Certification Introduction
To enter the local market of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), electronic and electrical products must obtain mandatory certification under the ECAS (Emirates Conformity Assessment Scheme). The scheme is led by the Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology (ESMA) and regulated by the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT), and it is a statutory access requirement for product customs clearance and market launch. Certified products can be affixed with the ECAS conformity mark, and certification results are mutually recognized by member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
Laws and Regulations
- The core legal basis is UAE Federal Law No. 28, which clearly prohibits the import and market sales of electronic and electrical products without valid conformity certification
- ECAS certification rules are formulated and released by ESMA, and MoIAT is responsible for updating conformity assessment requirements and implementing market supervision
- Electronic and electrical products with wireless functions must additionally meet the registration requirements of the UAE Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA), which is an independent mandatory procedure
Technical Requirements
- Electrical safety: Audio/video and information technology products shall comply with IEC 62368-1:2018 or higher versions; household appliances shall comply with standards such as GSO IEC 60335 and GSO 449
- Electromagnetic compatibility: Products shall meet the emission and immunity requirements specified in the GSO 2530 standard
- Restriction of hazardous substances: All categories of electronic and electrical products shall meet RoHS requirements, which regulate 10 hazardous substances, and limit values shall comply with the IEC 62321 test standard
- Energy efficiency requirements: High-energy-consuming products such as air conditioners, refrigerators and washing machines shall be affixed with the new version of EESL energy efficiency label, which marks a 1-5 star energy efficiency level and is displayed in both Arabic and English. Some products are required to integrate an RFID chip
- Other: Plugs shall comply with the GSO 2203 Type G standard to adapt to the local 220-240V/50Hz power supply requirements
Certification Process
- Confirm product category and corresponding applicable standards; non-UAE local enterprises must appoint a local authorized representative
- Prepare complete technical documents, including product circuit diagrams, BOM lists, Arabic instruction manuals, authorization letters, etc.
- Select an ESMA-accredited laboratory to complete the corresponding project tests; unqualified products need to be rectified before re-submitting samples for testing
- Submit application materials and test reports through the ESMA official online system and pay the certification fee
- After passing the review, the ECAS certificate is obtained, certified products can be affixed with the conformity mark and launched on the market. The certificate shall accept annual supervision audit as required and be renewed upon expiration.
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