Dr. Bernd van Linder, CEO of Commercial Bank of Dubai/Image: Supplied
Commercial Bank of Dubai (CBD) has become the first bank in the UAE to fully activate Open Finance into live operational use under the Central Bank of the UAE’s Open Finance Initiative, AlTareq, setting a new milestone for the country’s banking sector.
The activation was delivered in collaboration with Central Bank–licensed third-party providers, including Pay10 and Lean Technologies, both of which are now live and operational with CBD under the Open Finance Framework. During the live-proving phase, CBD worked closely with its partners to meet the regulatory, technical and operational requirements set by the Central Bank.
The move marks a key transition for Open Finance in the UAE, shifting from controlled pilot programmes to full-scale, nationwide implementation. As a result, CBD’s retail current and savings account customers can now securely share financial data and initiate payments through regulated, consent-based mechanisms.
CBD and its partner providers are officially live on Nebras, the operator of the UAE’s Open Finance infrastructure, operating under the supervision 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 launch, 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 customer access while maintaining the highest standards of compliance and trust.
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 said it will continue working with its Open Finance partners to expand use cases, support wider market adoption and drive meaningful transaction activity in line with the objectives of the UAE’s AlTareq Open Finance Initiative.
