If you’re preparing for the UAE’s e-invoicing rollout, choosing the right UAE e-invoicing Accredited Service Providers (also called Accredited Service Providers (ASPs) UAE) is one of the first decisions you must make. The Ministry of Finance (MoF) and the Federal Tax Authority (FTA) are implementing an electronic invoicing system that requires invoices to be exchanged and reported in a structured format—not PDFs—through the official e-invoicing framework.
From 1 July 2026, businesses can join the pilot or implement voluntarily, followed by phased mandatory compliance in 2027.
That is why ASP selection is not a “later” task. It affects your ERP integration, invoice approvals, customer onboarding, and compliance risk from day one.
What Is an Accredited Service Provider (ASP) in UAE E-Invoicing?
An Accredited Service Provider (ASP) is a service provider that is approved by the MoF to provide electronic invoicing services under the UAE e-invoicing system. In practical terms, an ASP sits between your business and your buyers/suppliers to enable secure invoice exchange and reporting through the official framework.
What an ASP actually does (day-to-day)
A good ASP typically supports the full e-invoicing lifecycle:
- Invoice generation support: helps your ERP/accounting system produce a structured invoice dataset
- Validation: checks invoice data against the UAE rules (format + mandatory fields + technical validations)
- Transmission and exchange: sends the structured invoice to the buyer via the approved network (Peppol-based exchange)
- Reporting: shares required tax-relevant invoice data through the system to support compliance and monitoring
- Audit trail: maintains logs, timestamps, statuses (sent/received/accepted/rejected), and evidence for audits
The MoF defines an e-invoice as structured invoice data exchanged electronically and reported to the FTA—and explicitly states that PDFs, Word files, images, scanned copies, and emails are not e-invoices.
Why Are ASPs Mandatory Under UAE E-Invoicing Regulations?
ASPs are mandatory because the UAE e-invoicing system is designed as a regulated ecosystem, not a simple “send invoices by email” upgrade.
1) It’s a legal requirement tied to implementation deadlines
The UAE’s implementation decision sets clear obligations for businesses to appoint an Accredited Service Provider by specific dates depending on revenue thresholds and phase.
2) The system depends on real-time, standardised data exchange
The UAE framework is built on a Peppol interoperability approach and national requirements (including PINT AE and a Data Dictionary) to standardise invoice data exchange and reporting.
3) Non-compliance carries defined penalty exposure
Cabinet Decision No. 106 of 2025 includes penalties for failing to implement the system, including failure to appoint an ASP within the required timeline, and penalties for failing to issue/transmit electronic invoices and for not reporting system failures on time.
For UAE SMEs and larger enterprises alike, the takeaway is simple: if you’re in scope, you cannot “DIY” e-invoicing outside the official framework once your phase becomes mandatory.
Official UAE E-Invoicing Accredited Service Providers (ASP) List
Where the official list is published
The official source for e-invoicing programme information is the MoF eInvoicing portal, which includes a dedicated section for Pre-Approved eInvoicing Service Providers.
The MoF “Pre-Approved eInvoicing Service Providers” page states that:
- the list is published under Ministerial Decision No. 64 of 2025, and
- it is updated periodically to include newly approved service providers, and
- final accreditation follows the procedure in the same decision.
Important: “Pre-approved” vs “Accredited”
In the UAE framework, “pre-approval” is a provisional stage; final accreditation is granted under the accreditation process and timeline determined by the MoF.
- Check the MoF eInvoicing portal’s Pre-Approved eInvoicing Service Providers section
- Confirm the provider is listed at the time you sign, not “was listed last year”
- Watch for MoF announcements because the list can change
Note: Because the official ASP list is updated periodically, always verify directly through the MoF portal before selecting or contracting an ASP.
Key Requirements to Become an Accredited Service Provider in UAE
If you want to understand what “accredited” really means, Ministerial Decision No. 64 of 2025 outlines the eligibility criteria and ongoing requirements.
Here are the key requirements in plain English (high-level summary):
- MoF accreditation / pre-approval path: providers must follow the MoF accreditation procedure and may receive pre-approval before final accreditation
- Peppol certification: must be an active Peppol-certified service provider and complete OpenPeppol conformance tests
- PINT AE and Data Dictionary alignment: the provider’s product must comply with PINT AE and related specs based on the UAE Data Dictionary
- Security requirements: multi-factor authentication, encryption for data in transit and at rest, security monitoring, and ISO/IEC 27001 certification
- Hosting and data residency expectations: must comply with hosting, storage, archival, and residency requirements and related national policies (as applicable)
- Business continuity: ISO 22301 certification for business continuity (or to be obtained within a specified timeframe)
- Operational and financial requirements: includes company registration conditions, and insurance requirements (professional indemnity, crime insurance, cyber fraud insurance)
- Real-time exchange capability: must support compliant sending/receiving/exchanging of e-invoices and related documents through the framework
- ERP/accounting integration readiness: while not one “single clause,” the entire framework assumes providers can onboard end users and support invoice exchange/reporting at scale (which requires integrations or portals)
This matters because it helps you separate “general invoicing software” from a provider that is genuinely aligned with UAE e-invoicing compliance 2026.
