How to Check Your AECB Credit Score in UAE — Free and Paid Options

You can check your AECB credit report for free once per year, or get your full credit score for AED 31.50 through the AECB app. Your AECB score is the single most important number for credit access in UAE — it determines whether you can get a loan, credit card, or even a phone contract. Here's everything you need to know about checking and understanding it.

What Is AECB?

The Al Etihad Credit Bureau (AECB) is the UAE's official credit bureau. It collects data from banks, telecoms, and other creditors about how you handle credit. Your AECB report includes:

• All your credit accounts (loans, cards, mortgages)
• Payment history (on-time vs late)
• Outstanding balances
• Credit inquiries (when banks check your credit)
• Public records (court cases, bounced cheques)

Every bank in UAE checks your AECB before approving credit. Many employers check it too.

How to Get Your Free Annual Credit Report

You're entitled to one free credit report per year under UAE law. Here's how to get it:

Option 1: AECB Website

1. Go to www.aecb.gov.ae
2. Register for an account (requires Emirates ID and mobile number)
3. Complete identity verification
4. Request your free annual credit report
5. Download the PDF report

Option 2: AECB Mobile App

1. Download "AECB Credit Score" from App Store or Google Play
2. Register with Emirates ID
3. Verify identity (may require facial recognition)
4. Request free annual report

What You Get Free

• Full credit report with all accounts
• Payment history
• Inquiries and public records
• No credit score number (that costs extra)

The free report shows everything — but not the calculated credit score itself.

How to Get Your Credit Score (Paid)

The actual credit score number costs money:

AECB App — AED 31.50

1. Open the AECB app
2. Select "Get My Score"
3. Pay via credit/debit card
4. Score displayed immediately

This gives you:

• Your credit score (300-900 scale)
• Your credit report
• Score tracking over time

AECB Website — AED 31.50-84

Different packages available:

• Basic score + report: AED 31.50
• Premium report: AED 52.50
• Credit monitoring subscription: AED 84/quarter

Through Your Bank

Some UAE banks offer AECB access through their apps:

• Emirates NBD: Free score check in the app
• ADCB: Free periodic score updates
• FAB: Score access for customers
• Mashreq: Limited score visibility

Check your bank's app — you may already have free access.

Understanding Your AECB Score

AECB scores range from 300-900:

| Score Range | Rating | What It Means | |-------------|--------|---------------| | 750-900 | Excellent | Best rates, easy approval | | 700-749 | Good | Most applications approved | | 650-699 | Fair | May need documentation, higher rates | | 550-649 | Poor | Difficult approval, limited options | | 300-549 | Very Poor | Most applications rejected |

What Score Do You Need?

| Product | Typical Minimum Score | |---------|----------------------| | Premium credit card | 750+ | | Personal loan | 650-700 | | Car loan | 650+ | | Mortgage | 700+ | | Basic credit card | 600+ | | Phone postpaid plan | 600+ |

Different banks have different thresholds. Higher scores get better interest rates.

What's in Your AECB Report

Account Information

For each credit account:

• Bank/creditor name
• Account type (loan, card, etc.)
• Credit limit or loan amount
• Opening date
• Current balance
• Payment status

Payment History

Each account shows:

• On-time payments
• 30-day late payments
• 60-day late payments
• 90+ day late payments
• Defaults or charge-offs

Inquiries

Every time a bank checks your credit, it's recorded:

• Bank name
• Date of inquiry
• Type of credit requested

Too many inquiries in a short period hurts your score (looks like desperate borrowing).

Public Records

• Court judgments
• Bounced cheques
• Bankruptcy (rare in UAE)

How to Dispute an Error on Your AECB Report

If you spot incorrect information:

Step 1: Identify the Error

Common errors:

• Wrong payment status (says late when you paid on time)
• Account you don't recognize
• Wrong balance amounts
• Duplicate accounts
• Accounts that should be closed still showing open

Step 2: Gather Evidence

Collect:

• Bank statements showing correct payment dates
• Account closure letters
• Any correspondence about the disputed item

Step 3: File a Dispute with AECB

1. Log into AECB website or app
2. Select "Dispute" option
3. Identify the incorrect item
4. Upload supporting documents
5. Submit dispute

AECB will investigate with the data provider (usually the bank).

Step 4: Follow Up

• AECB must respond within 30 days
• Check your report after resolution
• If not resolved, escalate to the bank directly

How Long Does Negative Information Stay?

| Type of Information | Time on Report | |---------------------|----------------| | Late payments | 5-7 years | | Defaults | 5-7 years | | Settlements | 5-7 years | | Court judgments | 7+ years | | Bounced cheques | 7+ years | | Inquiries | 2 years |

The impact decreases over time. A 5-year-old late payment hurts less than a 6-month-old one.

Tips for Improving Your AECB Score

Quick Wins

• Pay all bills on time (set up autopay)
• Reduce credit card utilisation below 30%
• Don't apply for multiple credit cards at once

Medium-Term Improvements

• Keep old accounts open (helps average account age)
• Mix of credit types (card + loan) helps slightly
• Build 6+ months of positive history

What Doesn't Work

• Closing accounts (actually can hurt score)
• Paying someone to remove accurate negative marks (scam)
• Opening new accounts to lower utilisation (backfires)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the free AECB credit report the same as the paid score?

The free report contains the same information about your accounts, but doesn't include the calculated credit score number. For the score (300-900 number), you need to pay AED 31.50.

How often does AECB update my credit information?

Banks report to AECB monthly. Changes (like paying off a loan) typically appear within 30-60 days. Some banks report more frequently.

Can I check my AECB score on my phone?

Yes. Download the "AECB Credit Score" app from App Store or Google Play. You can get your score instantly for AED 31.50.

What score do I need to get a personal loan in UAE?

Most banks require 650-700 minimum for personal loans. Higher scores get better rates. Below 600, approval is very difficult.

How do I remove a settled debt from my AECB record?

You can't remove accurate information early. A settled debt will show as "settled" for 5-7 years. The impact decreases over time. Focus on building positive history.

Why is my score lower than I expected?

Common reasons: high credit card utilisation (over 30%), recent late payments, too many recent credit applications, short credit history, or errors on your report.

Does checking my own AECB score hurt it?

No. Checking your own score is a "soft inquiry" with no impact. Only "hard inquiries" from banks applying for credit affect your score.

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