The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is widely known to have an especially sophisticated, distinct, and important economy among the GCC countries. Oman and Saudi Arabia are the adjacent neighboring countries, whereas Qatar and Bahrain are also in close proximity. Seven states constitute the Emirates: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras al Khaimah, and Fujairah.
Abu Dhabi is the Emirates’ capital and most populated state, covering 86% of the total land area. The most modern state is Dubai, which only holds 5% of the country’s total land.
Traditionally, the UAE was rich in oil and gas resources but recently has started focusing on expanding its economy through tourism. Dubai is considered to be the region’s pivotal place for economic activities, with many worldwide brands establishing local offices there.
ISO Certification in the UAE has a broad reach. The country is making great efforts to standardize processes and adapt to the modern world.
Most major worldwide ISO certification bodies have local offices in the United Arab Emirates. The Emirates International Accreditation Centre (EIAC) mandates these bodies for ISO certification in the UAE.
EIAC is the UAE’s national accreditation agency. It provides ISO certifications in the UAE for various standards, including ISO 9001:2015 for Quality Management Systems.
It also includes ISO 14001:2015 for Environmental Management Systems. Additionally, it offers ISO 45001:2018 for Health and Safety Management Systems. ISO 22000:2018/HACCP certification is provided for food safety management systems. Finally, it provides ISO 27001 for Information Security Management Systems and ISO 22301 for Business Continuity.
EIAC must accredit all foreign ISO certification bodies before they can operate in the UAE. Local governments from various states work closely together to successfully oversee the operations of these Certification organizations. Dubai Municipality is known for its strong leadership and commitment to implementing best management practices.
Dubai is doing exceptionally well, particularly in the food sector. Every enterprise in the food supply chain in Dubai must register with the Food Watch program, and these companies provide regular updates on their actions in this initiative.
The Dubai municipality inspects food establishments regularly and grades them based on their compliance with food safety standards. A comprehensive Dubai food code is also required for all food enterprises in Dubai.
The Dubai municipality encourages food firms to obtain HACCP or ISO 22000:2018 certification for food safety. Before ISO 22000, companies were more familiar with HACCP. Authorities are now pushing ISO 22000 due to its association with other standards.
Sharjah also has good initiatives to standardize business procedures. All food firms are required to provide GHP training for employees and management.
Ajman Municipality has also taken appropriate steps to build management systems with organizations in recent months. It keeps track of all the bodies and auditors that give ISO certification in the UAE, allowing it to closely monitor their activities.
The process of ISO certification in the UAE usually involves the following significant steps:
Gap Analysis: Current practice check against the ISO standard requirements.
Documentation: Collect and document the required policy documents, procedures, and
records.
Implementation: Install the required processes and systems to comply with ISO.
Internal Audits: Conduct internal audits that can be able to establish one or two
weaknesses that need development.
Certification Audit: Hire a registered certification
body to audit your company and put you through ISO standards.
Certification: Upon
successful auditing, your business shall be issued with ISO certification in UAE, which shall last
for three years and should always be renewed by examination through surveillance audits.
When selecting a certification authority in the UAE to audit your firm, consider the following:
The main factors affecting the total cost of ISO certification in the UAE are the strengths of the organization’s staff and the complexity of its business activities. The Certification Body is another important ingredient in the cost calculation formula for ISO certification in the United Arab Emirates.
ISO authorizes numerous independent and governmental bodies of standardization, as well as several well-known Certification bodies. The geography and qualifications of an ISO Certification Body affect the overall
Conclusively, depending on the size of the projects and the desired ISO Certification that the organization needs, the audit time requirements, the number of individuals to receive the training, additional overhead costs, auditing expenses, certification printing, process implementation expenses, etc., add up to the total cost.
APEX SC ISO certification services, with their well-versed experience and professionalism, help organizations to showcase their credible approach towards the overall effectiveness of ISO management systems and promote their long-term competitive advantage regardless of the current state of affairs—at the early stages of ISO implementation, midway through implementation, on the path to certification audit, or even if your system is robust and well-established.