Federal Government Procurement Procedures Guide Launched To Enhance Efficiency And Compliance In UAE

The Ministry of Finance has introduced the Federal Government Procurement Procedures Guide to streamline procurement processes and enhance efficiency across federal entities.

This guide aims to ensure compliance with the Government Procurement Law, promoting transparency and integrity in operations. During a media briefing in Dubai, the ministry also unveiled the Delegation of Authority Matrix, which clarifies responsibilities and improves procedural effectiveness.

The newly launched guide aligns with Federal Law No. 11 of 2023 on procurement within the federal government. It offers a detailed roadmap for procurement processes, aiming to improve operational efficiency while adhering to high standards of transparency. The guide introduces cost-effective measures and automation to optimise spending and maximise financial resource impact.

The guide includes significant updates such as creating a Procurement Centre of Excellence and establishing a governance framework that defines roles within federal entities. It outlines automation frameworks for procurement processes and provides guidelines on conduct and professional ethics for employees and suppliers.

Younis Haji AlKhoori, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, highlighted their commitment to fostering a regulatory environment that supports transparency and efficiency in government procurement.

He stated, "At the Ministry of Finance, we are committed to providing an environment that promotes high efficiency and transparency in government procurement processes, ensuring fairness for all stakeholders. These efforts not only support national projects, SMEs, and the National Content Program but also contribute to achieving sustainability goals, which are a top priority for the UAE government."

Aligned with global best practices, the updated Delegation of Authority Matrix ensures legal compliance and strong governance. It enhances oversight while allowing flexibility for updates to meet evolving needs. This matrix enables rapid decision-making during emergencies, strengthening innovation within the federal government.

The Ministry has also announced major updates to procurement laws focusing on innovation, local business growth, and environmental sustainability. These amendments aim to create a business-friendly environment supporting national companies and SMEs while contributing to building a sustainable economy driven by innovation.

Article (16) of the executive regulations emphasises adopting green procurement as a core principle in government purchasing. Federal entities must prioritise sustainable products whenever possible to meet operational needs while promoting environmental preservation. The guide outlines guidelines integrating environmental objectives with procurement policies.

The ministry stressed that new updates establish clear sustainability standards in purchasing digital products and services. Regulations encourage prioritising SMEs, local suppliers, Emiratisation policies, green businesses, and sustainable initiatives to reduce carbon emissions.

Article 28 establishes innovation as a key evaluation criterion in bid assessments to promote creativity in government procurement. This policy encourages suppliers to propose innovative solutions enhancing efficiency while maximising value aligned with modern technologies driving sustainable development.

The Digital Procurement Platform was highlighted during the briefing for its positive impact on efficiency by reducing timelines from 60 days to 6 minutes. It supports sustainability by saving over 1 million pages annually while strengthening SME access through equal opportunities.

The platform currently offers 34 categories with 120,000 products/services available from over 300 catalogue-listed suppliers alongside 5,800 registered suppliers in the federal registry.

Mariam Mohammed Hassan Al Amiri joined Younis Haji AlKhoori at the briefing along with senior officials discussing steps taken under Federal Law No. 11 of 2023 towards enhancing transparency/efficiency through executive regulations implementation.

AlKhoori urged entities/suppliers regularly review legislation/procedures guides/delegation matrices stressing importance adhering provisions meeting shared goals: "Applying these standards effectively will accelerate project timelines enhance operational quality push us closer achieving national goals."

With inputs from WAM