The In-Country Value (ICV) Certificate is a key part of the UAE’s economic diversification strategy. It encourages companies to contribute more to the national economy by sourcing goods and services locally, hiring UAE nationals, and investing within the country.
However, many business owners are unsure whether obtaining an ICV Certificate is mandatory in the UAE. In this article, we explain what the ICV program is, when the certificate is required, and how it affects your business.
The ICV Certificate, or In-Country Value Certificate, is part of the UAE’s National ICV Program launched by the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT).
This program encourages companies to contribute more to the local economy by:
The higher your company’s local contribution, the higher your ICV score will be. This score is verified and shown in the ICV Certificate, which can be used when applying for tenders or contracts.
In simple terms, ICV certification is not obligatory for all companies doing business in the UAE, as there is no federal law that requires all companies to be certified.
However, it becomes essential when an entity wishes to engage with the government, semi-government organizations, or major national corporations such as:
These companies will consider ICV scores in their tender evaluation process. This means that if the company intends to tender for these contracts, then it must have a valid ICV Certificate.
If your company participates in a tender without an ICV Certificate, you can still submit your bid. However, your ICV score will be considered zero.
That puts you at a major disadvantage as entities like ADNOC or other government bodies give priority to suppliers with higher ICV scores. In many cases, companies without a certificate are less likely to win the project — even if their prices and technical capabilities are competitive.
So while the ICV Certificate is not legally mandatory, it is practically necessary if your business aims to work with public or semi-government entities.
You need an ICV Certificate if your company:
The ICV Certificate serves as an optional requirement for businesses that operate exclusively with private clients, but it becomes beneficial when you want to grow your business or work with big corporations.
The ICV Certificate is issued to suppliers by authorized Certifying Bodies, evaluating their contribution to the UAE economy. Certified suppliers are then able to submit the ICV Certificate to any of the Participating Entities in the program.
Certifying Body is a professional service firm, such as professional audit and consulting firms, that has been authorized by the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT) for verifying and issuing the ICV Certificate.
These certifying bodies will review:
After verification, your company is awarded a unified ICV Certificate that is recognized by all ICV-adopting entities across the UAE.
The ICV Certificate shall be valid for a period of 14 months from the date of issuance of the Audited Financial Statements. The Supplier can obtain recertification during the validity of the ICV Certificate using the same Audited Financial Statements; however, the validity of 14 months from the initial issuance will still apply.
There are many benefits to businesses operating in the UAE from the issuance of the ICV Certificate:
To get an ICV certificate in the UAE, do the following steps:
ICV Certificate is an authorized certifying body accredited by the MoIAT for the National In-Country Value (ICV) Program in the UAE. With years of experience in auditing, compliance, and consulting, we assist companies from all sectors in obtaining their ICV Certificates quickly and correctly.
We provide:
Whether you are bidding for some project with the government or simply are trying to enhance your company’s credentials, acting toward ICV Certification is a wise thing to do indeed.
Our dedicated ICV consultants and auditors will take care of the entire process for you from reviewing your financial statements to issuing your certified ICV certificate.