your full report can still see instalment plans, even when they leave the score untouched.

“Responsible lending starts with a clear view of a person’s finances,” Tabby co-founder and chief executive Hosam Arab told Khaleej Times. See also FOUAE’s look at UAE bank lending.

How do you check your UAE credit score?

Residents can check their UAE credit score in the Etihad Credit Bureau app or on the bureau’s website. Both routes need registration and identity verification.

“People do not need to reach out to us,” Lutfi told Gulf News on 29 October 2026. Many searches also ask whether the check is free. The launch coverage gave no fee amount, and Arabian Business said any charges follow the bureau’s published procedures. So confirm the price in the app before you pay.

The full report usually helps more than the number. It lists the positive and negative factors behind a score, along with suggestions to improve it, Arabian Business reported.

Who gains from Credit Score 3i?

The bureau holds the data, but it does not lend. Banks, financial institutions and eligible fintechs read the reports. Each lender still makes its own decision, Arabian Business reported. As a result, a better score improves the evidence, not the answer.

Even so, the incentives line up. Newcomers gain a way in and past defaulters a route back, while lenders see a longer record. For small firms, the cost of credit also depends on bank pricing, covered in FOUAE’s piece on UAE bank margins.

Verdict: a fairer UAE credit score, not an easier one

Credit Score 3i makes the UAE credit score kinder to newcomers and to people rebuilding after a default. At the same time, it remembers more, because a 36-month window keeps old slips in view for longer. So read your full report, not just the number, and treat any range as context rather than a lender’s promise.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a good UAE credit score under Score 3i?

Etihad Credit Bureau has not published bands for Score 3i. The ranges are 300 to 850 for established borrowers and 300 to 650 for newcomers. Each lender sets its own cut-off, so a good score depends on the lender and the product.

How long does a default affect my UAE credit score?

The model reads up to 36 months of history. However, a settled default may show improvement within six months if repayments stay consistent, Khaleej Times reported. The bureau says this is not guaranteed.

Do Tabby and Tamara count in the credit score?

Tabby and Tamara data has appeared on UAE credit reports since July 2026, Khaleej Times reported on 27 July. Even so, Gulf News reported on 29 October 2026 that this data is not currently part of the Score 3i calculation.

Sources

Arabian Business reported the two ranges and the 36-month window on 29 October 2026. Gulf News covered the launch briefing on the same day. It also said that BNPL data is not currently part of the score.

Khaleej Times reported the six-month recovery rule and the bureau’s database figures on 29 October 2026. Earlier, on 27 July 2026, it covered the arrival of Tabby and Tamara data. The National set out the old 300 to 900 range in September 2023.

For your own score, use the Etihad Credit Bureau app or etihadbureau.ae.

Founders of UAE (FOUAE) is an independent, digital-first business publication covering the founders, companies and economy of the United Arab Emirates. Follow FOUAE on Instagram and LinkedIn.