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UAE Updates E-Invoicing Accreditation Rules and Scraps Preliminary Approval Stage

The UAE Ministry of Finance has issued Ministerial Decision No. 168 of 2026, updating accreditation procedures for Electronic Invoicing Service Providers. The new rule eliminates the preliminary approval phase, requiring full assessment and testing prior to accreditation. UAE companies generating Dh50 million or more in annual revenue face an October 30 deadline to appoint an accredited provider.

Published Source: Gulf News
Issuing authority
UAE Ministry of Finance
Jurisdiction
United Arab Emirates
Effective date
October 1, 2026
Stage
Final rule
Official document
Ministerial Decision No. 168 of 2026
Official source
gulfnews.com
Illustration: An office desk setting in Dubai featuring modern digital financial screens, digital tablet, accounting software dashboard, and office st
Illustration

The UAE Ministry of Finance has introduced Ministerial Decision No. 168 of 2026, altering the eligibility and accreditation procedures for Electronic Invoicing Service Providers, Gulf News reported.

Under the new decision, which came into effect on October 1, 2026, the prior preliminary approval stage has been eliminated. Service providers must now complete formal assessments and testing before receiving accreditation.

Providers that were granted preliminary approval under Decision No. 64 of 2025 have been given 30 days from October 1 to satisfy full accreditation requirements.

The regulatory shift directly impacts UAE companies generating annual revenues of Dh50 million or more, which face an October 30 deadline to appoint an accredited provider. Affected businesses are scheduled to complete rollout and implement electronic invoicing by January 1, 2027.

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