How to Get an ICV Certificate in the UAE
The In-Country Value certificate, usually called simply the ICV certificate, has become one of the most important documents for companies that want to sell goods or services to large buyers in the United Arab Emirates. It is not a tax certificate, not a commercial license, and not a quality certification. It is an official, audited measurement of how much genuine value a company creates inside the UAE economy.
What is an ICV Certificate?
An ICV certificate is a document issued by an accredited certification body that states a company’s In-Country Value score as a percentage. The score measures how much the company contributes to the UAE economy through local employment, local manufacturing, local purchasing, local investment, and other measurable national priorities.
The certificate is based primarily on the company’s audited financial statements and on verified supporting records such as payroll data, supplier invoices, and fixed asset registers. Because the calculation is based on audited and verifiable figures, the ICV score is regarded as objective and credible by procurement departments.
Why the ICV Certificate Matters in 2026
The ICV certificate matters because many of the UAE’s largest spenders now use it as part of their supplier evaluation. When a company submits a proposal for a significant government or semi-government contract, the buyer may assign a specific weight to the ICV score in the overall evaluation. In many tenders, the ICV score directly influences the final technical or commercial ranking.
There are several practical benefits for suppliers:
- Access to major tenders. Without an ICV certificate, suppliers may be unable to participate in procurement processes where the certificate is mandatory.
- Better evaluation results. A higher ICV score can improve a bid’s overall score, even when the price is similar to competitors.
- Stronger supplier registration. Many approved vendor platforms require an ICV certificate as part of the registration package.
- Long-term credibility. The certificate demonstrates that the company maintains proper financial records, employs people locally, and buys locally, which is valuable for banks, partners, and clients.
- Alignment with UAE industrial policy. As the UAE expands its local manufacturing and technology capabilities, companies that can prove local value are positioned as preferred partners.
The ICV framework is most systematically applied in the energy sector and Abu Dhabi government procurement, and is increasingly referenced by other government-linked buyers across the UAE. Even small and medium-sized enterprises are increasingly expected to hold a certificate when entering serious supply chains.
Who Should Obtain an ICV Certificate?
An ICV certificate is relevant for a wide range of businesses, not only large industrial manufacturers. It is particularly important for:
- Manufacturers and industrial companies supplying products to government buyers.
- Contractors and service providers bidding for energy, infrastructure, and public sector projects.
- Distributors and traders that sell equipment, materials, or finished goods to procurement-driven organisations.
- Technology and professional services firms seeking to enter approved supplier lists.
- Free zone companies that want to do business with buyers that use ICV scoring.
- Small and medium-sized enterprises that want to improve their competitiveness in local tenders.
A company does not need to have Emirati shareholders to obtain an ICV certificate. A foreign-owned company licensed in the UAE can obtain a certificate, although its score may be lower if it does not employ Emiratis, does not manufacture locally, or sources most of its inputs from overseas. Free zone companies in particular often start with a structurally lower ICV score compared to mainland companies of similar size, because they typically have limited UAE mainland presence, no Emirati employees, and source inputs internationally. This does not prevent certification, but it is worth understanding the likely score range before investing in the process. The certificate therefore does not grant an advantage automatically. It simply converts real local contribution into a measurable number.
Companies that do not yet have audited financial statements, do not have clear UAE-based fixed assets, and have very small local payrolls should still consider certification if they are serious about public procurement. The score can be improved over time as the business grows.
How the ICV Score is Calculated
The ICV score is calculated from a standardised scorecard that assigns weighted points to different categories of local economic contribution. The certifying body applies this scorecard to the data from the company’s audited financial statements and supporting records. The current ICV scorecard is published by the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT) and, for energy sector suppliers, by ADNOC. Both publish the applicable weightings on their official portals.
While the precise weighting may be updated from time to time, the following categories consistently influence the final score:
1.Emiratization
Emiratization is usually one of the most heavily weighted components. It measures the share of wages paid to UAE national employees compared with the total wage bill. Companies with a higher proportion of Emirati employees generally receive a significantly higher score.
The certification body verifies Emirati employment through official records, including Emirates ID details, labour contracts, and Wage Protection System data where applicable. A company with no Emirati employees will simply receive a lower score in this category, but the application remains valid.
2.Local Goods and Services
This component rewards spending on goods manufactured in the UAE and on services delivered by UAE-based companies. If a company buys raw materials, components, packaging, equipment, maintenance services, professional services, or logistics from UAE suppliers, that spending may increase the ICV score.
