A new Tenant Inquiry service was launched by the Al Etihad Credit Bureau (“AECB”), and it is an important development in the UAE real estate sector. This service allows landlords to check a tenant’s financial credibility and reliability before signing the tenancy contract.

In the past, landlords usually had to depend on post-dated cheques, salary certificates, employer letters, and personal references. Now, landlords can request the tenant’s credit score through the AECB mobile application.

Relevant Legal Framework

Federal Law No. 6 of 2010 Concerning Credit Information
  1. Federal Law No. 6 of 2010 concerning Credit Information establishes the legal framework governing the collection, use, disclosure, and protection of credit information within the UAE.
  2. Article 5 prohibits the collection or circulation of information relating to an individual’s private life, opinions, beliefs, or health condition, thereby protecting personal privacy.
  3. Article 6 further requires that a credit information report recipient obtain the prior approval of the individual concerned before a credit report is issued and recognises that such consent may be provided through legally acceptable digital mechanisms such as UAE PASS.
  4. In addition, Article 8 classifies credit information and credit reports as confidential in nature and permits disclosure only with the written consent of the individual concerned or pursuant to lawful judicial authority.
Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021 on the Protection of Personal Data (PDPL)
  1. Under Article 4 of the UAE PDPL, personal data generally cannot be processed without the consent of the data subject except in limited statutory circumstances.
  2. Article 5 of the PDPL establishes the core controls governing personal data processing, including that data must be processed lawfully, for a specific and clear purpose, and only to the extent necessary for that purpose.
  3. Article 6 of the PDPL regulates the conditions for valid consent and requires that consent be clear, specific, and informed.
  4. Article 13 grants data subjects the right to know how and why their personal data is processed.
  5. Articles 16 and 17 provide individuals with rights to restrict or stop the processing of their personal data in certain circumstances.
UAE PASS and Digital Consent Infrastructure
  1. UAE PASS acts as the UAE’s national digital identity platform and helps in ensuring secure and authenticated digital transactions.
  2. In the Tenant Inquiry service, UAE PASS is used to authenticate the tenant’s identity and digitally record their consent before any credit information is disclosed. This ensures that consent is obtained from the concerned individual prior to revealing any credit-related information.
  3. The integration of UAE PASS into the Tenant Inquiry system creates a reliable audit trail that records when consent was requested and granted.
Procedure for Tenant Credit Inquiry
  1. A landlord who wishes to obtain a tenant’s credit information must first submit a request through the AECB mobile application.
  2. The request is then sent to the tenant for approval through UAE PASS. Without consent, the information will not be shared.
  3. Once the tenant approves, the landlord receives:
    1. The tenant’s credit score (between 300 and 900)
    2. A limited credit assessment summary

Conclusion

The service is highly significant as it ensures transparency for landlords without compromising the data protection and privacy rights of tenants. As Dubai’s population and rental market continue to grow, landlords are increasingly seeking better tools to reduce financial risk and avoid disputes related to unpaid rent or bounced cheques. Since the legal protections relating to cheques have gradually been relaxed, landlords are shifting toward financial screening and digital risk assessment tools. Prevention is always better than cure, provided that such preventive mechanisms do not come at the cost of infringing upon the rights and privacy of others.

We at Ayesha Aldhaheri Advocates & Legal Consultants, we closely monitor emerging legal and regulatory developments in the UAE real estate, financial, and digital governance sectors. We regularly advise landlords, tenants, property managers, and businesses on regulatory compliance, data protection obligations, tenancy-related disputes, and evolving legal frameworks within the UAE.