AECB Credit Score Explained
The three-digit number that decides your mortgage — how to check it, read it, and raise it.
AECB at a glance
Thresholds vary by bank and profile — some approve lower scores at adjusted pricing. Current report fees are on aecb.gov.ae.
What is the AECB?
Al Etihad Credit Bureau (AECB) is the UAE's federal credit bureau. It collects your repayment history from banks, finance companies, telecoms and utilities, and turns it into a credit score from 300 to 900 plus a detailed credit report. Every mortgage application starts with the bank pulling this file — before they look at anything else.
How banks read your score
Higher means lower risk. As a working guide: 700+ is strong territory; 650–700 is generally comfortable; 600–650 is approvable but expect more scrutiny or pricing adjustments; below ~600, many banks hesitate — though policies differ, and matching your profile to the right lender is exactly what a broker does. The report matters as much as the score: banks see every card, loan, bounced cheque and late payment, plus your total exposure — which feeds your debt burden ratio.
How to check your AECB score
Download the AECB app, verify with UAE Pass or Emirates ID, and buy your score (a few dirhams) or the full report (roughly AED 80–100). Check it before applying — discovering a problem after a bank rejection is the expensive way, because the rejection itself becomes part of your history.
How to improve your score before a mortgage
The levers, in order of impact: (1) clear late payments and never miss a due date — payment history dominates; (2) reduce credit-card utilisation and cancel unused cards (limits count against you); (3) settle small loans; (4) avoid new credit applications in the 3–6 months before your mortgage; (5) check the report for errors — wrongly-reported items can be disputed with AECB. Most applicants can move their score meaningfully within 3–6 months.
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