In-Country Value in UAE

The programme keeping economic value at home and building a self-sustaining nation.

UAE Today Editorial  |  Business & Industry

Behind the UAE’s drive to diversify its economy lies a powerful but often overlooked idea: keeping value within the country. The National In-Country Value (ICV) Program is designed to do exactly that — ensuring that the money spent by government bodies and major national companies flows back into the local economy. Understanding ICV reveals how the UAE is turning everyday procurement into a strategic tool for growth, jobs, and long-term resilience.

What Is In-Country Value?

In-Country Value measures how much a company contributes to the UAE economy. Rather than looking only at price, the ICV framework evaluates factors such as local manufacturing, spending on UAE-based suppliers, investment within the country, and the hiring and development of Emirati talent. Companies are assessed and given an ICV score, which reflects their real economic footprint. The higher the score, the greater their contribution to the nation’s prosperity.

From Oil and Gas to a National Vision

The concept began in the UAE’s energy sector, pioneered by ADNOC in 2018 to boost local content in its vast supply chain. Its success was so clear that it was expanded into a national programme under the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, launched as part of the country’s ‘Projects of the 50’. What started as an industry initiative has become a cornerstone of the UAE’s wider strategy to build a diversified, self-sustaining economy less dependent on imports.

How it works in practice.  —  Companies obtain an ICV certificate through approved certifying bodies, which assess audited financial data against the programme’s criteria. When government entities and leading national companies award contracts, they factor in each supplier’s ICV score — giving businesses that contribute more to the local economy a genuine competitive advantage in winning tenders. This creates a powerful incentive to source, invest, and hire locally.

Real Economic Impact

The results have been significant. The programme has redirected billions of dirhams in procurement toward local suppliers, encouraged major companies to deepen their UAE investments, and created thousands of new jobs for Emiratis in the private sector. It has also strengthened small and medium enterprises, which benefit from a steady flow of local demand. In doing so, ICV has boosted confidence in the national industrial base and made the country more attractive to investors.

Empowering Local Talent and Business

Beyond the numbers, ICV supports a broader national goal: developing Emirati talent and homegrown enterprise. By rewarding companies that employ and train UAE nationals, the programme helps build a skilled local workforce for the future. It also encourages knowledge transfer and industrial capability, ensuring that growth benefits not just balance sheets, but people and communities across the Emirates.

A Blueprint for Resilience

The National In-Country Value Program shows how a smart idea, applied consistently, can reshape an economy. By ensuring that spending strengthens local industry, talent, and investment, the UAE is building a more resilient and self-reliant future. As the country continues to diversify and grow, ICV stands as a quiet but powerful engine — turning every contract into an opportunity to invest in the nation itself.

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