IslamicFinance.de

The creation of a credit bureau in the UAE where consumers' information is shared independently is an essential step in ensuring the financial services market and lenders are dealing with borrowers who can genuinely afford to borrow more. Al Etihad Credit Bureau is scheduled to be up and running by 2015. Already officials say that once borrowers' information is opened up for all financial institutions to check, there will be an immediate and freezing effect on lenders. If the agency had existed before - where information was reviewed in a transparent and neutral manner - there would be fewer expatriates to flee, fewer behind bars, and more maturity in the marketplace all around.