Strategic Approaches to Maximizing ICV Scores in the UAE
HLB JAFZA Team
For businesses competing in the UAE’s government and semi-government procurement landscape, an In-Country Value certificate is no longer a box-ticking exercise. It is a direct reflection of how meaningfully your business contributes to the UAE economy, and increasingly, it is a determining factor in whether you win or lose a tender.
At HLB HAMT Jafza, we work with businesses across manufacturing, contracting, trading, and professional services to help them understand where their ICV score stands today and, more importantly, what it will take to improve it. The companies that approach ICV strategically are the ones that consistently outperform competitors in procurement evaluations and build stronger long-term positioning in the UAE market.
In This Article:
- Why Your ICV Score Deserves More Strategic Attention
- Where the Biggest Gains Are Made
- Emiratisation Investment
- UAE-Based Asset Investment
- Bonus Elements: Exports, Sustainability, and National Programmes
- The Documentation and Audit Dimension
- Embedding ICV Into Your Business Planning Cycle
- How We Can Support You
Why Your ICV Score Deserves More Strategic Attention
The ICV programme, administered under the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT), measures the economic value your business retains within the UAE. It is calculated using a weighted formula applied to your audited financial statements, covering areas including local procurement, Emiratisation, UAE-based asset investment, expatriate contribution, and a range of bonus elements tied to exports, sustainability, and national programme participation.
A higher score translates directly into preferential treatment in government-linked tenders, stronger supplier relationships, and a demonstrable alignment with the UAE’s broader economic priorities. For businesses with ambitions to grow their public sector and national company client base, improving the score is not optional. It is a strategic imperative.
Where the Biggest Gains Are Made
Based on our experience certifying and advising businesses across sectors, the most meaningful ICV improvements come from targeted action in a few key areas rather than broad, unfocused efforts.
Local Procurement and Third-Party Spend
This component typically carries the heaviest weighting in the ICV formula and is often the single greatest lever available to businesses looking to improve their score quickly. A thorough review of your supply chain, one that identifies where imports can realistically be replaced by qualified UAE-based suppliers, subcontractors, or service providers, can deliver a material uplift in your score. The key is not simply shifting spend for the sake of compliance but building genuine, long-term procurement relationships with local entities that can sustain your operational requirements.
Emiratisation Investment
Hiring UAE nationals and investing meaningfully in their development is one of the areas where businesses can demonstrate both compliance and genuine commitment. This goes beyond headcount numbers. The ICV formula takes into account salaries, benefits, and structured training costs associated with Emirati employees, particularly those in substantive roles. Companies that have invested in building Emirati talent pipelines, through partnerships with universities, graduate programmes, or structured mentorship arrangements, tend to see compounding benefits across multiple ICV cycles.
UAE-Based Asset Investment
Capital allocated to building or expanding local operations, whether manufacturing units, service centres, assembly facilities, or owned office infrastructure, contributes directly to the ICV score through the net book value of UAE-based assets. Businesses that habitually lease rather than own, where ownership is financially viable, are frequently leaving points on the table. For manufacturers and contractors in particular, this is an area worth revisiting as part of a broader ICV improvement plan.
Bonus Elements: Exports, Sustainability, and National Programmes
The ICV formula includes bonus components that are often underutilised by businesses that focus exclusively on the core weighted categories. Revenue generated from exports outside the UAE, participation in national programmes such as the Industrial Technology Transformation Index (ITTI), and formally governed sustainability initiatives can all contribute additional percentage points. Businesses that have implemented environmental management systems, obtained recognised certifications, or made measurable commitments to energy efficiency and waste reduction are well-positioned to capture these bonus elements, provided their documentation meets the required standards.
The Documentation and Audit Dimension
One of the most common reasons businesses underperform on their ICV assessment is not a lack of qualifying activity but a lack of structured documentation to support it. MoIAT requirements continue to evolve, and standalone audited financial statements are now frequently mandatory for certification. Incomplete records, inconsistent financial reporting, or misaligned documentation between procurement activity and financial statements can result in scores that fail to reflect the actual economic contribution your business is making.
Our team works with clients to ensure that documentation is accurate, complete, and structured in a way that withstands audit scrutiny. This preparation work, done properly ahead of each certification cycle, is often what separates a competitive score from an average one.
Embedding ICV Into Your Business Planning Cycle
The businesses we see achieving consistent ICV improvement are not treating it as an annual compliance exercise. They are integrating ICV considerations into their procurement decisions, HR strategies, capital expenditure planning, and operational frameworks throughout the year. Quarterly progress reviews against ICV targets, combined with a clear understanding of the formula weightings relevant to their sector, allow these businesses to make informed decisions that build score improvements incrementally rather than scrambling to address gaps at certification time.
How We Can Support You
At HLB HAMT, we bring both the technical expertise to calculate and certify your score accurately and the advisory capability to help you improve it in a structured, sustainable way. Whether you need a baseline gap analysis, a certification for an upcoming tender, or a multi-year ICV improvement roadmap, our team is equipped to support you at every stage.
Reach out to us today to schedule a consultation and take the first step toward a stronger ICV position in the UAE market.
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