Scope type and asset count
External network, internal network, web app, mobile, API, wireless, or red team — each has a different day-rate baseline. Asset count (live IPs, URLs, endpoints) multiplies the tester-day estimate.
Pen Testing Cost Guide · Abu Dhabi
Penetration Testing Cost & Scope Guide — Abu Dhabi
A transparent breakdown of what shapes penetration testing pricing in Abu Dhabi — scope type, methodology, tester certifications, retest cycles — and where Emirtech fits as your remediation and evidence partner rather than the testing firm.
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In short: This guide, “Penetration Testing Cost & Scope Guide”, explains what drives the cost. Ranges, where shown, are indicative planning figures, not a quotation or an Emirtech price list; a written, itemised quotation follows a survey or assessment.
Penetration Testing Cost & Scope Guide: key facts
| Published by | Published by Emirtech Technology, an independent integrator in Mussafah, Abu Dhabi, in operation since 2018. |
|---|---|
| Where? | Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, served from Emirtech's Mussafah, Abu Dhabi base; there is no Al Ain office. In Dubai: IT AMC and time attendance by scheduled on-site visits, gate barriers, ANPR, video intercoms and turnstiles by Emirtech itself; CCTV, alarm and access control through SIRA-approved partners, with Emirtech coordinating. |
| Survey and quotation | Emirtech publishes no price list. Any ranges on this page are indicative planning figures, not a quotation; a written, itemised quotation follows a survey or assessment. |
| Credentials | Emirtech is an independent systems integrator. It holds no manufacturer-level credential of its own, and its ADMCC approval covers security systems only, not IT services. |
| Last reviewed | 21 October 2026 |
How much does a penetration test cost in Abu Dhabi, and what drives the price?
Penetration testing pricing in Abu Dhabi is driven by eight measurable variables: scope type (external network, internal network, web application, mobile application, API, wireless, social engineering, or full red team), asset count (number of live IPs, URLs, endpoints, or staff in scope), methodology (OWASP WSTG / ASVS for web, OWASP MASVS for mobile, PTES for network, OSSTMM for infrastructure), tester certification level (CEH for baseline, OSCP / OSCE for hands-on offensive, CREST CRT / GIAC GPEN for regulated work), report depth (executive summary plus technical findings with CVSS v3.1 scoring and reproduction steps), retest cost (usually a fraction of the original engagement, scoped to verified fixes), remediation support, and vulnerability management follow-up. Compliance drivers also shape pricing: PCI DSS requires annual external penetration tests and segmentation testing, ISO 27001 Annex A.8.8 requires technical vulnerability management evidence, ADHICS applies for Abu Dhabi healthcare entities, and UAE PDPL Article 20 demands appropriate technical safeguards. Critical honest scope: Emirtech Technology is not a penetration testing firm and we do not hold CREST, OSCP, CEH, or GIAC GPEN credentials as a company. We engage CREST-accredited or CEH/OSCP-certified pen testing firms on the customer's behalf, manage the procurement, scoping workshops, rules-of-engagement document, and then deliver the technical evidence layer and remediation — patching, hardening, network segmentation, CCTV/access-control configuration fixes, and re-engagement for retest. Emirtech is ADMCC-approved for regulated electronic security work, founded in 2018, and operates from M44, Mussafah Industrial Area, Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi and Al Ain are our priority areas, and in Dubai: IT AMC and time attendance by scheduled on-site visits, gate barriers, ANPR, video intercoms and turnstiles by Emirtech itself, and CCTV, alarm and access control through SIRA-approved partners, with Emirtech coordinating; we do not mobilise to Sharjah or the Northern Emirates. For a transparent scope-and-budget conversation that separates testing fees from remediation effort, call +971 55 651 7843 or email [email protected] and we will help you structure a proposal that satisfies your auditor without paying for credentials we cannot legitimately claim.
What drives penetration testing cost
Cost factors at a glance
Methodology and rigour
OWASP WSTG and ASVS for web, OWASP MASVS for mobile, PTES for network, OSSTMM for infrastructure. Deeper methodology with manual exploitation costs more than automated scanning dressed up as a pen test.
