Product Certification

Product certification for UAE and GCC market access — ECAS and EQM under MoIAT, G-Mark for the GCC as a GSO-approved Notified Body, SABER and SALEEM for Saudi Arabia, Halal and Go Safe. Last reviewed: August 2026.

Getting a product into the UAE or the wider GCC is a regulatory exercise before it is a commercial one. Regulated categories cannot legally be imported, sold or distributed without the correct certification; customs screens for it at the port; and market surveillance can issue fines, recalls or import bans after the fact. ITMAD holds approvals from regional and international authorities to certify products for these markets.

Certification schemes

• G-Mark — Gulf Conformity MarkMandatory across all six GCC states for low voltage electrical equipment and children's toys. ITMAD is a GSO-approved Notified Body authorised to conduct the conformity assessment and issue G-Mark certificates, including the GSO Conformity Tracking Symbol with QR code that must appear on certified products. Without it, affected products cannot legally enter the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar or Oman.
• ECAS — Emirates Conformity Assessment SchemeMandatory UAE certification for regulated products, administered by MoIAT. Covers technical documentation review, testing coordination and conformity assessment. Certificates are valid one year and must be renewed before expiry.
• EQM — Emirates Quality MarkA higher-tier MoIAT mark, mandatory for some categories and voluntary for others, demonstrating quality above the baseline. It requires a factory audit and ongoing surveillance in addition to product assessment, and runs on a three-year cycle.
• SABER — Saudi market accessSaudi Arabia's mandatory online conformity platform, managed by SASO. Regulated products must be registered and hold a Product Certificate of Conformity (PCoC) or a Shipment Certificate of Conformity (SCoC). The SALEEM programme within SABER governs consumer product safety. ITMAD supports UAE manufacturers and exporters through registration, PCoC and SCoC, and ongoing compliance.
• Halal certificationVerification that products, ingredients, processes and facilities comply with Islamic dietary law, in accordance with applicable UAE and international Halal standards. Increasingly required by UAE retailers, hospitality groups, government catering and export markets across the Muslim world.
• Go SafeA UAE product safety certification programme demonstrating compliance with UAE safety requirements and applicable technical regulations, recognised in retail channels and procurement systems.

MoIAT, formerly ESMA

ECAS and EQM were previously administered by ESMA, the Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology. ESMA was merged into the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology in 2020, and MoIAT now administers both schemes through its own portal. The certificates themselves are unchanged and the term ESMA certificate remains in common use, but applications, fees and renewals go through MoIAT.

Model identification and customs

Wildcard or generic model numbers on certificates have been phased out. Every specific model must now be identified on the certificate, and a mismatch between the certificate, the model and the HS code is a common cause of shipments being held at Jebel Ali and Khalifa Port. Getting the model schedule right at application stage prevents a problem that is expensive to resolve once a container has landed.

Which certification applies

• Low voltage electrical equipment or toys, selling anywhere in the GCCG-Mark, mandatory, issued by a GSO Notified Body.
• Regulated product entering the UAEECAS, mandatory, administered by MoIAT, valid one year.
• Seeking premium recognition, or in a category where it is requiredEQM, including factory audit, valid three years.
• Exporting to Saudi ArabiaSABER registration with PCoC or SCoC issued by a SASO-approved body, with SALEEM applying to consumer products.
• Food, beverages, cosmetics or pharmaceuticals sold as halalHalal certification against the applicable UAE and international standards.
• Consumer products in UAE retail and procurement channelsGo Safe, alongside any mandatory scheme that applies.

Why certification matters commercially

• Non-certified products in covered categories cannot legally be imported, sold or distributed
• Customs authorities screen actively for certification marks and documentation at the port
• Market surveillance conducts post-market checks and can impose fines, recalls or import bans
• Retailers and distributors increasingly require proof of certification before accepting stock
• Government tenders and procurement mandate certified products from approved suppliers
• A certificate with the wrong scope or from an unrecognised body is worth no more than none

How we work

ITMAD reviews the technical documentation, identifies which scheme and standards apply to your specific product and target market, coordinates testing where required, and carries out the conformity assessment. Where the assessment requires a factory audit, that is conducted as part of the scheme. We advise what applies and assess against it; the product and its compliance remain yours.

Frequently asked questions

What is ECAS certification?

ECAS, the Emirates Conformity Assessment Scheme, is the UAE's mandatory product certification for regulated categories. It is administered by MoIAT and confirms a product meets UAE technical regulations. Certificates are valid for one year.

What is the difference between ECAS and EQM?

ECAS is mandatory for regulated products and assesses the product itself, valid one year. EQM, the Emirates Quality Mark, is a higher-tier scheme that additionally requires a factory audit and ongoing surveillance, and runs on a three-year cycle. Some categories require EQM; for others it is voluntary.

Is ESMA certification still valid?

Yes. ESMA was merged into the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology in 2020, so what people call an ESMA certificate is now issued under MoIAT. The schemes and certificates are unchanged; applications and renewals go through the MoIAT portal.

What is the G-Mark and who needs it?

The G-Mark is the Gulf Conformity Mark, mandatory across all six GCC states for low voltage electrical equipment and children's toys. It must be issued by a GSO-approved Notified Body and carries the GSO Conformity Tracking Symbol with QR code.

What is SABER and when is it required?

SABER is Saudi Arabia's mandatory online conformity platform, managed by SASO. Regulated products exported to Saudi Arabia must be registered on it and hold a Product Certificate of Conformity or a Shipment Certificate of Conformity from a SASO-approved body.

Can one certificate cover several product models?

Not with wildcard or generic model numbers, which have been phased out. Every specific model must be identified on the certificate. A mismatch between the certificate, the model and the HS code is a common cause of shipments being held at Jebel Ali and Khalifa Port.