The UAE has scrapped the long-standing Dh5,000 minimum salary rule for personal loan approvals. Banks will now determine their own criteria, backed by tighter lending limits and mandatory WPS-based repayment deductions. This opens doors for more borrowers while placing greater accountability on individuals.
Banks are likely to roll out micro-loans, WPS-tied credit facilities, and small-value financing options designed for workers who were previously ineligible under earlier requirements.
Eliminating the salary threshold is set to bring employees earning below Dh5,000 into the formal banking system, giving them the chance to build a credit profile for the first time. It will also widen access to safer, regulated options such as BNPL services, emergency loans, and WPS-linked overdrafts tailored for low-income workers.