Tester certification level
CEH for baseline awareness, OSCP and OSCE for hands-on offensive work, CREST CRT and GIAC GPEN for regulated or PCI-scope engagements. Certification level directly correlates with day rate.
Report, retest, remediation
Executive summary plus technical findings with CVSS v3.1 scoring, retest (typically priced below the original fee), and post-test vulnerability management follow-up all sit outside the headline testing day rate.
Where Emirtech fits — evidence and remediation, not the test itself
We are ADMCC-approved for regulated electronic security work in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. We are not a penetration testing firm, not CREST-accredited, and our staff do not hold OSCP, CEH, or GIAC GPEN credentials as a corporate offering. What we deliver is the layer either side of the test: scoping support, vendor selection from CREST/OSCP-credentialed firms, rules-of-engagement, and the remediation effort that closes findings. Call +971 55 651 7843 or request a free penetration testing scoping consultation.
- External network pen test — public IP ranges, perimeter firewalls, exposed services, VPN concentrators, mail relays
- Internal network pen test — segmentation testing, lateral movement, Active Directory hardening, Kerberos and NTLM relay checks
- Web application pen test — OWASP Top 10, ASVS Level 2 verification, authenticated and unauthenticated paths, session and authorisation testing
- Mobile application pen test — OWASP MASVS L1/L2, static and dynamic analysis, certificate pinning, secure storage, IPC
- API pen test — REST and GraphQL, OWASP API Top 10, BOLA, mass assignment, rate limiting, JWT handling
- Wireless pen test — corporate WPA2/WPA3 Enterprise, rogue AP detection, guest network isolation, evil twin and KARMA attacks
- Social engineering — phishing simulation with click and credential capture metrics, vishing, USB drop, tailgating walk-throughs
- Red team and assumed-breach — multi-vector engagement against a defined trophy with MITRE ATT&CK mapping
- Physical-electronic security testing — CCTV blind-spot mapping, access control tailgating, intruder alarm bypass scenarios
- PCI DSS scope segmentation testing — annual external pen test plus segmentation verification for merchants and service providers
- ISO 27001 Annex A.8.8 evidence pack — technical vulnerability management records and remediation tracker
- Retest engagement — scoped to verified fixes only, priced below the original test fee, fresh report stamped with closed/open status
Compliance drivers behind the test
Why auditors ask for it
PCI DSS annual external test
PCI DSS v4.0.1 Requirement 11.4 mandates annual external and internal penetration testing plus segmentation testing every six months for service providers. Scope must cover the cardholder data environment and all connected systems.
ISO 27001 Annex A.8.8
ISO 27001:2022 Annex A.8.8 requires management of technical vulnerabilities, evidenced through scanning and, where your risk assessment calls for it, pen testing on a defined cadence. Auditors expect dated reports, CVSS scoring, and a remediation tracker.
ADHICS for Abu Dhabi healthcare
Abu Dhabi Healthcare Information and Cyber Security Standard expects periodic technical testing for facilities under DoH. Emirtech is not an accredited ADHICS auditor — we coordinate the testing firm and deliver the technical remediation evidence.
UAE PDPL technical safeguards
Federal Decree-Law 45 of 2021 Article 20 requires appropriate technical and organisational measures. Pen testing produces defensible evidence of measure effectiveness, complementing the controls you have implemented.
Scope — what we deliver and explicitly do not
Penetration testing is a high-trust engagement and customers deserve a clear line between the testing firm, the certification bodies, and the integrator who will fix what the test finds. Emirtech sits on the integrator side, and this is exactly what that means in practice.
- We deliver: scoping workshops, vendor selection from CREST/OSCP-credentialed pen testing firms, rules-of-engagement documentation, procurement support, post-test remediation across electronic security and network infrastructure we have installed, retest coordination, and a remediation tracker mapped to ISO 27001 Annex A.8.8 or PCI DSS evidence requirements.
- We do not deliver: the penetration test itself, exploit development, custom payload writing, OSCP-style hands-on offensive engagements, red team operator services, CREST-stamped reports, or any deliverable that requires CREST/OSCP/CEH/GIAC certification of the testing party.
