ISO/IEC 27001:2022 · Mainland Dubai and the free zones
ISO 27001 Certification in Dubai
Intello’s ISO 27001 consultants in Dubai take you from first gap assessment to a certificate. We build the information security management system (ISMS) with your team, prepare you for the certification body’s audit and stay with you until you pass.
- Certified lead auditors
- 500+ clients
- 99% client satisfaction
What is ISO 27001 certification?
ISO/IEC 27001 is the international standard for an information security management system (ISMS). Certification means an independent, accredited certification body has audited your ISMS and confirmed it meets the standard. The certificate is valid for three years, with a surveillance audit every year.
| Current version | ISO/IEC 27001:2022. Certificates to the 2013 version expired after the transition deadline of 31 October 2025 |
|---|---|
| Annex A | 93 controls in four themes: organisational, people, physical and technological |
| Who certifies | An accredited certification body, for example one accredited by EIAC in the UAE or another IAF member. Consultants prepare you; they cannot certify you |
| Audits | Stage 1 (documents and readiness) and Stage 2 (controls working in practice), then yearly surveillance audits |
| Typical timeline | 3 to 6 months for most small and mid-sized companies |
| Where we work | From our Dubai office in Al Qusais, on site anywhere in Dubai and remotely |
ISO 27001 for Dubai businesses
Most Dubai companies seek ISO 27001 because someone asks for it: a tender, a bank, an enterprise client or a regulator. We scope your ISMS around that need.
Government and semi-government suppliers
Dubai tenders and large contracts often ask for ISO 27001 as proof of security. Dubai government entities themselves follow the Dubai Electronic Security Center’s Information Security Regulation, which works well alongside an ISO 27001 ISMS.
DIFC firms
Financial firms regulated by the DFSA use ISO 27001 to show a structured approach to cyber risk. See our DFSA compliance service.
Dubai Internet City and Dubai Silicon Oasis
SaaS and tech companies selling to enterprises in the Gulf, Europe and beyond, often alongside SOC 2.
DMCC and JAFZA
Trading, logistics and manufacturing firms whose international partners ask for certified information security.
Dubai Healthcare City and healthcare providers
Clinics and health tech firms that hold patient data and want a recognised security framework.
Critical sector suppliers
Companies that also need UAE IA (NESA) compliance in Dubai, where much of the ISO 27001 work can be reused.
Also available: ISO 27001 in Abu Dhabi · ISO 27001 in Sharjah · ISO 27001 across the UAE
Is ISO 27001 right for your company?
ISO 27001 is usually worth it if any of these apply to you:
- A tender, enterprise client or bank has asked for an ISO 27001 certificate
- You hold client, customer or patient data and need to prove it is protected
- You sell outside the UAE and buyers send long security questionnaires
- You are regulated in DIFC, or you supply government or critical-sector organisations
- You want one framework that also supports UAE PDPL, UAE IA and SOC 2 work
- You hold an ISO 27001:2013 certificate that was not moved to the 2022 version
ISO 27001 is not a general legal requirement in the UAE. Most companies get certified because their clients and contracts require it. We will tell you in the first call whether it is the right framework for your goal.
What ISO 27001 certification involves
The standard has two parts: the management system in clauses 4 to 10, and the Annex A controls you choose based on your risks.
Scope and context
Decide which parts of the business, locations and systems the ISMS covers, and which interested parties and requirements it must meet (clause 4).
Leadership and policy
Management commitment, an information security policy, and clear roles and responsibilities (clause 5).
Risk assessment and treatment
A repeatable method to identify, assess and treat information security risks, recorded in a risk register and treatment plan (clauses 6 and 8).
Statement of Applicability
A list of all 93 Annex A controls, showing which apply to you, why, and how each is implemented.
Controls in practice
Access control, supplier security, secure development, backups, logging, incident management and more, working and evidenced, not only written down.
Awareness and competence
Staff training and awareness so people know their part in the ISMS (clause 7).
Internal audit and management review
An internal audit of the whole ISMS and a management review before the certification audit (clause 9).
Continual improvement
Fixing nonconformities and improving the ISMS over time, which the yearly surveillance audits check (clause 10).
How we get you ISO 27001 certified
A fixed path, so you always know where you are and what comes next.
- 1
Gap call and scoping
We agree the scope of the ISMS, your deadline and what is driving the certificate, such as a tender date.
Week 0 · free
- 2
Gap assessment
Your current practice measured against every clause and all 93 Annex A controls, with a prioritised plan.
Weeks 1–2
- 3
Risk assessment and ISMS design
Asset and risk register, risk treatment plan, Statement of Applicability and the policy set, written with your team.
Weeks 2–5
- 4
Implementation
Controls put into practice and evidence collected. We work alongside your IT and business teams, including penetration testing where needed.
Weeks 4–14
- 5
Internal audit and management review
A full internal audit by our lead auditors, then a management review, so issues are fixed before the certification body arrives.
2–3 weeks before the audit
- 6
Certification audit support
We help you choose an accredited certification body, prepare your team and support you through both audit stages until the certificate is issued.
