What an ASP actually does
You cannot connect to the FTA's e-invoicing system directly. An ASP is a company certified by the Ministry of Finance to sit between your business and the Peppol network: it takes your invoice data, converts and validates it into the PINT AE format, transmits it to your buyer's ASP, and reports a Tax Data Document to the FTA in near real time. Appointing one is mandatory before your go-live date, not optional, and you may only appoint one ASP for both sending and receiving invoices.
Experience and background
- •Track record. How long has the provider offered e-invoicing specifically, how long have they been a Peppol Service Provider, and how long have they operated in the UAE? A longer history in each usually means fewer surprises.
- •MOF accreditation.Confirm the provider is actually on the Ministry of Finance's approved list, not just claiming compliance, and check when they were accredited. Check the current ASP directory on this site, which we re-verify against the MOF list weekly.
- •Accreditation is not permanent.An ASP's accreditation is only valid for 2 years and must be renewed. Established providers renew this routinely, but it's worth asking when their current accreditation expires.
Product, integration, and support
- •Integration path. Ask exactly how it connects to your accounting or ERP system: a direct API, a file upload process, or a built-in connector your software vendor already ships. The answer changes how much implementation work falls on you.
- •Product ownership and support.Is the e-invoicing system the ASP's own product, or a reseller of someone else's? Direct ownership usually means faster support and more control over the roadmap.
- •Data residency and security. Ask where your invoice data is stored, what compliance certifications the provider holds, and what security measures protect it.
- •Support during your go-live window.Your go-live date is fixed by regulation, not by the provider's onboarding queue. Ask how far in advance they need you to start integration to hit your specific date, and what their SLAs are for uptime and response times.
Pricing
- •100 free invoices a year. Every accredited ASP is required to provide 100 free electronic invoice exchange and reporting services per year, starting from your end-user agreement. Make sure this is written into your contract, not just assumed.
- •Per-TRN pricing. Most ASPs price and onboard per Tax Registration Number, not per company. If you run a group with several TRNs, ask whether a group agreement is available before assuming one contract covers everything.
- •Hidden fees. Ask for the full pricing model (subscription, per-transaction, or otherwise) and whether there are any additional costs beyond the headline price.
If you choose wrong
The published rules require an accredited ASP in place by your appointment deadline, but they don't lock you into that provider forever. You can move to a different MOF-accredited ASP later. Since invoice data and integration work is provider-specific, switching still means a re-integration effort, which is the main reason to get the choice right the first time rather than treat it as low-stakes.
This guide follows the Ministry of Finance's own Considerations for Selecting an Accredited Service Provider document.