September 01, 2026
The UAE's IT and digital transformation sector just got a major upgrade. On February 12, 2026, PeopleCert officially launched ITIL® Version 5 (ITIL V5), the biggest revision to the ITIL framework since ITIL 4 in 2019. For IT professionals across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah — three of the region's fastest-growing digital economies — this certification is quickly becoming a career essential.
At THE HUB OF KNOWLEDGE, our ITIL V5 Certification Training is built for professionals across the UAE who want to stay ahead of this shift, whether you're new to ITSM or upgrading from ITIL 4.
Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah are home to some of the world's most ambitious digital government and smart city initiatives — from Dubai's Smart City strategy to Abu Dhabi's TAMM digital services platform and Sharjah's growing tech and free-zone ecosystem. These initiatives depend on organizations that can manage digital products and services at scale, with AI woven into everyday operations. ITIL V5 was built for exactly this environment, making it directly relevant to government entities, banks, telecom providers, free zone companies, and enterprises across all three emirates.
ITIL V5 is an evolution, not a replacement, of ITIL 4. It expands the framework's scope from traditional IT service management to full digital product and service management, reflecting how organizations in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah actually operate today — with AI, automation, agile teams, and always-on digital products at the center of value delivery.
Your existing ITIL 4 knowledge and certification remain valid, and PeopleCert has confirmed both frameworks will run in parallel for at least 12 months, with no retirement date announced for ITIL 4. That said, professionals starting their ITSM journey now should go directly to ITIL V5.
Our UAE-based training program covers every major update in depth:
1. The Product and Service Lifecycle Model (PSLM) ITIL 4's six-activity Service Value Chain has been replaced by an eight-activity, iterative model: Discover, Design, Acquire, Build, Transition, Operate, Deliver, and Support. Teams move between these activities based on real work needs, mirroring how Agile and DevOps teams across UAE enterprises already function. The PSLM underpins roughly 40% of the Foundation exam.
2. Built-In AI Governance ITIL V5 introduces the AI Capability Model (the 6C Model) — Creation, Curation, Clarification, Cognition, Communication, and Coordination — giving organizations a structured way to adopt AI responsibly. This is especially relevant as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah continue rolling out national and emirate-level AI strategies.
3. A Shift in Exam Focus In ITIL 4, step-by-step knowledge of practices like incident and change management made up over 40% of the Foundation exam. In ITIL V5, that number drops to zero at the Foundation level. Instead, nearly 30% of the exam tests core terminology, with the Service Value System carrying the single largest weight.
4. Expanded Practice Structure The 34 management practices and seven guiding principles from ITIL 4 remain, but are now reorganized into two groups — Product and Service Management Practices, and General Management Practices.
5. Mandatory Renewal Cycle Every ITIL V5 certificate now comes with a three-year renewal requirement, maintained through PeopleCert's CPD program.
Our ITIL V5 training is designed for:
1. What is ITIL V5? ITIL V5 (ITIL Version 5) is the latest evolution of the ITIL framework, officially launched by PeopleCert on February 12, 2026. It expands ITIL's scope from IT service management to full digital product and service management, with AI governance built into the framework.
2. Is ITIL V5 different from ITIL 4? Yes. ITIL V5 replaces the ITIL 4 Service Value Chain with the eight-activity Product and Service Lifecycle Model (PSLM), introduces the AI Capability Model, shifts exam focus away from detailed practice workflows toward terminology and the Service Value System, and adds a mandatory three-year certificate renewal cycle.
3. Is my existing ITIL 4 certification still valid? Yes. ITIL 4 certifications remain valid, and PeopleCert has confirmed both frameworks will run in parallel for at least 12 months, with no retirement date announced for ITIL 4.
4. Should I start with ITIL 4 or go directly to ITIL V5? If you're starting your ITSM certification journey from scratch, go directly to ITIL V5, since it is now the current framework and the one most UAE employers are shifting their requirements toward.
5. What is the ITIL V5 Foundation exam format? The ITIL V5 Foundation exam (code ITILFND V5) consists of 40 multiple-choice questions, is closed-book, runs 60 minutes, and requires a 65% pass mark (26 out of 40 correct).
6. What is the Bridge path for ITIL 4 holders? The Bridge path is a shorter, reduced-scope module designed for professionals who already hold ITIL 4 Foundation, letting them upgrade to ITIL V5 without retaking the full Foundation course.
7. How long is an ITIL V5 certificate valid? ITIL V5 certificates are valid for three years, after which they must be renewed through PeopleCert's CPD program, a new ITIL module, or a retake of the same exam.
8. What is the PSLM in ITIL V5? The Product and Service Lifecycle Model (PSLM) is ITIL V5's replacement for the Service Value Chain. It has eight iterative activities — Discover, Design, Acquire, Build, Transition, Operate, Deliver, and Support — and underpins around 40% of the Foundation exam.
9. What is the AI Capability Model in ITIL V5? Also called the 6C Model, it covers Creation, Curation, Clarification, Cognition, Communication, and Coordination, giving organizations a structured approach to adopting AI responsibly across service and product delivery.
10. Who should take ITIL V5 Certification Training? It suits IT service desk analysts, service delivery and operations managers, digital product owners, project and transformation leaders, DevOps and Agile practitioners, and ITIL 4 holders looking to upgrade.
11. Does THE HUB OF KNOWLEDGE offer ITIL V5 training in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah? Yes. THE HUB OF KNOWLEDGE offers ITIL V5 Certification Training accessible to professionals across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah, with classroom and live online options.
12. Are corporate or group training options available? Yes. THE HUB OF KNOWLEDGE offers customized ITIL V5 group and corporate training for teams and organizations across all three emirates.
13. Why does ITIL V5 matter for professionals in the UAE specifically? Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah are all investing heavily in digital government and smart city initiatives, which depend on organizations that can manage digital products and AI-enabled services at scale — exactly what ITIL V5 was built for.
14. What's the difference in exam focus between ITIL 4 and ITIL V5? ITIL 4 spent over 40% of its Foundation exam on detailed, step-by-step knowledge of specific practices. ITIL V5 removes that entirely at the Foundation level and instead weights nearly 30% toward terminology and the largest single share toward the Service Value System.
15. Do the 34 ITIL management practices still apply in ITIL V5? Yes. The 34 management practices and seven guiding principles from ITIL 4 carry over into ITIL V5, though they are now reorganized into two groups: Product and Service Management Practices, and General Management Practices.
ITIL V5 is already the current global standard for digital product and service management, and UAE employers are moving quickly to adopt it. The professionals who certify early will be the ones leading this transition across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah — not catching up to it.
Enroll in ITIL V5 Certification Training at THE HUB OF KNOWLEDGE and build the skills, credentials, and confidence to thrive in the next generation of IT service management, wherever you are in the UAE.
Ready to get started? Contact THE HUB OF KNOWLEDGE today to learn about upcoming ITIL V5 batches in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah, corporate training options, and the ITIL 4-to-V5 Bridge path.
For Course Details:https://thehubofknowledge.com/training-courses/it-service-management/itil-v5-foundation-certification-training
Course Corporate Trainings: https://thehubofknowledge.com/onsite
For Enquiries: enquiries@thehubofknowledge.com
Latest Posts
Stay Updated
Get latest updates directly to your inbox.
Enquire Now
info@thehubofknowledge.com
