ISO 22301:2019 Business Continuity Management Certification in Dubai & UAE

A cooling failure in a data hall, a supplier collapse, a cyber incident, a fire in a warehouse or a prolonged power cut: every organisation in Dubai eventually faces a disruption that tests how well it can keep delivering. ISO 22301 gives you a proven method to prepare, respond and recover. BRSM Global helps companies and public bodies in Dubai and across the UAE build a Business Continuity Management System (BCMS) and achieve independent certification.

Edition status (checked October 2026): ISO 22301:2019 is the current edition, with Amendment 1:2024 on climate action. A third edition (ISO/CD 22301) is at committee-draft stage only; it is under revision with no confirmed publication date.

What is ISO 22301 Business Continuity Certification?

ISO 22301:2019 specifies requirements to implement, maintain and continually improve a management system to protect against, reduce the likelihood of, prepare for, respond to and recover from disruptions when they arise. It is applicable to organisations of all sizes, types and sectors, and the requirements are generic so that you decide how to meet them for your own activities.

The heart of the standard is the business impact analysis (BIA) and risk assessment. The BIA identifies your prioritised activities, the impact of losing them over time, and the maximum tolerable period of disruption. From there you select continuity strategies and solutions, write business continuity plans and procedures, and test them through exercises. ISO 22301 sits alongside information security and IT service standards such as our ISO 27001 Information Security Certification and ISO 20000-1 IT Service Management Certification pages, and the risk thinking is similar to that described in quality mindset: connecting risk to opportunity.

Benefits of ISO 22301 for UAE Businesses

Faster, calmer recovery

Defined roles, plans and alternates mean that people know what to do, in what order, when something goes wrong.

Protection of critical services and revenue

Prioritising activities by impact keeps limited resources focused on what matters most.

Confidence for customers and regulators

Clients, lenders and authorities gain evidence that continuity is managed and tested rather than assumed.

Better understanding of dependencies

The BIA exposes single points of failure in suppliers, systems, sites and people.

Integration with other management systems

The shared structure makes it straightforward to integrate with ISO 27001, ISO 9001 and ISO 45001.

ISO 22301 Requirements

The standard requires you to demonstrate:

Context (clause 4): internal and external issues, interested parties, legal and regulatory requirements and BCMS scope.
Leadership (clause 5): a business continuity policy, assigned roles and visible management commitment.
Planning (clause 6): risks and opportunities, business continuity objectives and planning for changes to the BCMS.
Support (clause 7): resources, competence, awareness, communication and documented information.
Operation (clause 8): business impact analysis and risk assessment, business continuity strategies and solutions, plans and procedures, and exercise and testing programmes.
Performance evaluation and improvement (clauses 9 and 10): monitoring, internal audit, management review, corrective action and continual improvement.

ISO 22301 Certification Process: How BRSM Global Gets You Certified

Our approach follows the four-stage process that BRSM Global applies to every management system project: guidance, implementation, auditing and post-certification. For ISO 22301 certification, that translates into the following eight practical steps.

Step 1: Free consultation and scope definition

We start with a conversation about your business, sites, activities and customers. We confirm whether ISO 22301 fits your goals, define the scope of certification and agree a realistic timeline.

Step 2: Gap analysis

Our consultants compare your current practices, documents and records with the requirements of ISO 22301. You receive a clear gap report with priorities, so effort goes where it matters.

Step 3: Planning and fixed quote

Based on the gap analysis we prepare a project plan with responsibilities and milestones and a fixed written quote, so you know the investment before work begins.

Step 4: Documentation and implementation

We help you develop the policies, procedures, registers and records the standard requires, in plain language and sized to your organisation, and we help your team put them into daily practice. This is the 'Guidance' and 'Implementation' stage of our process.

Step 5: Training and awareness

Management and staff are trained on their responsibilities under ISO 22301. Where relevant we also train internal auditors, who will later audit your system.

Step 6: Internal audit and management review

Once the system has been operating, we help you run an internal audit and a management review. These are mandatory and give you the chance to fix weaknesses before the external auditors arrive.

Step 7: Certification audit support

The independent certification audit is carried out in two stages. Stage 1 reviews documentation and readiness. Stage 2 verifies implementation on site through interviews, observation and records. We prepare your team and support you during the audit; this is the 'Auditing' stage of our process. Our guide to preparing for a Stage 1 and Stage 2 audit explains what auditors look for.

Step 8: Certificate issue and post-certification support

After any nonconformities are closed, the certificate is issued, normally for three years with annual surveillance audits. We stay with you after certification, advising on changes, standard updates and surveillance audit preparation, which is our 'Post-certification' stage.

