DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Commercial Bank of Dubai (CBD) activated the UAE’s first fully operational Open Finance service, allowing retail customers to consolidate accounts from competing banks into a single application.
The rollout executes a central phase of the Central Bank of the UAE’s (CBUAE) Al Tariq framework, a federal mandate designed to unblock data flow within the digital economy. This move shifts Open Finance from theoretical pilot programs to active consumer use, real-time financial data sharing is now a reality.
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Connecting the Systems
CBD connected its internal systems to the Nebras national infrastructure to make this work.
This integration allows the bank to communicate securely with third-party providers. By partnering with fintech operators Pay10 and Lean Technologies, CBD now offers “Account Aggregation”—a feature that pulls a user’s financial data from multiple institutions into one dashboard. Users grant explicit consent, the bank handles the data transfer.
“This implementation marks the transition of Open Finance from controlled market pilots into live, nationwide operation,” a CBD spokesperson said.
Consumer Utility
The immediate benefit is visibility.
Customers no longer need to log into three different apps to check their total liquidity. They can view balances, track spending, and initiate payments across platforms through the CBD interface. It simplifies the fragmented banking experience common among UAE residents.
Regulatory Precedent
The launch sets a benchmark for the sector.
Harry Gill, Chairman of Pay10, said the activation validates the CBUAE’s rigorous compliance standards.
“The go-live represents a tangible step in translating the UAE leadership’s Open Finance vision into real-world implementation,” Gill said. “It enables secure and regulated access for customers while upholding the highest standards of compliance.”
Security remains the primary focus. The Al Tariq framework mandates strict API standards to prevent unauthorized data access, a concern often cited by skeptics of open banking models. CBD’s successful deployment proves the technical viability of these safeguards on a live network.
Key Details: CBD Open Finance Rollout
The following table outlines the technical and operational specifics of this launch:
| Category | Details |
| Bank | Commercial Bank of Dubai (CBD) |
| Initiative Name | Al Tariq (CBUAE Open Finance Initiative) |
| Infrastructure Operator | Nebras |
| Key Partners (TPPs) | Pay10, Lean Technologies |
| Primary Feature | Account Aggregation & Payment Initiation |
| Target Audience | Retail Current & Savings Account Holders |
| Status | Live & Operational (First in UAE) |
Market Outlook
Other national banks must now play catch-up. While CBD secured the first-mover advantage, the CBUAE expects widespread adoption across the sector as the Nebras infrastructure scales.
Competitors are scheduled to integrate with the Al Tariq framework later this year.
