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ICV certification in the UAE
An In-Country Value (ICV) certificate gives suppliers a scored advantage in government and ADNOC-group tenders. We prepare your figures and file so an approved Certifying Body can verify and issue it.
- Valid 14 months from your audited accounts
- Score built from six weighted components
- No fixed government fee
ICV score explainer
Which part of your ICV score do you want to understand or improve?
For a Service Provider this is half the score. Each purchase is multiplied by your supplier's own ICV score, so buying from high-ICV suppliers raises your certificate.
- Applies to
- Service Providers
- Weight
- 50%
- Basis
- (Purchases x supplier ICV + Emirati cost + 60% of expat cost) / total cost
Weights and bands follow the September 2025 version of the ICV guidelines; your Certifying Body verifies every figure against your audited financial statements.
ICV certification, in brief.
The National In-Country Value (ICV) Programme is run by the UAE Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT). An ICV certificate states a supplier's ICV percentage, and certified suppliers gain an advantage in the award of tenders and contracts, scored on that percentage.
Suppliers selling to government entities, ADNOC, EMSTEEL and other participating companies, or into their supply chains, need one. My Eloah Business Hub prepares your accounts, template and supporting documents; an authorised Certifying Body verifies them and issues the certificate.
- Run by
- Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT)
- Validity
- 14 months from the date the audited financial statements were issued
- Issued by
- A Certifying Body authorised by MoIAT
- Cost
- No fixed government fee; Certifying Bodies quote through the ICV platform
Your licence decides your formula.
The programme scores suppliers under one of two formulas. The licence you hold decides which one applies.
Goods Manufacturer
A supplier that manufactures and supplies a finished product to an external customer. Any supplier holding a UAE Industrial Licence is a Goods Manufacturer.
Service Provider
Every supplier that is not a Goods Manufacturer, which means any licence other than an Industrial Licence. Agents and traders are Service Providers.
Single-principal agent or trader
An agent or trader set up to sell the products of only one principal Goods Manufacturer in the UAE is treated as a Goods Manufacturer.
How the ICV score is calculated.
Four core components make up the score under each formula, with two bonus components on top.
| Component | Goods Manufacturer | Service Provider | How it is measured |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing Cost | 50% | Does not apply | (Manufacturing cost incurred in UAE + Emirati cost + 60% of expat cost) divided by total cost |
| Third Party Spend | Does not apply | 50% | ((Value of purchase x ICV of supplier) + Emirati cost + 60% of expat cost) divided by total cost |
| Investment | 25% | 25% | Net book value of assets in UAE divided by net book value of total assets |
| Emiratisation | 15% | 15% | Number of Emiratis divided by 100 |
| Expat Contribution | 10% | 10% | Salary, training and benefits: 2% up to AED 200K, then 2-15% progressive from AED 200K to 20M |
| ICV Bonus | 5% | 5% | Revenue from outside the UAE (excluding re-exports) divided by total annual revenue, plus Emirati headcount bands and growth in net book value of assets |
| Sustainability bonus | 6% (Advanced Technology and Sustainability) | 3% | Manufacturers: up to 5% via ITTI and 1% for listed ISO standards or the Green Industries Label. Service Providers: 0.5% for each of four policies and 1% for listed ISO standards |
ITTI is the Industrial Technology Transformation Index. The four Service Provider policies cover sustainability strategy and governance, material circularity, water and wastewater management, and emission management. Emirati headcount bands: 1-3% for 1-5 employees, 4-6% for 6-50, 7-9% for 51-200 and 10% above 200. Investment growth: 5% per band at AED 5-50M, 51-100M and 101-150M.
Audited accounts set the clock.
