Vendor registration checklist for UAE companies: what to prepare
Vendor registration is the process of joining a buyer’s approved supplier list, usually through an online portal. In the UAE, federal, emirate, semi-government and private buyers each run their own route. Most ask for company details, trade licence copies and compliance documents, and many accept a company profile. Check each portal’s current requirements.
This is a preparation checklist, not registration or legal advice. Each portal sets its own requirements, and they change, so check the portal for current requirements before you apply.
Before you register as a supplier, confirm which portal the buyer uses, make sure your company details match your trade licence everywhere, gather the documents the portal asks for, and have a current company profile ready to submit where the buyer allows one. Check the portal for current requirements.
How to become a vendor in the UAE (step by step)
- Find out which portal or supplier list your buyer uses.
- Check that your legal name, licence details and activities match your trade licence.
- Gather the documents the portal asks for, such as your trade licence copy and the certificates you hold.
- Prepare a company profile that matches your registration details.
- Register on the portal and complete its forms and declarations.
- Keep your registration and company profile current, and renew where the portal requires it.
Each step is explained below. Check the portal for current requirements.
Official supplier registers
| Buyer | Official register or portal |
|---|---|
| Federal government entities | Federal Supplier Register (Ministry of Finance) |
| Abu Dhabi Government | Abu Dhabi Government Procurement Gate |
| Dubai Government | eSupply |
| Sharjah Government | Sharjah Finance Department eProcurement Portal, the Sharjah Government’s portal for supplier registration and tenders |
| Ajman Government | Tawreed portal, through the Department of Finance – Ajman (u.ae) |
| Ras Al Khaimah Government | Vendor Registration of RAK Finance Department (u.ae) |
| ADNOC Group | ADNOC Supplier Hub (registration and pre-qualification through ADNOC Ariba); see our ADNOC vendor registration guide |
| Semi-government and private buyers | Usually their own supplier forms or questionnaires |
Names as shown on each official site or on u.ae, checked 28 October 2026 (ADNOC row checked 14 November 2026).
Step 1: Know which portal or buyer you’re registering with
Supplier registration in the UAE isn’t one system. Federal, emirate, semi-government and private buyers each run their own, so the first item on any checklist is knowing which one your buyer uses. See the official supplier registers table.
Federal government
According to u.ae, “registering your company in the Federal Supplier Register is the first step to working and contracting with UAE federal government entities.” The Ministry of Finance’s Digital Procurement Platform handles federal government procurement electronically. It launched in 2021, and suppliers sign in with UAE PASS.
Abu Dhabi
The Abu Dhabi Government Procurement Gate is the Abu Dhabi Government’s supplier portal, provided through the Department of Government Enablement (DGE). DGE’s own FAQ points business owners who want to register as a vendor to the Gate. According to u.ae, once suppliers register, their profiles become visible to procurement teams in the government entities that use the portal. u.ae also notes that the Tawazun Council manages procurement and contracts for the UAE Armed Forces and Abu Dhabi Police, including registering suppliers.
Dubai
eSupply is the official procurement portal for Dubai Government tenders. Tenders and RFx from over 40 major Dubai Government entities are published there, and bidding runs online. u.ae also lists iSupplier, Digital Dubai’s tendering system, and notes that Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) and Dubai Police have their own tendering platforms.
Sharjah, Ajman and Ras Al Khaimah
u.ae names the Sharjah Finance Department eProcurement Portal for Sharjah Government entities, Ajman’s Tawreed portal, which suppliers apply to through the Department of Finance – Ajman, and Vendor Registration at the RAK Finance Department for Ras Al Khaimah Government. The Ajman and RAK links in the table go to u.ae’s own overview of each.
The Sharjah Finance Department also publishes a Vendors and Contractors Registration service, with a registration portal at integratedreg.sfd.gov.ae, so vendors and contractors can deal with Sharjah government departments and submit quotations and tenders. Check each official portal for current requirements. We do not complete the registration for you. For a profile written for Sharjah firms, see company profile design in Sharjah.
