New Dh80 UAE Pass feature will make lives easier for tenants, owners

Dubai: UAE residents will soon be able to verify another person’s credit score through a secure, consent-based system linked to UAE Pass, in what Etihad Credit Bureau says will close a long-standing gap in real-world transactions such as rentals, services and private agreements.

Marwan Ahmad Lutfi, Director General of Etihad Credit Bureau, said the new feature is designed to solve a recurring problem in business-to-consumer interactions, where individuals often rely on post-dated cheques or unverified assurances before handing over assets or signing short-term contracts.

Lutfi said the current process forces one party to request a credit report directly from the other, creating delays and opportunities for manipulation.

The upcoming system removes that friction by allowing the requesting party to pay Dh80 to verify the score, while the owner of the credit profile grants permission through UAE Pass.

“What we announced was actually enabling consent management through UAE Pass,” Lutfi said. “So next time you get me as a potential tenant through our app, you can log in with your UAE Pass. You put in my Emirates ID to say this person wants to get your credit score. If I confirm, you get everything you need.”

He stressed that it is “only if you confirm, only with your consent”, positioning the feature as a protection rather than an intrusion.

Designed for real-world use cases

Etihad Credit Bureau now plans to introduce use-specific versions of the tool across sectors.

“This enablement is there. We are now designing what we call the use cases for them, and that is hopefully what we plan to have next year,” Lutfi said. “The technology is available. We have tested it and launched it. Now we really need to address who needs it.”

He added that the bureau was “the first entity to launch the consent management platform with UAE Pass”, describing it as a joint project built to streamline trust in day-to-day transactions.

Helping residents manage risk more effectively

Lutfi said the bureau’s mandate is to make data and tools accessible enough for residents and businesses to make informed decisions.

“Our job is to make sure we provide the right data, the right tools that actually can make you set your strategies, develop the right risk management practices and how we want to manage going forward,” he said.

The peer-to-peer verification tool, he added, is designed to prevent disputes before they occur and reduce reliance on cheques in short-term rentals, private leases, and gig-economy arrangements.

“It is basically not an infringement of one’s privacy,” he said. “If I confirm, you get everything you need. Then you make the payment and you receive it.”