The UAE Ministry of Finance’s introduction of the Digital Procurement Platform in 2021 has radically changed the procurement experience for federal entities and suppliers, aiming to align purchasing policies with the UAE Digital Government Strategy 2025.

Over the past few years, the platform has significantly contributed to connecting federal entities with suppliers, facilitating communication through an integrated network that enhances the transparency of purchasing operations conducted by federal entities.

This results from integrating the best technological and commercial practices, hence increasing the importance of the Federal Suppliers Register within the Digital Procurement Platform that connects government entities with suppliers.

The number of suppliers registered in the Federal Suppliers Register within the Digital Procurement Platform reached 24,789 in Q1 2024, a notable increase compared to the year 2021 when the register started with 19,669 suppliers, increasing to 21,997 in 2022, and then to 24,418 by the end of 2023. The UAE Ministry of Finance aims to streamline procurement procedures for federal entities through DPP. This includes expanding the Federal Suppliers Register, reducing the overall process from 60 days to six minutes, introducing new practices such as electronic signatures and online contracts, and involving all stakeholders in the procurement of products or services to achieve efficiency and effectiveness. It also ensures flexibility in responding to market changes and securing competitive prices and offers.

A special link on the government procurement platform allows companies to register and update their information electronically, qualifying them to participate in tenders offered by the federal government.

SimplificationThe Federal Suppliers Register aims to simplify the client’s journey. The Ministry of Finance has provided a registration service on the homepage of its website to facilitate registration, reduce the number of required attachments, and simplify the procedures of the Federal Suppliers Register. Recently, it launched an updated catalogue of the digital procurement platform, now encompassing 35 categories with more than 120,000 products and services offered by 230 suppliers.

The Central Procurement Unit negotiates with these suppliers to secure the best prices for federal entities, benefiting joint work development and facilitating the user experience by pre-emptively knowing and fulfilling their needs, achieving excellence in government services. This aligns with the UAE Digital Government Strategy 2025, the UAE Strategy for Government Services, and other strategies for government services and digital transformation.