Where the points come from
Under MoIAT's current formula, the core score is out of 100:
- Local content: up to 50 points.
- Investment: up to 10 points, plus a top-up of up to 15.
- Emiratisation: up to 15 points.
- Expatriate contribution: up to 10 points.
On top come bonus points: up to 8 for service companies and up to 11 for manufacturers. So the maximum is 108 or 111.
Where most companies lose points
- Supplier spend that counts at a low rate, because suppliers are not certified or are based overseas.
- Emirati payroll that is not fully evidenced, so part of it never reaches the score.
- UAE assets that were not planned, or not booked in a way that counts.
- Bonus points left unclaimed (exports, investment growth, sustainability), because the evidence was not prepared during the year.
Which of these apply to you, and in what order, depends on your own figures. That is what the ICV Health Check is for: we diagnose your score, what is costing you points and what you can reach.
Timing is everything
Changes count only for the financial year in which they happen. A supplier switched in month 11 affects one month of spend. The same switch in month 2 affects eleven. That is why we review ICV monthly: every decision gets checked for its points before it is made, not discovered a year later.
Want to see your own starting point? Our free ICV calculator gives an indicative score range in minutes.
Questions we are asked
What is the maximum ICV score?
The core score is out of 100. With bonus points, the maximum is 108 for service companies and 111 for manufacturers under MoIAT's current formula.
What is the fastest way to increase an ICV score?
It depends on your figures. For many companies supplier spend is the biggest gap, but the right order of actions is different for each company. The ICV Health Check shows which applies to you.
Does expatriate salary cost affect the ICV score?
The expatriate contribution component is based on headcount. Expatriate payroll also counts partly in local content.
Formula details refer to MoIAT's National ICV Certification Guidelines for Suppliers (September 2025). This article is general guidance, not a certified assessment; official ICV scores are issued only by MoIAT-authorized certifying bodies.