Al Etihad Credit Bureau (AECB) does not change your credit data itself. Its free data correction service sends your request to the bank or other provider that reported the information, for any report you bought in the last 30 days, and AECB says your history should be updated within 10 working days. Under the Central Bank of the UAE's Consumer Protection Standards (Article 6), a bank must report any needed correction within 7 complete business days of your request.
Who this guide is for
- Anyone whose AECB credit report shows a wrong balance, status, account, bounced cheque or personal detail.
- People who have settled a loan or card and see it still reported as open or overdue.
- People whose report shows a "Left Country" status they believe is wrong.
The same process covers data from banks and finance companies, and also from non-bank providers such as telecom companies, utilities and government entities, which AECB lists as data sources. Company reports use a separate business form.
What AECB can and cannot change
AECB describes itself as a channel: it does not add, edit or delete information, but it can ask the provider to update its own system so that the correction reflects on the report.
Accurate history stays. A correction is for errors, omissions and outdated information. It will not remove accurate late payments. AECB's FAQs say defaults, missed payments and bounced cheques appear on your report for up to five years, even after you settle.
How payments appear. AECB says each facility shows a colour-coded 24-month history: green for payments on or before the due date, yellow for payments up to 90 days late, and red for payments more than 90 days late. The report covers the last 36 months of payment history on active and closed facilities.
Settled loans. After settlement, the facility should show as closed with the correct balance, but its past payment history remains. If a settled facility still shows as open or overdue, that is the kind of outdated information a correction request can address. Our credit card settlement guide lists the letters to ask for when you settle.
Left Country status. A provider can report this if it has reason to believe you have left the UAE, whether or not anything is overdue. AECB says you can raise a correction request if it is inaccurate.
Guarantors. AECB says a guarantor's details appear against each facility, as required by Central Bank regulations.
How long should a correction take?
Official sources give slightly different figures, so allow for both.
| Source | What it says |
|---|---|
| CBUAE Consumer Protection Standards, 6.1.5.2(c) | The bank must acknowledge your request, check it and, if a change is needed, report it to the credit bureau within 7 complete business days of your notice |
| CBUAE Consumer Protection Standards, 6.1.5.2(a) | A bank must correct errors it becomes aware of within 7 complete business days |
| AECB data correction page | Your credit history should be updated within 10 working days |
| AECB FAQ | Central Bank regulations require providers to respond within 7 working days; follow up if 10 days pass without an update |
| AECB support form page | Providers must respond within 10 working days, but AECB cannot guarantee a timeline because it depends on the provider |
As of September 2026, AECB lists a personal credit report at AED 84 including VAT. The correction request itself is described as free.
What if the provider refuses?
AECB's FAQ says that if the provider rejects your correction and you disagree, you can call the AECB Contact Centre on 800-BUREAU (800 287328) to register a data correction dispute. A dispute can be registered only after the provider has rejected the correction request.
You can also complain to the bank directly. The Standards say a bank must request deletion of personal data it collected and reported unlawfully (6.1.5.2(b)). If the bank does not resolve your complaint, you can take it to Sanadak, the ombudsman unit set up by the Central Bank.
Step by step
- Buy a current report. Use the AECB app or website; the free correction applies to a report bought in the last 30 days.
- Mark every error. Note the provider, the facility and exactly what is wrong.
- Gather proof. Collect statements, clearance letters or closure confirmations that show the correct data.
- Submit the request. Log in to your AECB profile, choose "Correct my data" in the report and attach a copy of your Emirates ID and your evidence. Companies use the form on AECB's support site.
- Use one request per provider. AECB asks for a separate request for each information provider.
- Contact the provider too. Send the bank the same evidence and ask it to report the correction.
- Watch for AECB's email. AECB says it emails you once the data is updated.
- Follow up after 10 days. Reply to AECB's confirmation email if nothing has changed.
- Register a dispute if rejected. Call 800 287328 with your details and evidence.
- Escalate the bank complaint if needed. Complain in writing to the bank, then to Sanadak.
Documents checklist
- AECB credit report bought within the last 30 days
- Copy of your Emirates ID
- Bank statements showing the correct balance or payments
- Liability, clearance or no-objection letter from the provider
- Written confirmation of account or card closure
- Settlement agreement and payment receipts, if the debt was settled
- Proof of residence in the UAE, if a "Left Country" status is wrong
- Business: trade licence scan and the company's AECB subject ID for the business form
Common mistakes
- Using an old report. The free correction applies only to a report bought in the last 30 days.
- Combining several providers in one request. AECB asks for a separate request for each provider.
- Expecting accurate late payments to be removed. Corrections fix errors, not true history.
- Sending no evidence. A request without supporting documents is harder for the provider to verify.
- Paying "credit repair" services. The official correction route is free and runs through AECB and the provider.
- Stopping at AECB. Also complain to the bank, which is responsible for the data it reports.
When to speak to a licensed lawyer
Most corrections do not need a lawyer. Consider licensed advice if a wrong entry is linked to a court case, a disputed debt or a suspected fraud in your name, or if an error has caused you a clear financial loss. The evidence checklist builder can help you organise your documents. The free case check can help you set out the facts first, and CaseDaleel can introduce an independent licensed professional only if you choose.
Frequently asked questions
Can AECB delete wrong information itself?
No, AECB says it does not add, edit or delete data; it asks the provider that reported the information to correct it.
Is the data correction service free?
Yes, AECB describes it as a free service for any credit report you bought in the last 30 days.
How long does a correction take?
AECB says your history should be updated within 10 working days, and the Central Bank Standards require a bank to report a needed correction within 7 complete business days of your request.
Will a settled loan still show on my report?
Yes, the facility's past payment history remains, and AECB says defaults and missed payments appear for up to five years, but its status and balance should be updated.
What if the bank rejects my correction?
You can call AECB on 800 287328 to register a data correction dispute, and you can complain to the bank and then to Sanadak.
Can I fix a "Left Country" status?
Yes, if it is inaccurate you can raise a correction request with evidence that you are still in the UAE.
Where can I learn what happens after missed payments?
Our loan default guide explains the arrears notices, court steps and credit reporting.
Official sources
- Al Etihad Credit Bureau — Data correction (personal)
- Al Etihad Credit Bureau — Data correction requests (company form)
- Al Etihad Credit Bureau — FAQs
- CBUAE Rulebook — Consumer Protection Standards, Article 6: Protection of Consumer Data and Assets
- Sanadak — Complaint eligibility
General information, not legal advice. CaseDaleel is not a law firm.