The Ministry of Finance in the UAE has updated its standards for electronic invoicing vendors, eliminating the prior pre-approval step as the nation moves toward a fully functioning system.
Ministerial Decision No. 168 of 2026, announced on Friday, October 9, supersedes Ministerial Decision No. 64 of 2025 and its amendments, which include Ministerial Decision No. 56 of 2026.
The updated regulations became active on October 1, 2026, bringing in more rigorous accreditation steps. These are intended to verify that service providers can satisfy technical, operational, and compliance criteria before they operate in the market.
According to the revised framework, vendors must undergo specific accreditation testing and assessments prior to gaining official approval. This shift replaces the preliminary approval phase that was previously used during the setup and testing of the UAE’s electronic invoicing infrastructure.
The Ministry stated that this modification indicates the e-invoicing program has transitioned from a development and testing phase to an operational one.
The earlier pre-approval method was utilized to help onboard service providers while the technical infrastructure and interoperability arrangements were still being put in place.
Read Also: Abu Dhabi bans public car washing
The new ruling keeps several provisions that were introduced earlier in 2026. These provisions permit providers to utilize third-party Peppol products and to outsource the creation, operation, or management of their e-invoicing services.
Nevertheless, providers are still fully liable for regulatory adherence and service delivery, irrespective of whether they depend on external technology or contractors.
The guidelines also set out rules for accreditation renewal, continuous monitoring, and cancellation. It includes a formal channel for service providers to contest termination decisions.
Vendors currently operating have been granted a 30-day transition period. Those who received preliminary approval under the old rules before October 1 have until that date to satisfy the new accreditation demands.
They will not be required to submit a new application unless the Ministry of Finance orders them to do so. Yet, providers who do not finish the accreditation process within the set timeframe will lose their preliminary approval.
