A new compliance requirement will soon be implemented in the UAE, where companies will have to attest import invoices over Dh10,000 by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

As per Cabinet Resolution No. 38 of 2022 regarding fees for certification of invoices and certificates of origin for imports into the UAE, this new rule will come into effect on February 1, 2023.

A new regulation will apply to all goods imported into the UAE with a value of Dh10,000 or more, and invoices will be attestation electronically, said Mayank Sawhney, managing director of MaxGrowth Consulting.

Customers will have a grace period of 14 days after the declaration of goods to comply with the attestation requirements, which will cost Dh150 per commercial invoice. Failure to do so will result in a penalty of Dh500 per invoice levied by the MoFAIC on non-complying businesses,” said Sawhney.

There are, however, some exemptions for certain categories, including invoices with a value below Dh10,000, personal imports, and goods imported from Gulf Cooperation Council countries.

Further, transit goods imports, B2C e-commerce movements, diplomatic, police, and military, and charitable societies goods will not be covered.

By uploading PDF documents, the UAE's Mofaic has introduced an electronic online process for attestation of import invoices. This will also generate a reference number as proof of attestation.

Mayank Sawhney said the reference number is integrated with the UAE Customs system to confirm that the customer has completed the attestation before submitting the import declaration.