ICV Certificate in the UAE (2026): How It Works and What Your Supplier File Needs Next
The In-Country Value (ICV) certificate is the number many UAE government entities and large companies ask for before they will consider your bid. This guide explains what the certificate is based on, how long it lasts and what it measures, using the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology’s own supplier certification guidelines, and then what buyers usually ask you for next.
What the ICV certificate is, and who issues it
According to the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT) ICV Supplier Certification Guidelines, the ICV certificate is issued to suppliers by authorised Certifying Bodies and evaluates their contribution to the UAE economy. The score reflects the amounts spent on local products and services, investments, and the hiring and development of Emiratis.
- Certifying Body: a professional services firm empanelled and authorised by MoIAT to verify and issue the certificate.
- Issued through: the official ICV Platform, which generates the certificate stating your ICV score.
- Per legal entity: the certificate is obtained for each legal entity of the supplier.
- Participating Entities: the government entities and companies that have implemented the ICV programme, to whom certified suppliers submit the certificate.
Registering with a specific buyer? See ADNOC supplier registration and Abu Dhabi government (ADGPG) supplier registration.
Check your whole supplier file with the free tender readiness checker.
What the certificate is based on
- Audited financial statements prepared by the company and audited by an independent licensed auditor in accordance with IFRS and International Standards on Auditing.
- Age limit: the guidelines give the example that, for certification in 2023, the financial statements considered must not be older than 2021.
- New companies: companies less than 10 months old without audited statements can use management accounts for a period of up to 9 months; management accounts covering more than 9 months must be audited.
- The ICV Template: an Excel file with a tab for each attribute. The figures you report must correspond to your audited financial statements and supporting documents.
Validity: the guidelines state the certificate is valid for 14 months from the date of issuance of the audited financial statements, and that you can be recertified during that validity using the same statements. Check the current ICV platform before relying on a date, as service pages may summarise this differently.
What the ICV score measures
The guidelines use different attributes depending on the type of supplier:
- Goods manufacturer (holds a UAE industrial licence): manufacturing cost, investment, Emiratisation, expatriate contribution, an ICV bonus (revenue from outside the UAE, Emirati headcount and investment growth), and an advanced technology and sustainability bonus.
- Service provider (any supplier that is not a goods manufacturer): third-party spend, investment, Emiratisation, expatriate contribution, an ICV bonus, and a sustainability bonus.
- Agent or trader: treated as a service provider, except that 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 much weight a buyer gives your ICV score in a tender evaluation is set by that buyer, so read each tender’s evaluation criteria.
After the certificate: what buyers usually ask you for next
An ICV certificate gets you considered; it does not describe what your company does. Supplier registration, prequalification and tenders then ask for written documents. ADNOC, for example, lists HSE and quality management documentation and a company profile in its supplier registration and prequalification guide. Our supplier registration checklist shows what ADNOC, Emaar, Aldar, DEWA, Dubai Holding, e& and other UAE and GCC buyers ask for, with official sources.
- A company profile written for prequalification, in English, Arabic or both.
- A capability statement that matches the buyer’s categories.
- HSE, quality and operational policy documentation the buyer’s questionnaire refers to. See what an HSE policy must include.
- Technical and commercial tender responses in the buyer’s format.
Where Labeeb helps, and where it does not
Labeeb does not issue, calculate or audit ICV certificates. Certification is done by MoIAT-authorised Certifying Bodies, and your financial statements are audited by a licensed auditor. If you need the certificate itself, start with an authorised Certifying Body.
Labeeb writes the supplier file around it: the company profile, capability statement, policy documentation and tender responses buyers read after they see your ICV score. Tell us which buyer you are registering with or bidding to, and we will review what they ask for and what your current documents are missing.
ICV certificate: common questions
Who issues the ICV certificate?
Certifying Bodies empanelled and authorised by MoIAT, through the official ICV Platform. Labeeb is not a Certifying Body.
How long is an ICV certificate valid?
MoIAT’s supplier certification guidelines state 14 months from the date of issuance of the audited financial statements, with recertification possible during that period using the same statements. Confirm on the current ICV platform.
Can a new company get an ICV certificate?
The guidelines allow companies less than 10 months old without audited statements to use management accounts for a period of up to 9 months; longer periods must be audited.
Does a higher ICV score mean we win the tender?
No. ICV is one of the factors a buyer may evaluate, and each buyer sets how it is weighted. The technical and commercial response still has to meet the tender’s requirements.
What does Labeeb prepare for suppliers?
Company profiles, capability statements, HSE and quality policy documentation, and technical and commercial tender responses, in English, Arabic or both. We agree the scope and price with you before any work starts.
Registering or bidding with a UAE buyer?
Send us the buyer’s prequalification form or tender requirements and your current company profile. We will tell you what is missing and how we can help, before any commitment.