The Etihad Credit Bureau (ECB), the UAE’s federal credit information agency, has announced that Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) transactions from leading providers Tabby and Tamara will now be included in the country’s credit reports starting July 2026. This development marks a significant enhancement to the UAE’s credit reporting system by incorporating data from a rapidly growing consumer financing model.

The update applies to both current and new customers of Tabby and Tamara within the UAE and will encompass relevant historical transaction history. ECB officials emphasized that the move aims to provide lenders with a more comprehensive understanding of consumers’ financial commitments, thereby enhancing the quality and scope of credit information available.

Marwan Ahmad Lutfi, Director-General of Etihad Credit Bureau, highlighted the importance of adapting the credit reporting framework as financial services evolve. He stated that providing a broad view of individual financial obligations is critical as new financing options like BNPL gain wider adoption, underscoring the bureau’s commitment to improving the depth and relevance of credit data.

Tabby, one of the largest BNPL providers in the UAE, welcomed the change, noting that it would enable customers with responsible borrowing behavior to strengthen their overall financial profiles. Hosam Arab, Chief Executive and Co-founder of Tabby, emphasized that responsible lending relies on transparent insight into consumers’ finances and that integrating repayment histories into credit reports allows trustworthy customers to benefit from their credit discipline.

Similarly, Tamara’s General Manager for the UAE, Sagar Shah, said the initiative would foster greater transparency within the financial sector and improve access to formal financial services. He added that trust remains central to Tamara’s operations and that sharing BNPL data with credit reports supports participation in the broader financial ecosystem.

The Etihad Credit Bureau indicated that incorporating BNPL transaction information is part of a wider strategy to collaborate with various financial institutions—including banks, fintech companies, and microfinance lenders—to enhance the comprehensiveness of credit reporting. The bureau sees this expanded data framework as a step toward building a more inclusive and resilient financial environment by ensuring that credit profiles more accurately reflect consumers’ total financial obligations.