Commercial Bank of Dubai Becomes UAE’s First Open Finance Bank

Dubai, UAE, 23 December 2025: Commercial Bank of Dubai (CBD) has set a new benchmark for the UAE banking sector by becoming the first bank in the country to fully activate Open Finance into live operational use under the Central Bank of the UAE’s Open Finance Initiative, AlTareq.

The activation has been delivered in collaboration with Central Bank–licensed third-party providers (TPPs), including Pay10 and Lean Technologies, both of which are now connected and operational with CBD under the Open Finance Framework. Throughout the live-proving phase, CBD worked closely with its TPP partners to meet regulatory, technical and operational requirements set by the Central Bank of the UAE.

The implementation also marks the transition of Open Finance from controlled market pilots into live, nationwide operation, enabling CBD’s retail current and savings account customers to securely share financial data and initiate payments through regulated, consent-based frameworks. Both CBD and its partner TPPs are now officially operational on Nebras, the operator of the UAE’s Open Finance infrastructure, under the oversight of the Central Bank of the UAE.

Dr. Bernd van Linder, CEO of Commercial Bank of Dubai, said: “CBD’s full-scale Open Finance activation places the bank at the centre of a fundamental shift in the UAE’s financial architecture. We are proud to be one of the first banks in the UAE to take a major step in creating a more connected ecosystem that gives customers greater control over their financial interactions. This step reflects CBD’s long-term focus on creating seamless, digital-first customer experiences that accelerate the UAE’s growth and empowers both nationals and residents with innovative and transparent financial solutions.”

Commenting on the announcement, Mr. Harry Gill, Founder and Chairman of Pay10, said the go-live represents a tangible step in translating the UAE leadership’s Open Finance vision into real-world implementation, enabling secure and regulated access for customers while upholding the highest standards of compliance and trust.

For his part, Tewfik Cassis, Chief Product Officer of Lean technologies, said: “This is a major milestone for Open Finance in the UAE. CBD’s activation demonstrates that the framework is ready to operate at bank scale in a live environment under Central Bank oversight. With CBD now fully live, Open Finance moves beyond readiness and into execution, creating the conditions for real customer adoption, sustained transaction volumes, and long-term ecosystem growth.”

Looking ahead, CBD will continue working with its Open Finance partners to expand use cases, support market adoption and drive meaningful transaction activity in line with the objectives of the UAE’s AlTareq Open Finance Initiative.

About Commercial Bank of Dubai

Commercial Bank of Dubai (DFM: CBD) is a Public Shareholding Company established in 1969 by an Emiri Decree issued by the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum. CBD provides a comprehensive range of retail and commercial banking products and services through an extensive network of branches and ATMs in the UAE.

As of 2024, the Bank reported total assets of AED 140.2 billion and a net profit of AED 3.03 billion, reflecting its strong market standing and ongoing growth. The Bank delivers a full suite of personal, elite, private, business, corporate and institutional banking services through both conventional and Shari’ah-compliant formats. These are further supported by advanced digital platforms, including a next-generation mobile app and the award-winning iBusiness platform. Recognised for its innovation and digital leadership, CBD actively supports national development goals through financial technology, Emiratisation, and strategic partnerships.

For more information, contact CBD’s PR and Media team at cbd.ogilvypr@ogilvy.com