UAE Introduces Enhanced Tenant Screening Measures: What Landlords Need to Know

The UAE has introduced a digital tenant screening service through Etihad Credit Bureau, enabling private landlords to request the credit score of prospective tenants. The service was launched in April 2026 through the ECB mobile application and website, in collaboration with UAE PASS. 

The process is consent-based. A landlord initiates a screening request using the prospective tenant’s Emirates ID, after which the tenant receives a request through UAE PASS. The tenant must approve the request before their credit score is shared with the landlord. (Etihad Bureau)

Importantly, the service does not mean that every tenant must pass a mandatory credit check or meet a prescribed credit score before renting. Instead, it provides landlords with an additional source of verified financial information to support their own rental decisions.

For property investors, rental income is an important part of a property's ongoing performance. Selecting a tenant therefore involves more than simply finding an applicant who meets the basic requirements.

A structured tenant screening process can help landlords make decisions using verified information rather than relying solely on documents, references or verbal assurances. The ECB states that its Tenant Screening service is designed to help landlords identify financial stability and make leasing decisions based on data. 

Reduce Rental Payment Risks

A tenant background check can give landlords greater insight into an applicant’s financial behaviour before a tenancy begins. The ECB Tenant Screening service provides access to a tenant’s credit score, which can reflect factors such as repayment behaviour, credit usage and their overall credit profile. 

This does not eliminate rental risk, but it can provide another data point when assessing whether an applicant is likely to meet their financial commitments.

Improve Long-Term Property Performance

Tenant selection can also influence the longer-term performance of a property rental. A suitable tenant may contribute to more consistent rental payments, responsible property use and stable occupancy.

As Dubai’s rental market becomes increasingly active, with more than 118,000 new rental contracts recorded in Q1 2026 alone, having a structured approach to tenant evaluation can help landlords manage their properties more effectively. (Dubai Land Department)

The new service is designed to make credit-based tenant screening digital and straightforward.

App Initiation

Landlords can initiate a tenant screening request through the Etihad Credit Bureau mobile application or its official website. The landlord enters the prospective tenant’s Emirates ID and pays the applicable one-time screening fee. The ECB currently lists the fee at AED 10.50 per request. 

Digital Consent

Once the request is initiated, the prospective tenant receives a consent request through UAE PASS. The tenant must approve the request before their credit score can be shared. This gives tenants control over whether their credit information is disclosed. 

Data Sharing and Credit Assessment

After consent is provided, the landlord receives the tenant’s credit score. The score can provide insight into repayment behaviour, credit usage levels and the tenant’s overall credit profile. 

Landlords should view this information as one component of a wider tenant evaluation rather than as the sole basis for approving or rejecting an application.

Refund Protection

If the prospective tenant declines the request, the ECB states that the landlord receives a full refund. This provides a clear outcome where consent is not granted and ensures that the tenant’s credit information is not shared without approval. 

While a tenant credit score can provide useful financial insight, landlords should take a broader view when evaluating prospective tenants.

Financial Stability

A tenant’s credit score can provide information about their repayment behaviour and credit management. However, landlords may also consider employment status, income consistency and whether the proposed rent is appropriate relative to the tenant’s financial circumstances.

Rental and Tenant Background Check

Previous rental behaviour can provide additional context. Where appropriate and with the necessary permissions, landlords may consider previous tenancy records, references and relevant documentation alongside the tenant background check.

A credit score should therefore complement, rather than replace, reasonable due diligence.

Property Fit

Financial reliability is only one part of choosing a suitable tenant. Landlords should also consider whether the property meets the tenant’s requirements and whether the proposed tenancy aligns with the property's intended use and applicable tenancy terms.

Taking a balanced approach can help create a better match between landlord, tenant and property.

Tenant screening supports the wider shift towards digital and data-driven real estate services in the UAE.

Dubai’s rental market has continued to develop within an increasingly structured regulatory environment. The Dubai Land Department reported AED32.2 billion in rental contract value during Q1 2026, alongside more than 118,000 new rental contracts and more than 135,000 renewals. (Dubai Land Department)

At the same time, Dubai has introduced digital tools and services designed to make real estate transactions and rental processes more efficient and transparent. Tenant screening adds another layer of verified information to the leasing process, allowing landlords to make better-informed decisions while requiring tenant consent before credit information is shared.

For Dubai property investors, digital tenant screening provides an additional tool for managing rental portfolios and assessing prospective tenants.

Investors can use tenant screening as part of their wider due diligence process. Its main benefits include:

1. Better insight into prospective tenants
   Credit information can give investors a clearer picture of an applicant’s financial profile before entering into a tenancy agreement.
2. A more consistent screening process
   Digital screening can help landlords, particularly those managing multiple properties, apply a more structured approach when evaluating prospective tenants.
3. An additional layer of due diligence
   Tenant screening should not be treated as a guarantee of rental performance. A credit score reflects a tenant’s credit profile at the time it is requested and should be considered alongside factors such as income, employment, rental history and property suitability.
4. More systematic rental management
   For investors, the broader opportunity is to combine verified financial information with sound property management practices to make the tenant evaluation process more structured and consistent.