Your Buy Now Pay Later Habit is Now Part of Your Credit Score

If you have ever split a purchase into four payments through Tabby or Tamara without giving it a second thought, it is time to start paying closer attention. Etihad Credit Bureau has officially begun folding Buy Now, Pay Later data into UAE credit reports, and the change went into effect this July.

Until now, BNPL activity lived in its own little bubble. Banks and lenders assessing your creditworthiness had no visibility into how many payment plans you were juggling or whether you were keeping up with them. That gap has now closed. Data from Tabby and Tamara, the two biggest BNPL providers in the country, is flowing directly into the national credit reporting system, and it applies to new customers, existing customers, and relevant historical transactions alike.

Why This is a Bigger Deal than it Sounds

BNPL has grown fast in the UAE. It is convenient, it is everywhere at checkout, and for a lot of people it has quietly become a regular part of how they manage cash flow. The problem is that convenience does not always come with consequences attached. You could rack up several BNPL commitments across different apps and a bank evaluating your loan application would never know.

Etihad Credit Bureau's move fixes that blind spot. Lenders now get a fuller, more accurate picture of what someone actually owes before deciding whether to extend a mortgage, a car loan or a credit card.

The Upside for Consumers

This is not just about scrutiny. It works both ways. If you consistently pay your BNPL installments on time, that discipline now counts toward your credit profile. For UAE residents who have never had a bank loan or credit card, this creates a genuine entry point into the formal credit system, simply by using apps they are likely already using.

Hosam Arab, CEO and co-founder of Tabby, framed it as a win for responsible spenders, pointing out that customers with strong repayment habits will finally see that track record reflected in their broader financial standing.

Sagar Shah, General Manager for Tamara in the UAE, echoed the sentiment, calling it a step toward greater transparency and financial inclusion.

Late or missed BNPL payments can now hurt your credit score too. What used to be a low-stakes miss, a forgotten installment here or there, now carries the same weight as missing a credit card payment. If you have multiple BNPL plans running at once, this is the moment to get organised.

Marwan Ahmad Lutfi, Director General of Etihad Credit Bureau, said the organisation is focused on making its credit data deeper and more relevant as consumer financing keeps evolving. In practice, that means the UAE's credit system is finally catching up to how people actually spend money in 2026.

For business owners and professionals across Dubai, the takeaway is simple. BNPL is no longer a financial side door. It is now part of the same credit story that banks, landlords and lenders will be reading, so treat it with the same discipline you would any other line of credit.