Commercial Bank of Dubai (CBD) has set a new milestone in the UAE banking sector by becoming the first bank in the UAE to fully activate Open Finance for customers under the Central Bank of the UAE’s Open Finance Initiative, AlTareq.
The activation was delivered through CBD’s partnership with Central Bank–licensed third-party providers (TPPs), including Pay10 and Lean Technologies, both of which are now live and fully operational under the UAE’s Open Finance Framework. During the live-proving phase, CBD worked closely with its partners to meet all regulatory, technical, and operational requirements defined by the Central Bank.
This development marks the transition of Open Finance in the UAE from controlled pilot environments to full-scale national implementation. As a result, CBD’s retail customers can now securely share financial data and initiate payments using consent-based, regulated Open Finance infrastructure. Both CBD and its TPP partners are officially live on Nebras, the national Open Finance platform, operating 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, Commercial Bank of Dubai will continue to collaborate with its Open Finance partners to expand use cases, drive market adoption, and enable meaningful transaction activity aligned with the objectives of the 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. The bank offers a comprehensive range of retail and commercial banking services through an extensive network of branches and ATMs across the UAE.
As of 2024, CBD reported total assets of AED 140.2 billion and a net profit of AED 3.03 billion, reflecting its strong financial performance and continued growth. The bank provides personal, elite, private, business, corporate, and institutional banking solutions through both conventional and Shari’ah-compliant offerings, supported by advanced digital banking platforms, including its next-generation mobile app and award-winning iBusiness platform.
Recognised for its leadership in financial innovation and digital transformation, CBD actively supports national development priorities through fintech adoption, Emiratisation, and strategic partnerships.
For more information, contact CBD’s PR and Media team at cbd.ogilvypr@ogilvy.com