How to Choose the Right ASP for Your Business in UAE
There is no one “best ASP” for everyone. The right choice depends on your invoice volumes, ERP landscape, and your industry (retail vs construction vs trading).
1) Match the ASP to your business size and complexity
SMEs usually need:
- quick onboarding
- a simple portal option
- light ERP/accounting integration
- predictable pricing
Enterprises (multi-entity, multi-ERP, high volume) usually need:
- API-first integration
- automation and workflow routing
- strong monitoring, analytics, and exception handling
- dedicated UAE support and SLAs
2) Confirm ERP compatibility before you sign
Your priority should be ERP e-invoicing UAE readiness:
- Does the ASP support your ERP version (SAP, Oracle, Dynamics, etc.)?
- Do they have proven connectors or will it be custom work?
- Can they support both outbound invoices and inbound supplier invoices?
3) Ask about scalability and peak-load performance
In Dubai and Abu Dhabi, many businesses have seasonal spikes (retail campaigns, construction milestones, tender cycles). Ensure the ASP can handle:
- peak invoice volumes without delays
- fast retry logic for network issues
- status tracking (accepted/rejected) with clear error reasons
4) Understand the cost structure
Request a clear breakdown:
- setup/onboarding fees
- per-invoice transaction charges
- integration costs (one-time + ongoing)
- additional charges for archiving, analytics, user seats, or support tiers
5) Prioritise local UAE support
When something fails, you need fast answers. Ask:
- Do they have a UAE-based support team?
- Do they support bilingual documentation if your teams need it?
- What is the escalation process during go-live?
Quick selection checklist (use this internally)
| What to check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Listed on MoF official ASP list | Avoid non-compliant vendors and rework |
| PINT AE / Peppol alignment | Ensures structured invoice compliance and interoperability |
| ERP integration method (API vs portal) | Determines automation level and internal workload |
| Testing environment (sandbox) | Prevents go-live failures and invoice rejections |
| Archiving and audit trail | Supports UAE audit readiness and internal controls |
| Clear pricing model | Avoid surprises when volumes increase |
Common Mistakes Businesses Make When Selecting an ASP
These are the mistakes we see most often in the UAE market:
- Choosing a non-accredited or “soon-to-be-accredited” vendor
If the provider is not on the MoF’s official list at the time you contract, you risk delays and re-implementation. - Starting too late
Integration, testing, and internal process updates take time. Waiting until the deadline window increases risk and cost. - Ignoring integration testing
Many failures come from data issues (TRN formats, addresses, item VAT codes, rounding). Testing is where you fix these safely—before customers see them. - Only looking at price
The cheapest option can become expensive if you need custom integration, support is slow, or rejections increase your AR workload. - Forgetting inbound e-invoicing
DCTCE readiness is not only about sending invoices; receiving and matching supplier invoices is where many businesses unlock big efficiency gains.
UAE E-Invoicing Timeline & ASP Deadlines (2026–2027)
Ministerial Decision No. 244 of 2025 sets the key phases and deadlines.
High-level timeline
- 1 July 2026: Pilot programme begins + voluntary implementation available
- By 31 July 2026: Businesses with revenue ≥ AED 50,000,000 must appoint an ASP
- 1 January 2027: Mandatory implementation for businesses with revenue ≥ AED 50,000,000
- By 31 March 2027: Businesses with revenue < AED 50,000,000 must appoint an ASP
- 1 July 2027: Mandatory implementation for businesses with revenue < AED 50,000,000
- (Also noted) Government entities have a later implementation milestone in the same decision
The same decision also notes that B2C transactions are not yet subject until determined by a future decision.
Penalties for Not Using an Accredited Service Provider
The UAE has a specific penalty schedule for e-invoicing violations under Cabinet Decision No. 106 of 2025.
How Our E-Invoicing Solutions Help You Stay ASP-Compliant
We help UAE businesses prepare for e-invoicing in a practical, low-stress way—without overpromising or forcing a one-size-fits-all approach.
Here’s how we typically support you:
- ASP shortlisting support based on your business size, industry, and ERP stack
- ERP readiness assessment: identify gaps in invoicing workflows, VAT coding, master data, and approvals
- PINT-AE data mapping guidance (what fields must be captured and where they should come from)
- Integration planning (API vs file vs portal) and testing checklist
- Go-live support with exception handling: rejections, credit notes, system failure processes
- Internal training for finance and operations teams in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and across the UAE