How much does UAE e-invoicing cost?
Last updated: 2026-07-05 · Qayyid Editorial
There is no free government issuance portal in the UAE. Unlike Saudi Arabia's Fatoora, the UAE model requires every business to send and receive e-invoices through an Accredited Service Provider (ASP). This is the single biggest cost fact: appointing an ASP is mandatory, and it is a paid commercial service. You cannot self-issue compliant e-invoices for free through a state-run portal.
But the first 100 transactions each year are free by law. Under Ministerial Decision 64/2025, every ASP must give each customer 100 free e-invoice exchange and reporting transactions per year. For a micro-vendor or freelancer who issues only a handful of B2B or B2G invoices a year, this floor may cover most — or all — of your volume. Confirm with each provider that they honour this legal minimum.
What actually drives the cost
- Transaction volume — pricing is typically per invoice sent/received, or a tiered subscription; the more invoices above the free 100, the more you pay.
- Integration depth — a simple web portal to type invoices costs less than a full ERP or accounting-system integration.
- Features and support — archiving, multi-user access, reporting dashboards and support tiers all add to the bill.
- Archiving — invoices must be retained in-UAE for 5–7 years, and input-VAT recovery requires keeping the electronic invoice; storage is part of the package.
Enterprise pricing is high — but smaller tiers exist
Enterprise ASP contracts are built for large volumes and can be expensive. For smaller players, Ministerial Decision 56/2026 (May 2026) now permits ASPs to use third-party / white-label products, which is opening up lower-cost micro-vendor tiers. Because the accreditation list is still provisional (41 providers pre-qualified under Article 15; final Article 16 accreditation pending), pricing is competitive and moving — so compare several providers rather than signing with the first.
This cost applies even if you are not VAT-registered
A common myth is that non-VAT businesses are exempt. That is wrong. If you issue B2B or B2G invoices, you are in scope regardless of VAT registration — including licensed freelancers. Only B2C (consumer) sales are excluded for now, though the Minister may expand scope later. Another myth: e-invoicing is "mandatory from July 2026." Also wrong. A voluntary pilot opened 1 July 2026 (invitation-only). Mandatory go-live is 1 January 2027 for large business (annual revenue ≥ AED 50M, Wave 1) and 1 July 2027 for all other businesses (Wave 2).
Non-compliance is its own cost
| Breach | Penalty |
|---|---|
| Failure to appoint an ASP | AED 5,000 per month |
| Late e-invoice issuance | AED 100 per invoice (capped at AED 5,000/month) |
| Unreported system failure | AED 1,000 per day |
(Cabinet Decision 106/2025.) Budget early: Wave 1 businesses must appoint an ASP by 30 October 2026 (not 31 July, which was extended); Wave 2 by 31 March 2027.
The only authoritative source is the UAE Ministry of Finance portal: mof.gov.ae/en/about-us/initiatives/einvoicing — always check it before you sign.