ESMA is a Federal UAE Authority, established by UAE Federal Law (28), 2001. As the only reference in UAE in terms of quality standards, ESMA's strategy aims at supporting the national economy by establishing a new era of excellence and quality.

The main goals of ESMA are securing protection for health, economy and environment, supporting the national economy, being in line with the scientific progress of standards and quality management control, and making use of every possible method to educate people about standardization and metrology activities. These activities are achieved through Standards, Metrology, Accreditation, Conformity Assessment, Information Center, HR & Finance Departments in addition to the Technical Office.

ESMA's fields of specializations are preparing, approving, publishing, reviewing, modifying, issuing and adapting standards and technical regulations, and establishing a national measurement system (NMS) in the country. ESMA will establish a national metrology institute (NMI) and activate the legal metrology activities in the UAE.