Documents Required for ISO 22301

Common documented information includes:

BCMS scope and business continuity policy
Business impact analysis results with recovery time objectives
Risk assessment and treatment records
Business continuity strategies and resource requirements
Incident response structure and business continuity plans
Communication and contact lists for staff, suppliers and authorities
Exercise and test programme, scenarios and post-exercise reports
Competence, training and awareness records
Internal audit and management review records
Corrective action and improvement records

How Long Does ISO 22301 Take?

A typical ISO 22301 project takes about 4 to 8 months. The business impact analysis and at least one exercise need to be completed before the certification audit, so timing depends on the number of departments, sites and critical processes in scope. Certification follows a two-stage audit, with a three-year certificate and annual surveillance audits.

Who Needs ISO 22301?

This is relevant to a wide range of organisations, including:

Data centres, cloud and managed service providers
Banks, insurers, exchanges and payment businesses
Utilities, telecoms and critical infrastructure operators
Healthcare providers and laboratories
Logistics, aviation, hospitality and large retail operators
Government departments and public bodies

ISO 22301 in Dubai and the UAE

The UAE has a national business continuity standard, AE/SCNS/NCEMA 7000, which applies to organisations across the country and requires them to be able to continue essential operations at defined minimum levels during disruption. Dubai government entities have published business continuity policies that refer to both ISO 22301 and the national standard, covering business impact analysis, recovery plans, testing, training and improvement.

ISO 22301 and the national standard are related but not identical, so organisations that must meet both should design one integrated system and keep evidence for each. Even outside regulated sectors, Dubai companies face real risks such as extreme heat affecting cooling and power, supply chain disruption and cyber incidents, and clients increasingly ask how those risks are managed. Our team can align your BCMS with your sector requirements and your other ISO systems.

Why Choose BRSM Global in Dubai & UAE?

Choosing the right partner is as important as choosing the right standard. BRSM Global is an international inspection, training and certification group with a one-stop approach to ISO and related certifications, and our Dubai team is close to your business.

Local presence in Dubai and the UAE

Our UAE office is at Executive Towers, Tower 1, Office 1102, Business Bay, Dubai. We meet you on site, understand local practice and respond quickly. We also have offices in Riyadh (Al Olaya, Al Faisaliah Tower) and Muscat (Al Khuwair), which helps if your organisation operates across the Gulf.

Proven experience

BRSM Global has completed more than 5,000 projects for over 2,500 clients in more than 10 countries, working with 20+ associations. Our consultants combine hands-on industry experience with deep knowledge of the standards.

Practical systems, not paperwork

We design systems that fit your size and your sector, so your team actually uses them. Explore our Information Technology sector page and our other industry sectors to see where we work.

Complete one-stop service

From gap analysis and documentation to training, internal audit, certification audit support and ongoing advice, one team supports you at every stage. You can read more about our company on the About Us page or browse practical insights on our blog.

Transparent and independent

We give you a fixed written quote after the gap analysis, explain what is included, and keep consultancy separate from the independent certification audit so that your certificate retains its credibility. Before you commit to any certification body, we recommend you verify its accreditation status for your scope.

Frequently Asked Questions About ISO 22301

What is ISO 22301?

The international standard for business continuity management systems, setting out how to prepare for, respond to and recover from disruptions.

Is ISO 22301 mandatory in the UAE?

There is a national business continuity standard that applies broadly, and Dubai government entities follow business continuity policies that reference ISO 22301. Whether certification itself is required depends on your sector and clients.

What is a business impact analysis?

A structured study that identifies your critical activities, the impact of losing them over time and the recovery priorities.

Do we have to run exercises?

Yes. The standard expects exercising and testing of your plans, and auditors will ask for the records.

How much does ISO 22301 certification cost in the UAE?

It depends on size, number of sites and complexity. We quote after a scoping review.

How is ISO 22301 different from disaster recovery?

Disaster recovery usually refers to restoring IT systems. Business continuity covers all resources needed to keep services running, including people, premises, suppliers and technology.

Related Services

Many organisations combine standards in one integrated management system. You may also be interested in:

For practical background reading, see quality mindset: connecting risk to opportunity and how to prepare for a Stage 1 and Stage 2 audit.

Get Your ISO 22301 Certification with BRSM Global

Ready to start your ISO 22301 journey in Dubai or anywhere in the UAE? Tell us about your business and we will respond with a gap analysis plan and a fixed quote.