Stage 1 and Stage 2
Most small and mid-sized Dubai companies reach certification in three to six months.
What you get
- Gap assessment report against ISO 27001:2022
- ISMS scope statement and context analysis
- Risk assessment method, risk register and treatment plan
- Statement of Applicability for all 93 Annex A controls
- Information security policy and supporting policies and procedures
- Staff awareness training
- Internal audit report and management review records
- Support during the Stage 1 and Stage 2 audits
- Plan for yearly surveillance audits
Choose how we work with you
Gap assessment
1–2 weeksBest for: Knowing how far you are from certification
- · Clause and control review
- · Gap report
- · Roadmap and estimate
Full ISO 27001 implementation
3–6 monthsBest for: Getting certified end to end
- · ISMS build and documentation
- · Internal audit
- · Certification audit support
Ongoing ISMS support
YearlyBest for: Staying certified year after year
- · Internal audits
- · Surveillance audit support
- · Policy and risk register updates
Have a tender or client deadline?
Tell us the date. A 30-minute call is enough to tell you whether it is realistic and what it will take.
ISO 27001 consultant vs certification body
Both are involved in getting certified, but they cannot be the same company. Independence rules stop a certification body from certifying a system it helped build.
| Consultant (Intello) | Accredited certification body | |
|---|---|---|
| Role | Builds and prepares your ISMS with you | Audits your ISMS independently |
| Output | Policies, risk register, Statement of Applicability, internal audit | The ISO 27001 certificate |
| When | Before and between audits | Stage 1, Stage 2 and yearly surveillance audits |
| Can it certify you? | No | Yes, if accredited, for example by EIAC or another IAF member |
What affects the cost of ISO 27001 in Dubai
You get a written scope and a fixed fee after the gap call. These are the factors that move it:
- Company size
- The number of staff, departments and teams inside the ISMS scope.
- Locations
- Each office, data centre or free zone entity in scope adds work.
- Systems and suppliers
- The number of applications, cloud services and critical suppliers to cover.
- Starting point
- Existing policies, SOC 2 or UAE IA work can be reused, which shortens the project.
- Deadline
- A fixed tender or client date may need more consultant time each week.
- Certification body fees
- Paid directly to the certification body, separate from our fees. We help you compare quotes.
Why Dubai companies choose Intello for ISO 27001
23+
years in UAE cybersecurity
500+
clients served
99%
client satisfaction
Lead auditor experience. Our consultants know what certification auditors look for, so there are fewer surprises at Stage 2.
Security and compliance in one team. We can also test and fix the technical controls, not only write the policies.
Built to be reused. Your ISMS is designed to support UAE PDPL, UAE IA and SOC 2, so you do not do the same work twice.
Dubai-based. Workshops on site at your office anywhere in Dubai, and remote work in between.
Frequently asked questions
How much does ISO 27001 certification cost in Dubai?
There are two costs: the consultant’s fee to build and prepare your ISMS, and the certification body’s fee for the audits. Both depend on your company size, the number of locations and systems in scope, and how much is already in place. We give a fixed consulting fee after a free gap call and help you compare certification body quotes.
How long does it take to get ISO 27001 certified?
Most small and mid-sized companies in Dubai take three to six months from the gap assessment to the certificate. Larger organisations, several locations or a low starting point can take longer. A firm deadline, such as a tender date, can be planned for from day one.
Is ISO 27001 mandatory in the UAE?
No general law requires it. Companies get certified because tenders, enterprise clients, banks and regulators ask for it, or to show a structured approach to information security. Some sector frameworks, such as the UAE IA Standard, cover similar ground, and an ISO 27001 ISMS makes those easier to meet.
Can Intello certify us?
No, and no consultant should. Certification must come from an independent, accredited certification body, which audits the ISMS that we help you build. We help you choose a body accredited by EIAC or another IAF member and support you through both audit stages.
What is the difference between ISO 27001:2013 and ISO 27001:2022?
The 2022 version reorganised Annex A from 114 controls in 14 domains to 93 controls in four themes, and added 11 new controls, including threat intelligence, cloud services security and secure coding. The transition deadline was 31 October 2025, so certificates to the 2013 version are no longer valid.
How long is an ISO 27001 certificate valid?
Three years. The certification body runs a surveillance audit in the first and second years, and a recertification audit in the third year to renew the certificate.
Do we need a penetration test for ISO 27001?
The standard does not name penetration testing, but control 8.8 requires you to manage technical vulnerabilities, and auditors expect evidence that you test your controls. A recent independent test is the usual evidence. We can run it as part of the project.
Does ISO 27001 help with the UAE PDPL and UAE IA?
Yes. The risk assessment, policies, access control, incident management and supplier controls in an ISO 27001 ISMS cover a large part of what the UAE PDPL and the UAE IA Standard expect. We map the overlap so you can reuse the work.
Related services
Start your ISO 27001 certification
Tell us a little about your company and your deadline. We will set up a free 30-minute gap call.
What happens next
- 1We get in touch to arrange a call
- 2A 30-minute gap call
- 3A written scope, timeline and fixed fee
Prefer to talk now? Call +971 55 355 6787