How to Obtain a Dubai ICV Certificate for Dubai Municipality and Dubai Government Tenders

In-Country Value (ICV) scores now play a part in winning government contracts in Dubai. Dubai Municipality uses ICV in its procurement, and since May 2025 the Dubai In-Country Value Programme has brought ICV into the shared procurement of seven Dubai government entities. This guide explains how ICV works in Dubai, how to obtain a certificate and how to prepare.

What Is an ICV Certificate?

An ICV certificate measures how much a supplier contributes to the UAE economy: what it spends with local suppliers, how many UAE nationals it employs, what it invests and manufactures in the country. Government buyers use the score when they evaluate tenders, so a higher score can improve your chances.

There are two frameworks to know about:

• the National ICV Programme, run by the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT) and used by federal entities and large buyers such as ADNOC;
• the Dubai ICV framework, used in Dubai government procurement, including by Dubai Municipality.

Both are based on your audited financial statements, so the quality and timing of your audit directly affect your certificate.

What Is the Dubai In-Country Value Programme?

On 11 May 2025, the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism and the Dubai Department of Finance launched the Dubai In-Country Value Programme. Its aim is to direct more government spending to domestic suppliers and strengthen local manufacturing, supporting the Dubai Economic Agenda D33.

Feature	Detail
Launched	11 May 2025
Run through	TASHAROK, the Government of Dubai’s shared procurement programme, managed by Dubai Finance
Participating entities	Dubai Municipality, Dubai Health, Dubai Police, RTA, Dubai Customs, DEWA and Dubai Airports
How it works	Framework agreements with approved suppliers, available to all participating entities
Scope at launch	42 general product categories, such as office supplies and medical consumables
Priority suppliers	Dubai-based manufacturers, Emirati-owned businesses and firms employing local talent

Who Needs a Dubai ICV Certificate?

You are likely to need one if you supply, or want to supply, Dubai Municipality or the other participating entities, particularly in:

• construction, engineering and facility management;
• environment, waste management and infrastructure;
• manufacturing and supply of goods covered by government framework agreements;
• general supplies and services bought through TASHAROK.

Not every business needs an ICV certificate. Always check the tender documents, which state whether an ICV certificate is required and which framework applies.

National ICV vs Dubai ICV: What Is the Difference?

	National ICV Programme	Dubai ICV framework
Run by	Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology	Dubai government, through Dubai Municipality and the Dubai ICV Programme
Used by	Federal entities and large buyers such as ADNOC	Dubai Municipality and participating Dubai government entities
Certificate issued by	MoIAT-approved certifying bodies	Auditors appointed for the Dubai ICV certification
Based on	Audited financial statements and supplier data	Audited financial statements and supplier data

If you tender with both federal and Dubai government buyers, check which certificate each tender asks for.

What Documents Do You Need for a Dubai ICV Certificate?

• Audited financial statements for the latest financial year, prepared under IFRS
• Procurement data: spending with UAE-based suppliers compared with imports
• Cost breakdowns for goods and services
• Payroll records, including the number of UAE nationals employed and trained
• Ownership documents, such as the licence and shareholder details
• Asset details for investments and fixed assets in the UAE

Expert tip: your ICV certificate can only be as good as your audited accounts. If your audit finishes late, or your procurement records do not separate local and imported purchases, your score suffers. Plan the audit and data collection together.

How Do You Obtain a Dubai ICV Certificate?

1. Check the requirement in the tender documents and the framework that applies.
2. Finalise your audited financial statements for the latest financial year.
3. Collect supporting data: procurement, payroll and Emirati employment, ownership and assets.
4. Appoint an authorised auditor for the Dubai ICV certification.
5. Assessment: the auditor reviews your financials, supplier spend, workforce and assets and calculates your score.
6. Certificate issued, which you then submit with your tenders.
7. Renew each year with your new audited accounts.

How Can You Improve Your ICV Score?

• Buy locally: shift procurement to UAE-based suppliers and manufacturers where possible.
• Hire and train UAE nationals, and record the training.
• Invest in the UAE: fixed assets and facilities count towards your contribution.
• Manufacture or assemble locally where your business model allows.
• Keep clean records: separate local and imported purchases in your accounting system so they can be evidenced.

Who Can Issue a Dubai ICV Certificate?

Our associate firm, Saif Chartered Accountants, has been officially appointed by Dubai Municipality as an authorised auditor for the Dubai In-Country Value Certification Program. SGA World supports suppliers with the groundwork: keeping IFRS books, preparing audit-ready financial statements and organising procurement and payroll data so the ICV assessment can be completed quickly. See our audit services for more.