AECB Launches Credit Score 3i: A New 300–850 Range and a Separate Score for Newcomers

Al Etihad Credit Bureau (AECB) has introduced Credit Score 3i, a new model behind the credit score UAE residents can get from the bureau. AECB's app update on 2 October 2026 introduced it as "our enhanced credit scoring model with a score range of 300-850", and AECB's Credit Score page now calls it "the UAE's next generation Credit Score".

What changed

	Credit Score 3i (per AECB)
Mature Score	300–850, for established customers with credit facilities
New-to-Credit / New-to-Country Score	300–650, for customers with limited credit history
History used	Up to 36 months of trended credit information
Price of a standalone score	AED 10.50
In the app	New Score Factors that explain what is affecting your score

Before 3i, AECB described its individual credit score as ranging from 300 to 900 (AECB Credit Score page, as archived on 17 March 2026). AECB's credit score for companies still uses 300–900, so this change is about the score for individuals.

What it means for you

• Don't compare a 3i number with an older score. The ranges are different, so the same number can mean something different. AECB says the change "will vary depending on each customer's individual credit profile and behaviour", so your score may go up or down.
• New to the UAE or to credit? You may get the New-to-Credit Score, which tops out at 650. AECB says customers with limited history "may initially receive a New-to-Credit Score", while those with enough history are assessed on the Mature Score. A score close to 650 is at the top of that range.
• How you handle credit over time counts more. AECB says 3i gives "greater consideration of how credit obligations are managed over time" and uses up to 36 months of trended data. Paying on time every month matters more than a single good month.
• What we could not confirm yet. AECB has not published new grade bands (such as "good" or "excellent") for 3i, and we found no public statement on when each bank uses 3i in its lending decisions. Until AECB publishes them, treat score bands written for the older scale with caution. We will update this page when it does.

What to do next

1. Check your current AECB credit score so you know which range you are in — check your credit score.
2. Then see which cards fit your profile before you apply, so you avoid unnecessary applications — check your credit card eligibility.

Sources (checked 7 Oct 2026)

• AECB, Credit Score page (3i description, 300–850 and 300–650 ranges, 36 months trended data, AED 10.50, FAQ quotes): https://etihadbureau.ae/Individual/CreditScore
• AECB, FAQs (What is Credit Score 3i; segments; key features): https://etihadbureau.ae/en/Support/FAQs
• AECB business Credit Score page (companies still 300 to 900): https://etihadbureau.ae/Business/CreditScore