- We are not: a CREST-accredited penetration testing firm, an EC-Council ATC, an Offensive Security partner, a GIAC-accredited training provider, a UAE Cyber Security Council accredited consultancy, a SIRA-licensed Dubai integrator, or a 24/7 SOC operator.
- We are not affiliated with: CREST (Council of Registered Ethical Security Testers), EC-Council (CEH), Offensive Security (OSCP/OSCE), GIAC (GPEN), SANS Institute, NCC Group, Trustwave, Rapid7, Synack, Bugcrowd, HackerOne, or any specific UAE penetration testing firm. We hold no manufacturer-level credential of our own.
- Geographic scope is Abu Dhabi and Al Ain only for regulated electronic security work. In Dubai: IT AMC and time attendance by scheduled on-site visits, gate barriers, ANPR, video intercoms and turnstiles by Emirtech itself, and CCTV, alarm and access control through SIRA-approved partners, with Emirtech coordinating; Abu Dhabi and Al Ain remain our priority areas, and we do not mobilise to Sharjah or the Northern Emirates. We do not hold SIRA approval; SIRA-regulated security work in Dubai (CCTV, alarm and access control) is delivered through SIRA-approved partners, with Emirtech coordinating.
- Reporting expectations: the testing firm produces the executive summary and CVSS v3.1-scored technical findings; Emirtech produces the remediation evidence pack (configuration screenshots, change tickets, retest scope letter) that auditors actually file.
If a vendor offers you a CREST-stamped report without CREST accreditation, walk away. Honest scope is cheaper than an audit failure six months later.
Common questions
FAQs
Is Emirtech a CREST-accredited or OSCP-certified penetration testing firm?
No. Emirtech is not CREST-accredited and does not hold OSCP, CEH, OSCE, or GIAC GPEN credentials as a corporate offering. We are an ADMCC-approved electronic security integrator. For pen testing we engage CREST-accredited or OSCP/CEH-certified firms on the customer's behalf and focus our delivery on scoping, vendor selection, and post-test remediation.
What does a typical Abu Dhabi pen test actually cost?
Day rates from CREST/OSCP-credentialed firms in the region typically vary materially based on tester seniority and methodology depth, with engagements scaling from a handful of tester-days for a small external test to several weeks for a full red team. We will not quote firm figures here because honest scoping requires the asset inventory and methodology decision first. Emirtech presents testing-firm quotes alongside our remediation estimate so you see the full picture.
Does PCI DSS really require an annual external penetration test?
Yes. PCI DSS v4.0.1 Requirement 11.4 mandates annual external and internal penetration testing, plus segmentation testing every six months for service providers and annually for merchants. The test must cover the cardholder data environment and any connected systems, and it must be performed by a qualified internal resource or qualified external party.
What is the difference between a vulnerability scan and a penetration test?
A vulnerability scan is an automated identification of known weaknesses against a signature database, typically priced per asset and run monthly or quarterly. A penetration test is a manual or hybrid exercise where a certified tester attempts to exploit identified weaknesses and chain them into business impact. PCI DSS requires both, and ISO 27001 and ADHICS expect technical vulnerability management and testing as the risk assessment requires; a scan is not a substitute for a pen test, or the reverse.
Can Emirtech handle the remediation if the pen test finds issues in our CCTV, access control, or network kit?
Yes — this is exactly the layer we deliver. For systems Emirtech has installed (Bosch, Hanwha Wisenet, Genetec, Aruba, Cisco, Control4) we will close findings through firmware upgrades, hardening configuration, network segmentation, credential rotation, and retest coordination. We deliver the change tickets and configuration evidence your auditor will file.
How do I request a pen testing scoping quote from Emirtech?
Call +971 55 651 7843, email [email protected], or use the request a quotation form. Share your asset count, compliance driver (PCI DSS, ISO 27001, ADHICS, PDPL), and target test window. We will respond with a transparent two-part proposal: the third-party testing firm's quote, and our remediation and project-management estimate, with no hidden margin claims about credentials we do not hold.
Pen Testing Cost Guide · Abu Dhabi
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