Banks provide a person’s salary details as part of regular submissions to Al Etihad Credit Bureau. Silvia Razgova / The National
Banks provide a person’s salary details as part of regular submissions to Al Etihad Credit Bureau. Silvia Razgova / The National
Banks provide a person’s salary details as part of regular submissions to Al Etihad Credit Bureau. Silvia Razgova / The National
Banks provide a person’s salary details as part of regular submissions to Al Etihad Credit Bureau. Silvia Razgova / The National

Al Etihad Credit Bureau introduces expense-to-salary ratio in credit reports


Deepthi Nair
  • English
  • Arabic

Al Etihad Credit Bureau’s credit reports will now include an expense-to-salary ratio (ESR) as it seeks to offer more insight into the creditworthiness of potential borrowers in the UAE by assessing their non-banking monthly payment obligations.

The ESR will be indicated as a percentage ranging from zero to 100 and represent a person’s financial obligations as share of their salary, the regulator said on Friday.

It will take into account active loan instalments, credit card limits and monthly telecoms and utility bills, the AECB said.

Credit reports are a direct reflection of an individual’s appeal and payment behaviour to lenders like banks and financial institutions, but are also as important for other entities such as property managers and telecom service providers,” said AECB chief executive Marwan Lutfi.

“The addition of the ESR to the AECB reports is a natural step in our ongoing path towards generating data-driven insight for lenders to assess the creditworthiness of individuals, while taking into consideration their regular non-banking monthly payment obligations, such as utility bills and telecommunication bills.”

Set up in November 2014, the bureau brings transparency to the lending industry by assembling a credit record of the UAE’s financially active residents. It collects data such as loan, mortgage, credit card and phone bill payments.

An individual’s credit report documents their entire credit history in the UAE, showing the credit cards, loans or other finance products they have signed up for, along with their payment behaviour.

Therefore, bounced cheques and any payment defaults will be recorded. The document also lists a person's full name and Emirates ID number.

A UAE resident's report is generated only when they have a credit card, loan, mortgage or a phone bill. The AECB collects data from banks, finance companies and telecom companies.

A credit score for individuals is a three-digit number between 300 and 900 that represents a borrower’s creditworthiness and how likely they are to make credit card or loan payments on time. A low score indicates they are a higher risk for a lender while a higher score indicates a lower risk.

The new ratio will indicate a potential borrower’s total obligations as a share of their reported monthly salary, the credit bureau said.

Banks provide an individual’s salary details as part of regular data submissions to the AECB.

The feature will serve as an “additional parameter in assessing creditworthiness and affordability for individuals and banks alike”, the credit bureau said.

“ESR not only provides banks and credit report users with insights on the individual’s spending behaviour, but is also a barometer for individuals themselves that will allow them to gauge their own spending habits and — hopefully — consider a more financially responsible alternative should their ESR be less than ideal,” Mr Lutfi said.

Meanwhile, AECB’s ChequeScore service, which allows businesses and people to instantly assess the risk of a cheque bouncing, is now live on the credit bureau’s website.

ChequeScore, which covers cheques issued by UAE-licensed banks and calculates the issuer’s credit score, payment behaviour, issuance frequency and clearance history in real time, was unveiled as an app in February.

“It serves to lower the number of bounced cheques and provides a push for financial accountability,” the credit bureau said.

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UAE salary guide 2022

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Started: July 2016

Founders: Mukesh Bansal and Ankit Nagori

Based: Bangalore, India

Sector: Health & wellness

Size: 500 employees

Investment: $250 million

Investors: Accel, Oaktree Capital (US); Chiratae Ventures, Epiq Capital, Innoven Capital, Kalaari Capital, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Piramal Group’s Anand Piramal, Pratithi Investment Trust, Ratan Tata (India); and Unilever Ventures (Unilever’s global venture capital arm)

Milestones on the road to union

1970

October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar. 

December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.

1971

March 1:  Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.

July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.

July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.

August 6:  The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.

August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.

September 3: Qatar becomes independent.

November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.

November 29:  At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.

November 30: Despite  a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa. 

November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties

December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.

December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.

December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.

What are the GCSE grade equivalents?
 
  • Grade 9 = above an A*
  • Grade 8 = between grades A* and A
  • Grade 7 = grade A
  • Grade 6 = just above a grade B
  • Grade 5 = between grades B and C
  • Grade 4 = grade C
  • Grade 3 = between grades D and E
  • Grade 2 = between grades E and F
  • Grade 1 = between grades F and G
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Toilet cleaner

1 cup baking soda 

1 cup castile soap

10-20 drops of lemon essential oil (or another oil of your choice) 

Method:

1. Mix the baking soda and castile soap until you get a nice consistency.

2. Add the essential oil to the mix.

Air Freshener

100ml water 

5 drops of the essential oil of your choice (note: lavender is a nice one for this) 

Method:

1. Add water and oil to spray bottle to store.

2. Shake well before use. 

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 Red Bull Salzburg (AUT) v Bayern Munich (GER) 

Sporting Lisbon (POR) v Manchester City (ENG) 

Benfica (POR) v Ajax (NED) 

Chelsea (ENG) v Lille (FRA) 

Atletico Madrid (ESP) v Manchester United (ENG) 

Villarreal (ESP) v Juventus (ITA) 

Inter Milan (ITA) v Liverpool (ENG) 

Paris Saint-Germain v Real Madrid (ESP)  

THREE POSSIBLE REPLACEMENTS

Khalfan Mubarak
The Al Jazira playmaker has for some time been tipped for stardom within UAE football, with Quique Sanchez Flores, his former manager at Al Ahli, once labelling him a “genius”. He was only 17. Now 23, Mubarak has developed into a crafty supplier of chances, evidenced by his seven assists in six league matches this season. Still to display his class at international level, though.

Rayan Yaslam
The Al Ain attacking midfielder has become a regular starter for his club in the past 15 months. Yaslam, 23, is a tidy and intelligent player, technically proficient with an eye for opening up defences. Developed while alongside Abdulrahman in the Al Ain first-team and has progressed well since manager Zoran Mamic’s arrival. However, made his UAE debut only last December.

Ismail Matar
The Al Wahda forward is revered by teammates and a key contributor to the squad. At 35, his best days are behind him, but Matar is incredibly experienced and an example to his colleagues. His ability to cope with tournament football is a concern, though, despite Matar beginning the season well. Not a like-for-like replacement, although the system could be adjusted to suit.

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2.45pm: Maiden (PA) Dh60,000 1,200m.

Winner: Ashton Tourettes, Sam Hitchcott, Ibrahim Aseel.

3.15pm: Conditions (PA) Dh60,000 2,000m.

Winner: Hareer Al Reef, Gerald Avranche, Abdallah Al Hammadi.

3.45pm: Maiden (PA) Dh60,000 1,700m.

Winner: Kenz Al Reef, Gerald Avranche, Abdallah Al Hammadi.

4.15pm: Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Cup (TB) Dh 200,000 1,700m.

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Info

What: 11th edition of the Mubadala World Tennis Championship

When: December 27-29, 2018

Confirmed: men: Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Kevin Anderson, Dominic Thiem, Hyeon Chung, Karen Khachanov; women: Venus Williams

Tickets: www.ticketmaster.ae, Virgin megastores or call 800 86 823

Updated: April 29, 2022, 9:45 AM