Semi-government and private buyers
Semi-government and private buyers often run their own supplier forms or questionnaires. Ask the buyer which route applies to you.
Check the portal for current requirements. For local context, see company profile design in Abu Dhabi, company profile design for Dubai companies and company profile design in Sharjah.
Step 2: Keep your company details consistent
Portals, buyers and your own documents should all describe the same company, in the same words. Before you start, check these against your trade licence:
- ☐ Legal name in English and Arabic, exactly as licensed
- ☐ Licence number and issuing authority
- ☐ Licensed activities, worded as on the licence
- ☐ Contact person and their role
- ☐ Company email and phone number
- ☐ The emirate where you’re physically based
- ☐ Website
Tip: The details in your portal record, your trade licence and your company profile should match. When one of them changes, update the others at the same time.
Step 3: Have your documents ready
u.ae says registration “typically involves submitting company details, trade licence copies and compliance documents”.
These are documents companies commonly keep ready, if they apply to you. No portal is named here as requiring them:
- a current copy of your trade licence
- the certificates you hold, with their expiry dates
- an In-Country Value (ICV) certificate, if you hold one
- your company profile
Requirements differ by portal and by supplier type. For federal registration, the Ministry of Finance lists the required documents for each supplier type on its service page. Check the portal for current requirements.
Step 4: Prepare a company profile that matches your registration
A registration profile stays on the buyer’s file and is read whenever a need comes up, so it should show your full licensed scope, grouped by category, the way supplier lists are organised. Use the same legal name, licence details, activity wording and contact person as your portal record, so a reviewer comparing the two finds nothing that doesn’t line up. Keep it current, with a date or version number so everyone can tell which edition they’re reading. Where a portal or buyer accepts a company profile, send it as a PDF alongside the documents they ask for.
For how we structure this kind of profile, see company profiles for prequalification and vendor registration. By sector: facility management company profiles, cleaning company profiles and contracting and fit-out company profiles.
Getting onto a supplier list? Our prequalification company profile is written to match your registration, in English, Arabic or both, from AED 150.
Registering in Dubai? See our company profile design in Dubai.
Step 5: Keep your registration and profile current
u.ae notes that suppliers must renew their registration in the Federal Supplier Register every year to remain eligible. Other portals set their own rules, so check the portal for current requirements. Whatever the portal, update your company profile when your licence, services, certificates or contact person change, and send the new version wherever the old one is on file.
In-Country Value (ICV) certificates
The National In-Country Value (ICV) Program is run by the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT). It was launched as one of the “Projects of the 50” and aims to redirect a larger share of government and national-company spending into the UAE economy. Certificates are issued by certifying bodies that MoIAT authorises, and u.ae states that certified companies gain advantages when tenders and contracts are awarded, based on their ICV score.
If you hold a valid ICV certificate, your profile can reference it; attach the certificate itself where the buyer asks.
What we do, and what stays with your team
- We write and design the company profile, in English, Arabic or both.
- Portal entries, questionnaire answers, document submission and declarations stay with your team.
- We don’t give registration or legal advice, and we can’t guarantee registration, approval or an award; those decisions rest with the buyer.
This is how we work on company profiles for prequalification and vendor registration. If a specific tender is already open, see company profiles for tenders. See our guide: company profile vs technical proposal.
FAQs
Is there one supplier registration for every UAE government entity?
No single one. According to the u.ae overview, federal entities use the Federal Supplier Register on the Ministry of Finance’s Digital Procurement Platform, Abu Dhabi uses the Abu Dhabi Government Procurement Gate, and Dubai uses eSupply, with iSupplier, DEWA and Dubai Police running their own platforms. Sharjah, Ajman and Ras Al Khaimah have their own systems, and semi-government and private buyers often have their own forms. Check each portal for current requirements.
What does supplier registration usually involve?
u.ae says that registration “typically involves submitting company details, trade licence copies and compliance documents”. Each portal sets its own list; for federal registration, the Ministry of Finance lists the required documents by supplier type on its service page. Check the portal for current requirements.
