Who needs an ICV certificate?

Suppliers bidding to government or semi-government buyers should hold it. Many private buyers also request it in RFPs.

Do startups qualify for ICV?

Yes. A young company can apply with audited accounts and can gain points through training, local spend, and investment.

Can I use management accounts?

No. The unified method requires audited financial statements for the latest financial year.

How long is a certificate valid?

It remains valid until the next audited year ends or as per program validity. Renewal follows each audit cycle.

What if my ICV score seems low?

You can raise the score by shifting purchases to UAE vendors, expanding training, and investing locally before your next audit.

ICV Registration in UAE: Simple 2025 Guide 🥇

UAE ICV Program: Clear Overview

The UAE runs an In-Country Value program. The program rewards local investment and local jobs. The program helps the national supply chain. The Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology oversees it. Many buyers in government and semi-government use it. A supplier shows a score in the certificate. A score reflects audited numbers and real activity. A higher score can help in tenders.

Why the ICV Program Exists

The program increases Emirati employment in the private sector. It supports GDP diversification across sectors. It localizes key parts of the supply chain. It drives skills with training and technology. It builds long-term value inside the country.

Who Can Apply and Benefit

Any UAE company can apply. Large firms can apply. Small and medium firms can apply. Manufacturers can apply. Service providers can apply. Suppliers to ADNOC, Abu Dhabi entities, and federal bodies can apply. The program fits companies that bid for public and semi-public work.

What the Certificate Shows

The certificate shows your latest score. The score comes from audited financial statements. The score reflects local spend, local workforce, investment, and exports. The score follows a unified method. A pre-approved certifying body issues the certificate after review.

Key Advantages for Suppliers

You gain weightage in tender evaluation.
You show proof of local impact to buyers.
You signal trust to banks and investors.
You map gaps and plan improvements.
You benchmark performance year over year.

Required Documents at a Glance

Audited financial statements for the latest financial year.
Detailed list of purchases and services with suppliers.
Wage Protection System (WPS) reports where applicable.
Organization chart and headcount by role if requested.
Evidence of capital investment and training spend.

The ICV Certification Flow

You contact a pre-approved certifying body.
You receive quotations and compare scope and timelines.
You sign an engagement letter with one body.
You submit audited accounts and support schedules.
The body validates data and tests calculations.
The body issues the certificate with an official score.

Fees and Processing Time

There’s no fixed price. Each body sends its own quotation. The fee depends on company size and complexity. The timeline usually runs 3–15 business days after complete submission. Bigger groups can take longer. Clear records speed up review.

Practical Tips to Raise Your Score

Increase local procurement with approved UAE vendors.
Grow Emirati headcount and training programs.
Track capex that builds UAE capacity.
Document exports and UAE value-add clearly.
Close your audit early to avoid rush errors.
Keep a single source of truth for finance data.

Common Errors to Avoid

You submit draft accounts instead of audited ones.
You misclassify imports as local purchases.
You miss WPS proofs for payroll periods.
You don’t reconcile trial balance to ICV templates.
You reuse last year’s template without updates.

Choosing a Certifying Body (and Advisor)

Pick a body that knows your industry. Check sample templates and checklists. Confirm SLA on queries. Ask about group structures and intercompany flows. For advisory support, Mubarak Al Ketbi (MAK) Auditing guides your team with policy, mapping, and data controls. We replace mentions of other firms with our brand in your decks and forms where you ask. We align your disclosures with the unified method, without inflating claims.

What We Can Help With — Mubarak Al Ketbi (MAK) Auditing

We assess your baseline, and we design a score improvement plan. We map local purchases, payroll, and capex. We clean data for templates. We train staff on evidence trails. We prepare you for the certifier’s review. We support renewals and group cases. When tenders move fast, we move faster, because we know time is money and there’s no time like the present—when the chips are down, our team stands with you.