Suppliers to ADNOC are expected to hold an ICV certificate. ADNOC launched its in-country value programme in 2018 to direct more of its spend into the UAE economy. Since 2021 the certification process has been governed by the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, while ADNOC still runs how ICV is applied in its own procurement. This guide explains the split and how to prepare.
Who does what
| Body | Role |
|---|---|
| ADNOC | Sets how ICV is weighted and applied in its tenders and contracts |
| Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT) | Governs ICV certification under the national programme |
| Approved certification bodies | Calculate the score and issue the certificate from your audited data |
| The supplier | Provides the data, holds the certificate and keeps it current |
ADNOC states that moving certification to the national level affected only the certification process, not how ADNOC implements ICV. You can read ADNOC's own explanation on its unified certification process page.
Who needs the certificate
A supplier bidding for ADNOC work, or for work with other government and semi-government entities that use the national ICV programme, should expect to need a valid certificate. Law-firm briefings note that a bidder without one may be scored at zero for the ICV element in tender evaluation, which can sink an otherwise competitive bid. No single law forces certification, but the procurement frameworks make it a practical requirement.
One certificate per trade licence
A supplier needs one certificate per trade licence. It can be used with all participating entities, each applying its own implementation policy. A group with several licensed companies needs a certificate for each one it bids with.
What the score measures
The score reflects how much of your spend and activity stays in the UAE. Typical elements include:
- Goods manufactured or services delivered in the UAE.
- Investment in local assets and facilities.
- Emiratisation: the employment and development of UAE nationals.
- Spend with local third-party suppliers.
- Training of UAE nationals.
The detail of the scoring is set by the programme. The principles behind improving it are in ICV score improvement and the ICV certificate and score guide.
Validity
Sources quote the validity differently, with some describing 14 months from the date of the audited accounts and others one year with annual renewal. Treat the shorter period as the planning assumption and confirm the current rule with the certifier before a bid. Late renewal leaves a gap in which you cannot bid with a valid score.
How to prepare
- Get audited accounts in order. The certifier works from them. See statutory audit.
- Gather the data on local spend, payroll by nationality and local assets.
- Choose an approved certification body and submit.
- Receive the certificate and register it for your bids.
- Plan renewal around the audit calendar.
The overall process is covered in ICV registration and ICV certification. AONE supports document preparation, submission coordination and score review; the certificate itself is issued by an approved certification body.
How ICV shows up in a tender
In a typical tender, the commercial evaluation includes a weighted ICV element. The supplier with the stronger certificate score gains points, and a supplier with no valid certificate may score zero on that element. The weighting differs by entity and contract, so read the tender documents for the formula. The effect is that two otherwise similar bids can be separated by a few ICV points.
What moves the score fastest
- Local sourcing. Moving spend from foreign to UAE suppliers where the quality is comparable.
- Emiratisation. Employing and developing UAE nationals, with the records to show it.
- Documentation. Incomplete evidence is the most common reason a score comes in lower than expected.
- Audited accounts. Clean, timely accounts make the data easier for the certifier to verify.
None of these can be done overnight. A supplier planning a bid in six months should start the data work now. See ICV score improvement.
Common mistakes
- Letting the certificate lapse between renewals.
- Applying with a different trade licence from the one used to bid.
- Submitting data that does not match the audited accounts.
- Assuming a certificate for one entity covers its group companies.
Questions to ask your certifier
- Which accounting period will the certificate be based on?
- What evidence will you require for local spend and Emiratisation?
- How long does certification take once the file is complete?
- When does the certificate expire, and what is the renewal process?
- Is the certifier approved under the current national programme?
The audit link
The score is calculated from audited financial data, so the quality of the audit shapes the certificate. A late audit delays certification, and an audit with qualifications can complicate it. Plan the audit calendar around your tender calendar. See is audit mandatory in the UAE.
Groups and subsidiaries
Each licensed entity is certified on its own data. A supplier that bids through one subsidiary and buys from another should check how intra-group spend is treated. Intra-group purchases do not necessarily count as local third-party spend in the way an arm's length purchase does, so ask the certifier before restructuring supply chains for the score.
Planning the certificate around tenders
Work backwards from the tender date. If a tender requires a valid certificate at submission, a certificate that expires a month earlier can disqualify you. Start the certification process several weeks before you need the result, and keep a copy of the certificate and the underlying score in your bid file.
Ways a supplier can improve its position
- Keep clean, complete records of local spend by supplier.
- Document Emirati employment accurately and keep the contracts.
- Keep the audited financial statements consistent with management accounts.
- Resolve any open compliance issue, such as an outstanding return, before certification.
None of these is a shortcut. They are good record-keeping that also helps the certifier. Our ICV certification service explains how we support the preparation of the file.
Mistakes that cost points or time
- Submitting unaudited or inconsistent financials.
- Counting spend that cannot be evidenced by invoice and payment.
- Letting trade licence details differ between documents.
- Starting the process too close to a tender deadline.
What a financial adviser does and does not do
An adviser can help organise the accounts and evidence for the certifier. The certificate and the score are issued by the certifying body, not by us, and nobody can promise a particular score.
Frequently asked questions
Suppliers bidding for ADNOC work should expect to need a valid certificate. Without one, a bid may be scored at zero for the ICV element in tender evaluation.
Approved certification bodies issue it under the national ICV programme governed by MoIAT. ADNOC applies the resulting score in its own procurement.
The ADNOC programme started in 2018 and now uses the national certification process. ADNOC still decides how ICV is weighted and applied in its tenders.
One per trade licence. The certificate can be used with all participating entities.
Sources differ, quoting 14 months from the audited accounts or one year. Plan for annual renewal and confirm the current rule with your certifier.
The share of your spend and activity that stays in the UAE: local goods and services, local assets, Emiratisation, local suppliers and training of UAE nationals.