UAE government entities are among the largest buyers of goods and services in the region. Here is a complete guide to UAE government tender participation in 2025.
UAE Government Procurement Overview
UAE government procurement is conducted by: Federal entities (ministries, federal authorities), Dubai government (RTA, DHA, Dubai Municipality, DEWA, EXPO City), Abu Dhabi government (ADNOC, DOH, DEWA Abu Dhabi), and other emirate governments. Total UAE government spending: approximately AED 200 billion+ per year, making it one of the largest procurement markets in the region. Tenders are published on: etenders.gov.ae (federal), RFP portals of individual entities, and through approved suppliers registers.
Prerequisites for UAE Government Tenders
To bid on UAE government tenders, your company typically needs: UAE trade licence (mainland is preferred over free zone for most government procurement), company registration on the government entity’s approved vendor list (one-time registration process per entity), applicable professional certifications (ISO 9001 for quality, ISO 27001 for IT services, relevant sector certifications), financial statements demonstrating minimum turnover requirements (often AED 2M-20M depending on tender value), a performance bond (bank guarantee for 2-5% of tender value), and in some cases: UAE national ownership requirement (5-10% UAE national shareholding for certain categories).
ADNOC Supplier Registration
ADNOC (Abu Dhabi National Oil Company): all ADNOC suppliers must register on the ADNOC In-Country Value (ICV) programme and obtain an ICV certificate (issued by an authorised certifying body). ICV score: a composite score measuring the supplier’s UAE economic contribution (UAE employees, local procurement, capital investment in UAE). Higher ICV scores: preference in tender evaluation (tenders may give bonus points to high-ICV suppliers). ADNOC ICV registration: via the dedicated supplier portal.