ECAS Certificate
The mandatory Certificate of Conformity for most regulated products entering the UAE market.
TypeConformity certificate
Validity1 year
Applies toMost regulated goods
ESMA Product Registration & ECAS Certification in the UAE
What people call ESMA registration is the ECAS Certificate of Conformity, now issued under MoIAT. It proves your regulated product meets UAE standards and is required to clear customs. We handle the full route.
Excellent
15+ Years in UAE Compliance
ECAS & EQM Handled
Notified Body Coordination
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What It Means
What Is ESMA Product Registration and ECAS?
If you import or make regulated goods for the UAE, you have likely been told you need ESMA registration. What that means is an ECAS Certificate of Conformity, the proof your product meets UAE standards.
One naming point clears up the confusion. ESMA, the old standards authority, was merged into MoIAT (the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology) in 2020. Today, ESMA and MoIAT ECAS mean the same thing.
The certificate is not optional. Without it, customs will reject your shipment at the border, so the conformity certificate is what unlocks legal import and sale across the UAE.
Clearing the Confusion
Is ESMA Registration the Same as Product Registration?
Not exactly, and the difference matters. ECAS is a conformity certificate for regulated technical goods, separate from the Dubai Municipality registration food and cosmetics need.
- ECAS proves a regulated product meets UAE technical standards and is safe to sell
- It is issued by a Notified Body on behalf of MoIAT, not by Dubai Municipality
- Electronics, toys, and automotive parts usually need ECAS only
- Food registers with Dubai Municipality through the FIRS system, not ESMA
- Cosmetics need both ECAS conformity and Dubai Municipality registration
The Key Question
ECAS or EQM: Which Certificate Do You Need?
Regulated products need one of two certificates to be sold in the UAE. Most need ECAS. A short list of food and drink categories must hold EQM instead. Here is how they compare.
Not Sure Which Certificate Applies?
Send us your product details. We will confirm whether it needs ECAS, EQM, or another route before you spend on the wrong one.
Scope
Which Products Need ECAS Certification?
ECAS covers regulated goods where safety and quality matter for the consumer. If your product is in one of these groups, it needs a Certificate of Conformity before it can sell.
Paperwork
What Documents Do You Need for ECAS Certification ?
Two stacks carry every ECAS application. One proves your business is licensed to trade the product. The other proves the product itself has been tested and conforms to the right UAE standard.
Company & Licence
- Valid UAE industry or trade licence
- Importer or manufacturer details
- Local UAE representative for foreign firms
- Agency or distribution details where relevant
Technical & Conformity
- Test report from an ISO 17025 accredited lab
- Technical documentation and product details
- Declaration of Conformity
- Product photos, labels, and packaging
- Reference to the applicable UAE standard
Test reports from accredited laboratories outside the UAE are accepted, provided the lab is ISO 17025 accredited and the report meets the product standard.
Step by Step
How to Get Your ECAS Certificate
From identifying the standard to a live certificate, the full route is straightforward once the testing and paperwork line up.
Step 1
Identify the Standard
Confirm the product is regulated and find the UAE technical regulation and standard that applies to it.
Step 2
Arrange Lab Testing
Test the product at an ISO 17025 accredited laboratory against the requirements of that standard.
Step 3
Prepare the File
Compile the technical documentation, test report, and Declaration of Conformity for submission.
Step 4
Submit via MoIAT
File the application through the MoIAT portal and assign it to an approved Notified Body.
Step 5
Review & Pay Fees
The Notified Body reviews the file and test results, and you settle the certification fees.
Step 6
Certificate & Mark
The Certificate of Conformity is issued and you affix the ECAS mark with the Notified Body number.
Pricing
How Much Does ECAS Certification Cost?
Cost depends on the product, the testing it needs, and whether you go for ECAS or EQM. The ranges below are indicative market figures, not fixed MoIAT fees.
Single Product ECAS
From AED 3,700
One regulated product certified under ECAS, with a valid accredited test report ready.
Product Range
Custom
Several products certified together, with shared testing and documentation where possible.
EQM with Audit
From AED 26,000
The Emirates Quality Mark, including the factory audit and quality system assessment.
What Moves the Price
Lab Testing
Testing cost varies widely by product type and the number of standards it must meet.
Scheme
EQM costs far more than ECAS because it adds a factory audit and quality review.
Factory Assessment
On-site technical assessment is charged per assessor per working day where required.
Product Range
More products and more standards mean more testing and review work.
A Note on Pricing
All costs shown are indicative and change with the product, testing, and scheme. Riz & Mona Consultancy provides a personalized quote for your exact products before any work starts.
Typical Timeline
2–6
Weeks
Measured once the product is ready for testing. EQM takes longer because of the factory audit.
Heads up: The ECAS certificate is valid for one year and must be renewed annually, with the renewal filed at least one month before it expires to avoid a gap.
Timeline
How Long Does ECAS Certification Take?
Most ECAS certificates come through in a few weeks once testing is done. Lab availability and product complexity are what move the timeline.
- Identify the product standard and route
- Accredited lab testing against the standard
- Technical file and Declaration of Conformity
- MoIAT submission and Notified Body review
- Certificate of Conformity issued
- ECAS mark affixed and ready for customs
After Approval
What Happens After Certification ?
The ECAS Mark & Customs
Once certified, you must affix the ECAS mark with the Notified Body number to the product, clearly and where it will not be damaged.
The Certificate of Conformity is what customs checks at the border. Shipments arriving without a valid certificate are held, returned, or penalised.
Renewal & Compliance
An ECAS certificate runs for one year, so renewal needs to start before expiry. EQM licences run for three years.
Your product also stays subject to market surveillance. Riz & Mona Consultancy manages renewals and keeps your certificates valid so sales never stop.
Get Started
Get Your Products ECAS-Certified and Customs-Ready
Send us your product details and any test reports you hold. We will confirm the right standard and scheme, arrange what is missing, and take it through to a Certificate of Conformity.
Free product scope check•ECAS and EQM handled•Accredited testing arranged•Personalized cost quote
Riz & Mona Consultancy provides a tailored quote based on your specific products, testing needs, and scheme.