How to Get an ICV Certificate in the UAE (2026 Guide)

The cost of obtaining an ICV certification varies based on several factors, including the company’s revenue, the nature of the license (commercial or manufacturing), the number of expatriate and Emirati employees, the number of ICV-certified vendors the business engages with, and whether the company directly deals with government-owned or semi-government entities. These elements influence the complexity of the audit and evaluation process, ultimately affecting the certification cost.

Yes, while the primary purpose of ICV certification is to enhance eligibility for government tenders, companies that want to demonstrate local economic contribution and strengthen their market position can also apply.

A business with multiple branches can use a single combined ICV certificate Dubai only if the branches are in the same Emirate, with identical business activities and ownership listed on the licenses. If not, each branch will be considered a separate legal entity and must obtain a separate ICV certificate even if the ownership is the same.

Yes, the salaries of foreign employees are partially counted. When calculating the ICV score, the salaries are considered only if the employees are under the company’s visa, whereas 100% of salaries are counted for UAE nationals.

No, the ICV certification has nothing to do with a company’s tax obligations.

Yes. NAFIS Partner registration is required regardless of whether a company currently employs Emiratis. It is a platform-level prerequisite under the ICV framework and is used to validate Emiratisation-related disclosures, even where the reported value is zero.

The most common reason is the absence of stand-alone audited financial statements at the legal entity level where required. Consolidated, bifurcated, or combined accounts are frequently rejected during verification.

Licenses may only be combined where they are issued in the same Emirate, have identical licensed activities, and reflect the same ownership structure. Even when these conditions are met, combination is subject to MoIAT platform rules and certifying body verification and is not automatic.

In most cases, no. Each legal entity is assessed independently for ICV purposes. Internal cost allocations across entities are generally not accepted unless explicitly permitted under MoIAT rules and supported by stand-alone audited financial statements.

Vendor ICV percentages must be supported by valid ICV certificates issued to the vendors themselves. Unsupported declarations, estimates, or expired certificates are not accepted during procurement evaluation.

Yes, in certain cases. Sustainability bonuses may be supported through documented internal policies and procedures, provided they align with MoIAT rules and are supported by verifiable evidence. Acceptance is subject to review by the certifying body.

The total sustainability bonus is capped at 3%. Individual sustainability initiatives are typically applied in increments of 0.5% and are capped collectively once the overall limit is reached.

Management accounts may be used where a company is less than 10 months old and the accounts cover a period of up to 9 months. If management accounts exceed 9 months, audited financial statements are required.

Audited financial statements must not be older than two years from the certification year. If the statements fall outside this window, updated audited financials will be required for certification.

Yes. Some participating entities may request additional clarification or updated supporting information where there has been a material change in operations, even if the ICV certificate is still valid.

The chart of accounts should allow clear mapping of procurement, payroll, investment, and sustainability-related costs to the ICV template. Consistent account coding and alignment with template categories reduces reconciliation issues and rework.

Free zone entities generally follow the same ICV framework. Differences typically arise in how costs are classified as within or outside the UAE in the ICV template, rather than in the underlying rules.

ICV ownership is typically shared. Finance manages financial data and reconciliation, Procurement manages vendor certificates and sourcing data, HR manages Emiratisation and payroll inputs, and Operations supports investment and sustainability evidence. Clear internal coordination is required.

A tender-ready ICV pack typically includes the valid ICV certificate, audited financial statements used for certification, vendor ICV certificates, sustainability policies and evidence, and reconciliation summaries supporting key ICV inputs.

As sustainability requirements mature, suppliers are increasingly expected to provide structured sustainability evidence aligned with national regulations and procurement expectations. This is likely to influence how sustainability claims are reviewed during 2026 tender evaluations.