UAE e-invoicing deadline nears: Is your business ready?

Dubai, UAE – As businesses in the United Arab Emirates prepare for the mandatory e-invoicing deadline, a new tool has been launched to help them assess their readiness. The online E-Invoicing Readiness Score, created by chartered accountancy firm ADEPTS, evaluates five key areas, including compliance timeline, ASP appointment, systems, data, and processes.

It provides businesses with a readiness score out of 100 and identifies which implementation phase they are in. Companies with annual revenues of Dh50 million or more must appoint an Accredited Service Provider (ASP) by October 30, 2026, while smaller businesses and government entities have until March 31, 2027. Failure to meet the deadlines can result in a monthly penalty of AED 5,000.

ADEPTS' founder and managing partner, Aaliyan Ibrahim, emphasized that many businesses view e-invoicing as an IT project rather than a compliance deadline with a specific date. The readiness assessment covers organization type, revenue, VAT registration, invoicing systems, invoice volumes, ASP status, data quality, and procedures for handling corrections.

Businesses are categorized as "On track," "Partially ready," or "At risk" based on their responses. The assessment aims to provide a clear view of gaps and an implementation plan for ASP contracting, PINT AE mapping, testing, and the cut-over process.