Millions of shoppers who split purchases into installments through Tabby and Tamara will see that activity surface in their official credit histories, following a decision by the country’s federal credit agency to fold the popular financing option into its records.
Etihad Credit Bureau, the government body that compiles credit information across the UAE, confirmed the change took effect this month. Both platforms rank among the most widely used buy now, pay later services in the country, and their repayment records—covering current users, newcomers, and applicable past transactions alike—are now part of the data lenders can pull.
For the bureau, the addition addresses a gap in how borrowers are assessed. Marwan Ahmad Lutfi, its Director General, framed the step as part of an ongoing push to sharpen the depth and usefulness of what its reports contain. “At Etihad Credit Bureau, we remain committed to strengthening the UAE’s credit reporting ecosystem by continuously enhancing the quality, depth, and relevance of the information available through our products and services,” he said. He added: “As financial services evolve and new forms of consumer financing gain wider adoption, it is important that credit reports provide a broad view of an individual’s financial commitments.”
Banks and other licensed lenders stand to gain a fuller accounting of what a customer already owes, which the bureau says translates into sharper risk evaluations. A secondary effect is reach: people taking on formal credit for the first time now enter the recorded system through their installment activity, rather than remaining invisible to it.
Both providers welcomed the shift. At Tabby, the emphasis fell on how disciplined borrowers might benefit. “Responsible lending starts with a clear view of a person’s finances, and we have always underwritten in real time to make credit more accessible,” said Hosam Arab, Chief Executive and Co-founder of the company. “For the millions of customers who use Tabby responsibly, this means their track record can now contribute to their broader financial standing.”
Tamara pointed to transparency and wider financial inclusion as the payoff. “As a fintech platform serving millions across the region, trust is at the core of everything we do at Tamara,” said Sagar Shah, the platform’s General Manager for the UAE. “This initiative reinforces our commitment by supporting greater transparency and creating more opportunities for people to participate in the financial system.”
The bureau has signaled it intends to keep drawing in additional partners—among them microfinance lenders and fintech firms—to widen the pool of data its reports draw on. Behind the expansion sits a stated goal of building a financial system better able to withstand shocks, one where a borrower’s full slate of obligations is visible rather than partially hidden.