Suppliers are usually required to provide invoices and evidence that the seller is a UAE-registered business. For goods, there is a distinction between goods that are merely imported and resold by a UAE trader and goods that are genuinely manufactured or transformed in the UAE. The latter is treated more favourably.
3.Local Investment
Fixed assets located in the UAE and used for the company’s operations can improve the score. This includes manufacturing facilities, machinery, equipment, vehicles, office fit-out, and other tangible assets. The certifier reviews the fixed asset register and supporting documentation such as purchase invoices, lease agreements, and depreciation schedules.
The intention is to reward companies that invest in durable UAE-based assets rather than those that only maintain a minimal local footprint.
4.Local Employment and Operational Footprint
In addition to Emiratization, the overall local employment footprint and the cost of running a genuine UAE operation can influence the score. Companies that maintain a meaningful local staff base, rent office or industrial space in the UAE, and incur real operational expenditure generally demonstrate a stronger local presence.
5.Other National Priority Factors
Depending on the certifier and the current national scorecard, additional factors may be considered, such as expenditure on research and development, technology transfer, use of local intellectual property, and locally produced exports. The detailed weightings are published by the relevant national programme and applied consistently by certified auditors.
How to Get an ICV Certificate
1.Confirm the Requirement and Determine the Correct Financial Year
Before starting, confirm whether the certificate is required for a specific tender and which financial year must be used. Most certifications are based on the latest completed and audited financial year. If a company’s financial year ends on 31 December, the ICV application will usually be based on the audited statements for that calendar year. If the financial statements are not yet audited, the audit should be completed first. Unaudited or draft financial statements are generally not accepted for ICV certification.
2.Prepare the Required Supporting Records
The company should collect:
- The valid trade licence.
- The latest audited financial statements, including profit and loss, balance sheet, and notes.
- Payroll summaries showing total wages and the wages paid to UAE nationals.
- Emirati employee records, including Emirates ID and labour contract details.
- A list of purchases from UAE suppliers with supporting invoices.
- A fixed asset register showing UAE-based assets.
- Leases or ownership documents for property in the UAE.
- Details of related party transactions.
- Any other records required by the current scorecard.
Preparing these records in advance reduces delays and avoids follow-up questions from the certifier.
3.Select a Certified ICV Certification Body
The ICV certificate must be issued by a certification body that is approved or accredited under the national programme. Approved ICV certification bodies in the UAE include internationally recognised firms such as Bureau Veritas, DNV, SGS, and the major audit firms operating as accredited certifiers. The current list of approved bodies is maintained by MoIAT and ADNOC respectively. Always verify that your chosen certifier appears on the relevant approved list before engaging them. The company cannot prepare the certificate itself, and an ordinary accountant is not automatically qualified unless that firm is an approved certifier. In practice, the main ICV certification bodies in the UAE include Bureau Veritas, KPMG, Deloitte, PwC, Ernst & Young, DNV, and SGS.
4.Submit the Application and Data Pack
The applicant completes the standard ICV template provided by the certification body and submits it together with the supporting data pack. Accuracy is essential. All numbers should reconcile with the audited financial statements and the underlying records.
5.Undergo Verification and Audit
The certifier reviews the submitted information, tests the evidence, and may ask for clarifications or additional documents. In some cases, the certifier may conduct an interview or visit the company’s premises to verify that the declared operations and assets physically exist.
6.Receive the ICV Certificate
Once verification is complete, the certifier issues the certificate with the final ICV score. The certificate typically includes:
- Company legal name and licence details.
- The audited financial year used.
- The final ICV percentage.
- The issuing certification body.
- A unique certificate reference number.
- The issue date and validity period.
The company should keep the original certificate and upload a copy to any supplier registration portals it uses. Procurement teams may verify the reference number through the relevant system.
7.Monitor and Renew
The ICV certificate is not permanent. It is usually valid for a maximum of twelve months from the issuance date, although the exact validity may depend on the certifier and the tender requirements. When the company prepares new audited financial statements, it should renew the certificate so that the score reflects the latest data. Note that audits typically take two to four months after the financial year end, which means there is often a gap between the expiry of the current certificate and the availability of the new one. If a tender falls within this gap, inform the procurement team early and provide confirmation that renewal is in progress. Some buyers will accept a recently expired certificate with evidence of active renewal.
The key to a smooth certification is preparation. A company should have audited financial statements, clean payroll records, complete supplier documentation, and a well-maintained fixed asset register before starting the process. Selecting an approved certification body early, submitting accurate data, and responding quickly to verification questions will reduce delays and improve the final result.