Is there a fee to register as a supplier?
It depends on the portal. As of 10 November 2026, the Ministry of Finance lists “No Fees” for registering in the Federal Supplier Register, and u.ae states that registration in the RAK procurement system is free of charge. For other portals, check the portal for current requirements.
Should our company profile match our portal record?
Yes, as good practice. Use the same legal name, licence details, activities and contact details in both. Buyers compare documents, and a mismatch can raise questions. More on company profiles for prequalification and vendor registration.
Do we have to renew a supplier registration?
For the Federal Supplier Register, yes: u.ae says suppliers must renew their registration every year to remain eligible. Other portals set their own rules, so check the portal. Either way, update your company profile when your details change.
How do I register as a vendor with Dubai Government entities?
Dubai Government entities use the Dubai Government eSupply portal. Digital Dubai also lists iSupplier for Digital Dubai tenders, and some entities such as DEWA and Dubai Police run their own platforms. Prepare consistent company details, trade licence copies and the portal’s compliance documents, then a company profile that uses the same legal name and licensed activities. Check each portal for current requirements. More on company profile design in Dubai.
How do I register as a vendor with the UAE Ministry of Finance?
Federal government entities use the Federal Supplier Register on the Ministry of Finance’s Digital Procurement Platform. According to u.ae, registering there is the first step to contracting with UAE federal entities. The platform launched in 2021, and suppliers sign in with UAE PASS. The Ministry of Finance lists the required documents by supplier type on its service page; as of 10 November 2026 it lists “No Fees” for this registration, and u.ae says suppliers must renew every year to remain eligible. Prepare consistent company details, trade-licence copies and the portal’s compliance documents, then a company profile that uses the same legal name and licensed activities. Check the portal for current requirements. See also company profiles for prequalification and vendor registration.
What is the Tawreed portal?
On this guide, Tawreed is Ajman’s Tawreed portal, which suppliers apply to through the Department of Finance – Ajman, as named on u.ae. It is not the Federal Supplier Register or the Ministry of Finance’s Digital Procurement Platform. Check u.ae and the Ajman portal for current requirements.
Registering soon? Send your trade licence details and the portal name on WhatsApp, and we’ll confirm whether Professional or Premium fits. Wondering about cost? See how much a company profile costs in the UAE.
Ready to start your company profile?
Packages run from AED 150 to AED 1,500, with no VAT added. Delivery times start after full intake.
Message us on WhatsApp: +971 52 788 1408. We’re based in Abu Dhabi and work with companies across the UAE online.
Related guides
Sources (checked 15 Oct 2026)
- u.ae, Government tendering and procurement: https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/business/Managing-and-growing-your-business/ppp/government-tendering-and-awarding
- Ministry of Finance, Register Suppliers in the Federal Supplier Register: https://mof.gov.ae/en/services/register-suppliers-in-the-federal-supplier-register/
- Ministry of Finance, Digital Procurement Platform: https://mof.gov.ae/en/public-finance/government-procurement/digital-procurement-platform/
- Abu Dhabi Media Office, Supplier registration in Abu Dhabi Government: https://www.mediaoffice.abudhabi/en/supplier-registration-in-abu-dhabi-government/
- Abu Dhabi Government Procurement Gate: https://adgpg.gov.ae/
- Department of Government Enablement, FAQs: https://www.dge.gov.ae/en/about-dge/faqs
- eSupply, Dubai Government: https://esupply.dubai.gov.ae/esupply/web/index.html
- Digital Dubai, tenders (iSupplier): https://www.digitaldubai.ae/tenders
- Sharjah Finance Department eProcurement Portal: https://eprocurement-sfd.uae.app.jaggaer.com/
- MoIAT, National ICV Program: https://moiat.gov.ae/en/programs/icv
- u.ae, The National In-Country Value (ICV) Program: https://u.ae/en/about-the-uae/strategies-initiatives-and-awards/strategies-plans-and-visions/industry-science-and-technology/the-national-in-country-value-icv-program