Subject:

The Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT) provides various services to businesses through its online and smart channels.

One of these services is the Initial Approval Certificate, which MoIAT provides as a declaration of no-objection (DNO) to industrial businesses when they want to construct factories or obtain licenses to connect to the power grid, import machinery and equipment, and pilot production.

To issue an Initial Approval Certificate, companies must have an industrial license or a registered trade name from a local authority, because it is a service linked to other agencies, including the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE), the Federal Authority For Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security, Departments of Economic Development (DEDs), and local customs departments.

Companies must meet certain criteria to obtain the certificate. For instance, the owners must first submit  identification documents (i.e. Emirates ID, passport). The total number of employees in the establishment must not be fewer than 10, and the factory's total capital must be at least AED 250,000. Businesses must also comply with all UAE laws and regulations, including those related to industrial security, public health and environmental preservation.

Objective:

This note aims to demonstrate our commitment to enhancing stakeholders' awareness about this service as a tool that empowers and stimulates industrial growth in the UAE.