Required certification · United Arab Emirates
Ministry of Energy & Infrastructure (MOEI)
Federal registration and e-qualification of contractors for MOEI engineering projects
Market position
The Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MOEI) registers and e-qualifies consultants, contractors and suppliers to carry out its engineering projects. It also runs a separate, no-fee contractor registration for its housing assistance programme, so contractors can work for programme beneficiaries. MOEI qualification sits alongside emirate-level rules such as Dubai Municipality's Contractors Register, not in place of them.
United Arab Emirates-specific note
Federal and emirate-level registration are separate: MOEI e-qualification covers MOEI's own engineering projects, while contracting anywhere in Dubai also needs a trade licence and entry in Dubai Municipality's Contractors Register under Dubai Law No. 7 of 2025. Check the rules of each emirate you work in.
Pros
- + Qualifies consultants, contractors and suppliers for MOEI engineering projects
- + New registration AED 500 with no annual renewal fee, per MOEI's service listing
- + Separate no-fee registration to work on housing assistance programme projects
Cons
- − Only relevant if you bid for MOEI projects or housing assistance work
- − Does not replace emirate-level trade licensing or registration
- − MOEI's fee list includes an AED 500 annual fine (AED 100 for soil test consultants)
- − On 10 October 2026 both MOEI service pages said the service was temporarily suspended and pointed applicants to the MOEI call centre (8006634)
Typical United Arab Emirates pricing
E-qualification for MOEI engineering projects, per MOEI's service listing: new registration AED 500; annual renewal nil; certificate modification AED 250; annual fine AED 500 (AED 100 for soil test consultants). Contractor registration for the housing assistance programme: no fee.
Why this matters for United Arab Emirates trades
Under Dubai Law No. 7 of 2025, contracting work in Dubai needs a trade licence and entry in Dubai Municipality’s Contractors Register, while federal MOEI e-qualification covers only MOEI’s own engineering projects. VAT is 5%, with registration mandatory once taxable supplies and imports exceed AED 375,000 over 12 months. E-invoicing follows a decentralised model based on the OpenPeppol standard: under Ministerial Decision No. 244 of 2025, as amended by Ministerial Resolution No. 66 of 2026, each business appoints an Accredited Service Provider from the Ministry of Finance list (by 30 October 2026 for revenue of AED 50 million or more, implementing by 1 January 2027; by 31 March 2027 for smaller businesses, implementing by 1 July 2027). MOHRE sets Emiratisation targets for companies with 50 or more employees and for companies with 20-49 employees in 14 sectors, and in Abu Dhabi a building permit needs an Estidama Pearl rating (at least one Pearl for private projects, two for government-funded ones).
UAE construction and trades software selection is shaped by 5% VAT filed with the Federal Tax Authority through EmaraTax, the phased e-invoicing mandate run through accredited Peppol service providers (under Ministry of Finance decisions, businesses with revenue of AED 50 million or more implement it by 1 January 2027 and smaller businesses by 1 July 2027), MOHRE Emiratisation targets, separate regulatory systems in Dubai (Dubai Municipality’s Contractors Register and its BIM requirement for large and specialised buildings) and Abu Dhabi (DMT classification, permits and the Estidama Pearl rating), and AED pricing.
Frequently asked
Is Ministry of Energy & Infrastructure (MOEI) a good fit for United Arab Emirates trades?
The Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MOEI) registers and e-qualifies consultants, contractors and suppliers to carry out its engineering projects. It also runs a separate, no-fee contractor registration for its housing assistance programme, so contractors can work for programme beneficiaries. MOEI qualification sits alongside emirate-level rules such as Dubai Municipality's Contractors Register, not in place of them. Federal and emirate-level registration are separate: MOEI e-qualification covers MOEI's own engineering projects, while contracting anywhere in Dubai also needs a trade licence and entry in Dubai Municipality's Contractors Register under Dubai Law No. 7 of 2025. Check the rules of each emirate you work in.
What does Ministry of Energy & Infrastructure (MOEI) cost in United Arab Emirates?
E-qualification for MOEI engineering projects, per MOEI's service listing: new registration AED 500; annual renewal nil; certificate modification AED 250; annual fine AED 500 (AED 100 for soil test consultants). Contractor registration for the housing assistance programme: no fee. Pricing and availability can change by region; confirm current United Arab Emirates pricing on the vendor's site before committing.
Other United Arab Emirates vendors
Dubai Municipality (Contractor Licensing)
Required certification
UAE VAT (Federal Tax Authority)
Required certification
UAE E-Invoicing (Peppol)
Required certification
MOHRE & Emiratisation (Nafis)
Required certification
Abu Dhabi DMT & Estidama
Required certification
Dubai BIM Mandate
Required certification