The upcoming e-Invoicing mandate in the UAE is more than just a systems-and-technology update. It’s a complete overhaul and transformation. The Accredited Service Provider (ASP) lies at the heart of the new system. While choosing an ASP partner for your business in the UAE, it's not just a matter of convenience - this single decision is going to determine how your business will function with the new digital invoicing mandate in place. In this accredited service provider guide, we explore how to choose ASP UAE e-invoicing.
One of the most important things to understand about e-invoicing service provider selection is that they are not all the same. When you do an ASP comparison UAE, accreditation by the FTA separates the right ASPs from the wrong ones. There are a variety of factors you should consider before you make the move to appoint an ASP for your business. In this article, we explore all the different aspects and factors that you should investigate before finally appointing an ASP as an accounting partner.
Company history
The company's history can provide many clues about its service capabilities, customer-centricity, and its knowledge of core e-invoicing services. Checking the history can help you identify the best ASP for e-invoicing.
Check how long the company has been providing e-invoicing services
This is one of the most important factors in helping you make a good decision regarding ASPs. Check the duration of their e-invoicing services, their experience, and their reliability in the field. If an ASP has been in existence for a longer period of time, then it may suggest that the ASP has better service structures in place and a better knowledge of market needs.
Check the history of being a Peppol provider
The UAE follows the Peppol framework. An ASP with longer experience as a Peppol Service Provider would likely have a stronger understanding of international practices and standards.
Find out the history of the company
Find out how long the ASP has been operating. The greater the company's total lifespan, the stronger the indicator of its stability and ability to withstand market fluctuations. Companies that have remained in existence for longer tend to be more authoritative, have more clients, and are generally more trustworthy and credible. Companies with 5-10 years of existence behind them tend to have more streamlined processes and experience working with more customers.
Check the history of UAE operations
In line with the new mandates of the FTA, ASPs are required to adhere to local Emirate and sector-dependent regulatory requirements. They must also have a strong understanding of business practices and know what customers expect. Companies with a strong presence in the UAE tend to be better equipped to work with local businesses and government entities.
Check the UAE accreditation date
The FTA accredits and approves all ASPs within the UAE for e-invoicing. Check the accreditation date of the ASP in the UAE. This will help you gauge the ASP's experience with Electronic invoicing.
Geographical considerations
The following geographical considerations will help you determine which ASP is the best for your company.
Check which countries the ASP provides e-invoicing in
The geographical extent of the ASP's operations can give you a strong indication of whether the ASP can support international clients. ASPs that operate across geographies tend to have more experience with a wider range of regulatory environments and markets.
Check the address of the company
You should know which Emirates the company is based out of very clearly beforehand. This is because the location of the ASP can determine support availability, service delivery, and its understanding of the UAE market dynamics. Each Emirate may have a business practice or specific regulation that the ASP should be familiar with.
Product ownership
Get a clear understanding of the product being used and the associated services, such as support.
Check if the Electronic Invoicing System (EIS) is their own or a third-party product
ASPs that have developed their own solutions usually have a greater hold over updates, features, support, and even pricing. Every client has unique needs, and an ASP using a 3rd-party product may not be able to customise it to meet those needs.
Support and maintenance
Check whether the ASP will provide support and maintenance in-house or subcontract these functions to a third-party. It is better to have an ASP that supports the client directly, as it can lead to faster resolutions and more accountability. Outsourcing support services can lead to unexpected delays and communication gaps.
Check additional value-added services
Check whether the ASP offers additional value-added services, including, but not limited to, reporting, analytics, business integration or training. These value-added services can tremendously increase the overall value of the Invoicing System. They can also lead to better business operations for clients.
Find out details of the EIS
The EIS used by the ASP needs to be a solid product - take a good look at the various functionalities, the software features, UI, UX, integration capabilities and server uptime in order to make your decision. You should mandatorily look at aspects such as customisation to your specific needs, scalability and ease of use. The learning curve for operating the software should not be too steep.
Product integration and data management
The UAE’s FTA has imposed strict conditions on data storage: all data must be stored within the UAE for at least 7-15 years.
Can the ASP integrate with your current ERP/invoicing/accounting systems?
This is a very important factor. The ASP’s system needs to integrate with your current ERP or accounting software. This is important to minimise disruption and ensure a gradual transition to the new EIS. Make sure you quiz the ASP about data formats, software integration APIs, and support for software integration.
Location where the data is stored - within the UAE or abroad
Local storage of data can affect the software product's accessibility and performance (speed). Where your data resides can also affect company regulations, such as those governing privacy policies and data protection.
Compliance and security
Compliance certifications and security can greatly impact your decision to hire the best ASP for your company.
Check the compliance certifications held by the ASP
ISO certifications or GDPR compliance can indicate a commitment to security and quality.
Security measures to protect sensitive data
Check the security measures the ASP may use to protect sensitive data, including access controls, incident response plans, and encryption. It is very important for the ASP to have strong security measures in place to protect clients' data against breaches.
Customer support and Service Level Agreements (SLAs)
Customer support is crucial for clients because they may encounter challenges with their e-Invoicing system at any time. Also, proper SLAs need to be put in place to govern system uptime.
Response time for customer support
Quick response times from ASPs are crucial for resolving problems quickly and thoroughly.
Get a good understanding of the support structures in place by the ASP and the response times.
Defined SLAs for uptime and service availability
Ensure you have a strong, well-defined SLA with the ASP. Find out what SLAs they are ready to sign. SLAs provide a sense of the ASP's performance levels and can give you the assurances you need regarding the reliability of the Electronic Invoicing Service. Ensure that you look for guarantees on uptime and support availability.
Pricing structure
Pricing is a very important factor to consider when selecting an ASP, as all clients have limited budgets allocated to complying with the new mandates.
Check the pricing model (per-transaction, subscription, etc.)
Getting to know the pricing structure can help your business plan its budgets accordingly and check the total ownership cost. Some models may be more suitable for businesses depending on the monthly transaction volume. Ensure your contract includes 100 free transactions per month as part of its SLA, as per MD no. 64 of 2025.
Check for hidden fees and additional costs
You can avoid unnecessary expenses by getting a hold of the entire pricing and looking for transparent pricing models. Make sure you clarify in advance all the potential costs associated with using the ASP's services.
Scalability and future proofing
All software systems need to be built to scale and withstand future market conditions. These are also things to look out for when partnering with an ASP.
Scalability of the EIS
The EIS must grow alongside the business as the business expands and the number of monthly transactions increases. All systems must scale without disruption.
Updates and future enhancements
Check with the ASP to determine whether they have a pipeline of upgrades planned for the software product and the service. Also, check if they are prepared to handle different marketing conditions in the future.
Choosing the right ASP is not an overnight job and requires patience and careful planning. The ASP will be the cornerstone of financial operations under the UAE's new e-invoicing mandate, so appointing the right ASP partner for your business can be crucial. Consider all the above-mentioned points to get a good idea of the factors you should evaluate your ASP on.
