ICV Certification in UAE: What It Is and How to Get It
If your company supplies to ADNOC, Etisalat, or other government entities, an ICV certificate is not optional. Here's what you need to know.
In-Country Value (ICV) certification is one of the UAE's most important — and least understood — compliance requirements for B2B suppliers. If you supply goods or services to large government-linked entities, this guide is essential reading.
## What Is ICV?
ICV (In-Country Value) is a programme mandated by the UAE Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MOIAT). It measures how much economic value a supplier contributes to the UAE economy — through local spend, Emirati employment, and investment in the country.
The ICV score is calculated as a percentage and declared in an annual ICV Certificate issued by a MOIAT-approved certifying body.
## Who Needs It?
Any company that is a direct or indirect supplier to an implementing agency is required to obtain an ICV certificate. The main implementing agencies include:
- ADNOC Group and its subsidiaries - Etisalat (e&) - DEWA, ADDC, SEWA and other utilities - Abu Dhabi government departments and entities
If you bid for tenders with these organisations without an ICV certificate, your ICV score defaults to zero — putting you at a severe disadvantage in bid evaluations.
## How Is the ICV Score Calculated?
The score is based on your audited financial statements and considers:
- Spend on UAE-produced goods and local services - Investments in UAE-based assets and facilities - Number and seniority of Emirati employees - Spend on Emiratisation programmes and training - Third-party and in-kind contributions to UAE economy
The calculation follows a specific MOIAT formula and must be prepared and certified by a MOIAT-approved audit firm.
## The Certification Process
1. Engage a MOIAT-approved certifier — only approved firms can issue valid ICV certificates 2. Prepare your data — gather supplier invoices, payroll data, asset registers, and audited accounts 3. ICV consultation — your consultant calculates an initial score and identifies improvement areas 4. Submission and certification — the certifier reviews and issues the certificate, valid for 14 months 5. ADNOC registration — for ADNOC suppliers, the certificate must be uploaded to the ADNOC ICV portal
## How to Improve Your ICV Score
Companies often achieve significant score improvements by: - Switching to UAE-based suppliers for consumables and services - Hiring or promoting Emirati staff - Sourcing equipment from UAE manufacturers - Documenting existing local spend that was previously unrecorded