UAE credit reports now include micro-loans such as CashNow

Dubai: Micro-loans, such as those offered by CashNow, are now being documented in UAE credit reports, broadening the financial information that banks and authorized lenders can review when evaluating a consumer's credit status. The Etihad Credit Bureau announced on Tuesday that micro-loan account details from providers like CashNow, submitted by Botim Finance (formerly Quantix), have been integrated into the UAE's credit reporting framework.

This change affects both current and future CashNow customers and incorporates pertinent historical account data. The move follows the recent addition of Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) and other short-term credit information to UAE credit reports, adding another prevalent type of digital consumer borrowing to the official credit reporting system.

Since the second quarter of 2025, Botim Finance has submitted micro-loan account data linked to over one million CashNow customer profiles to the Etihad Credit Bureau, according to Dr Tariq BinHendi, CEO of Botim and Board Member of Astra Tech. This additional information allows lenders to gain a more comprehensive view of an individual's existing financial commitments during credit assessments and risk management.

Brian Gambin, Director of Partnerships at Etihad Credit Bureau, stated, "The UAE's financial landscape continues to evolve, with consumers accessing credit through an increasingly diverse range of products and digital channels." The recent inclusion of micro-loan data, such as 'CashNow', complements the recent addition of BNPL data, further expanding the information captured in UAE credit reports.

Timely repayments on these products can also become part of a consumer's formal credit history, enabling them to enhance their credit profiles over time. The expansion of credit reporting and scoring is aimed at not only assessing risk but also facilitating financial participation. Etihad Credit Bureau works with financial institutions, licensed lenders, and other data providers to gather credit information, keeping the UAE's financial system up-to-date with the latest developments in consumer lending.

Consumers can view BNPL and short-term loan account information in their credit reports through the Etihad Credit Bureau app and download their credit report as a PDF to monitor how these borrowing commitments are reflected in their credit profile.