Audited financial statements are the gating requirement. Every figure in the ICV template must correspond to them.
| Rule | What it means |
|---|---|
| Standard | Prepared under International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and audited by a UAE-licensed auditor under International Standards on Auditing (ISA) |
| Age limit | No older than 2 years from the certification year. For a 2023 certification, statements must not be older than 2021 |
| New companies | A company under 10 months old with no audited statements may use management accounts for up to 9 months. Beyond 9 months, an audit is required |
| Certificate validity | 14 months from the date the audited financial statements were issued |
| Recertification | Allowed during validity using the same statements. The 14 months still run from the initial issuance |
| Currency | Report in AED. US dollars convert at a fixed 1 USD = 3.6725 AED; other currencies convert at the rate in the purchase order |
| Legal entities | One certificate per legal entity. Each licence is a separate entity, even under identical ownership |
| Branches | Branches in the same Emirate with identical activities and ownership get one combined certificate for that Emirate |
The sequence is audit, then ICV certification, then tender eligibility, and it repeats each year. The sooner the audit is issued, the more of the 14 months you can use.
What to have ready before you apply.
These are the items the process depends on.
Four mistakes that cost suppliers.
The ICV template is a verified filing. These are the points where suppliers lose time, score or their place in the programme.
Inflating figures
Gross negligence or wilful default results in a ban from the National ICV Programme. MoIAT staff may audit and review any certification engagement.
Figures that do not reconcile
All figures must correspond to the audited financial statements and include all costs and revenues for the year. The Certifying Body verifies everything.
Choosing a Certifying Body in a hurry
Accepting one quote automatically rejects the others. Once appointed, the Certifying Body cannot be changed for that year's certificate without proper justification.
A late audit
Validity runs from the date the audited statements were issued. Applying late leaves fewer months of use, and recertifying on the same statements does not extend it.
Seven steps to an ICV certificate.
The application runs online through the MoIAT ICV platform, and a Certifying Body you choose completes it.
Start on WhatsApp →Register on NAFIS
Register the company as a Partner on the NAFIS platform, which is required for all private companies first.
Complete the audit
Have your IFRS financial statements audited by a UAE-licensed auditor, because the certificate dates from them.
Register on the ICV platform
Log in to icv.moiat.gov.ae with UAE Pass and complete company registration if no profile exists.
Request quotes
In the Bidding Process tab, select the authorised Certifying Bodies you want offers from, complete the questionnaire and request a quote.
Appoint a Certifying Body
Accept, counteroffer or reject the price quotations; the body you accept uploads a signed engagement letter.
Complete the template and draft
Populate the ICV certificate information from your audited figures and complete the draft.
Certifying Body approval
The Certifying Body reviews, endorses, signs and approves the draft.
ICV certification, answered.
Ask anything else on WhatsApp and we will answer for your company.
What is an ICV certificate in the UAE?
An ICV certificate shows a supplier's In-Country Value percentage under the national programme run by the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT). ADNOC pioneered the programme in 2018 and it went federal in September 2021.
Who needs an ICV certificate?
Suppliers that sell to government entities, ADNOC, EMSTEEL and other participating companies, or into their supply chains, need one. Certified suppliers gain an advantage in the award of tenders and contracts, scored on their ICV percentage.
How long is an ICV certificate valid?
It is valid for 14 months from the date the audited financial statements were issued. The certification date does not change this, and recertifying on the same statements does not restart the 14 months.
How much does ICV certification cost?
There is no fixed government fee. The cost is the Certifying Body's fee, set by competitive quotation through the ICV platform, plus your audit and preparation work. Message us on WhatsApp for a quote for our part.
Who issues the ICV certificate?
A Certifying Body authorised by MoIAT issues it. These are professional services firms empanelled by the ministry, and you choose one through the bidding process on the ICV platform.
Do I need audited financial statements for ICV?
Yes. They must be prepared under IFRS, audited by a UAE-licensed auditor and no older than 2 years from the certification year. A company under 10 months old with no audited statements may use management accounts for up to 9 months.
How can I improve my ICV score?
A Service Provider's largest lever is buying from suppliers with high ICV scores, because Third Party Spend is 50% of the score. Hiring Emiratis, holding assets in the UAE and holding ISO 14001, ISO 14046 or ISO 50001 also add to the score.
Do I need a separate ICV certificate for each licence?
Yes. Each licence is a separate legal entity, even under identical ownership. Branches in the same Emirate with identical activities and ownership get one combined certificate for that Emirate.
Get your ICV file ready to certify
Message My Eloah Business Hub on WhatsApp and we will tell you which formula applies and what your file needs.