Does a UAE E-Invoice Have to Be in Arabic?
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Short answer
No. The UAE e-invoicing decisions, the Ministry of Finance list of mandatory fields and the PINT AE specification set no language for an e-invoice, and the VAT rules set none for a tax invoice. English, Arabic or both are acceptable. The one Arabic rule is separate: the FTA can ask for a certified Arabic translation of your records.
Checked on against the official texts listed below.
This is general guidance, not tax or legal advice. For your situation, check with the UAE Federal Tax Authority (FTA) or a qualified tax advisor.
Quick answers
- Does a UAE e-invoice have to be in Arabic?
- No. The e-invoicing decisions, the MoF list of mandatory fields and the PINT AE specification set no language for an e-invoice, and the MoF guidelines say the framework supports both Arabic and English. English, Arabic or both are acceptable.
- Does a UAE tax invoice have to be in Arabic?
- No. Article 59 of the VAT Executive Regulation lists what a tax invoice must show, and language is not on the list.
- Can the FTA still ask for Arabic?
- Yes. Under Article 5 of Cabinet Decision No. 74 of 2023 the FTA may accept records in English and may ask you to translate some or all of them into Arabic. The translation must be certified under the UAE law regulating translation and submitted within the period the FTA sets.
What each official source says
We read each of these in full on 10 November 2026 and searched it for "Arabic" and "language".
| Source | Covers | What it says about language |
|---|---|---|
| VAT Executive Regulation (Cabinet Decision No. 52 of 2017 and its amendments, to Cabinet Decision No. 149 of 2026) | Tax invoices (paper, PDF and electronic) | Article 59 lists the particulars a tax invoice must show. None is about language. |
| Ministerial Decision No. 243 of 2025 on the Electronic Invoicing System | The e-invoicing system | No language requirement, in the decision or in its amendment (No. 197 of 2026). |
| MoF Electronic Invoice Mandatory Fields v1.1 (28 October 2026) | Fields an e-invoice must carry | No language field and no language rule. |
| PINT AE Billing specification v1.0.4 (OpenPeppol) | The XML format (data model and validation rules) | No language field and no validation rule about language. |
| MoF Electronic Invoicing Guidelines v2.0 (26 October 2026) | How the system works in practice | Section 5.1: the framework supports both Arabic and English. |
| Cabinet Decision No. 74 of 2023 and its amendments (to Cabinet Decision No. 17 of 2026), Executive Regulation of the Tax Procedures Law | All records you give the FTA | Article 5: the FTA may accept English and may ask for a certified Arabic translation. |
The MoF guidelines put it in one sentence: "the Electronic Invoicing framework is designed to support both the Arabic and English languages. This capability ensures compliance with any Arabic reporting requirements mandated in the UAE." None of the decisions we read sets such an Arabic requirement for the invoice itself.
The one Arabic rule, and where it sits
The rule is in Article 5 of Cabinet Decision No. 74 of 2023, the Executive Regulation of the Tax Procedures Law. It is not an invoice rule. It covers any data, records or documents you give the FTA:
- The FTA may accept them in English.
- It may, at its discretion, ask you to translate some or all of them into Arabic.
- The translation must be certified under the UAE law regulating translation, and submitted within the period the FTA sets.
E-invoices are records like any other, so the same rule applies to them. It is the same answer as for paper and PDF invoices, covered in do my invoices need to be in Arabic?
What language means inside a PINT AE e-invoice
Most of an e-invoice is data, not words: amounts, VAT rates, dates, TRNs, currency and unit codes. Those are the same whatever language you work in. See PINT AE mandatory fields for the full list.
Language only shows up in the free-text fields: your name and your buyer's, addresses, item names and descriptions, and notes. PINT AE does not tell you which language to use in them. Use what your buyer will understand. One thing to watch: the MoF defines the seller name as the full formal name under which the seller is registered, so use your name exactly as registered.
The e-invoice is the structured file your accredited service provider sends. You can still send a readable PDF alongside it, in English, Arabic or both. More in e-invoice vs PDF.
Should you add Arabic anyway?
The reasons are the same as for any invoice. If the FTA asks for a translation during an audit, you pay a certified translator under a deadline. Government entities and large companies often ask suppliers for bilingual documents as a procurement rule, not a tax rule. Neither makes Arabic a legal requirement for the e-invoice.
Fatura Go issues invoices in English, Arabic, or both side by side on one document, with full right-to-left layout. Fatura Go is preparing for the UAE 2027 e-invoicing rollout, integrating with accredited providers. Dates and scope for your business are in the UAE e-invoicing guide.
How Fatura Go helps with Arabic on e-invoices
1. Keep the records
UAE VAT law requires invoices and VAT records to be kept for at least five years. Fatura Go keeps issued invoices, credit notes, expenses and bills in one place, with each receipt attached to its expense.
2. Prepare for e-invoicing
Set the document language to English, Arabic or bilingual in Settings → Documents. The e-invoicing checklist shows which business and client details are still missing.
3. Get help
Need an accountant to check your records before e-invoicing starts? Leave a request with Fatura Go support and say what you need. If you already work with an accountant, invite them to your account with their own login.
Frequently asked questions
Does a UAE e-invoice have to be in Arabic?
No. The e-invoicing decisions, the MoF list of mandatory fields and the PINT AE specification set no language for an e-invoice, and the MoF guidelines say the framework supports both Arabic and English. English, Arabic or both are acceptable.
What does PINT AE say about language?
Nothing. PINT AE Billing v1.0.4 has no language field and no validation rule about language. Amounts, dates, TRNs and codes are data, the same in any language; only free-text fields such as names and item descriptions carry words.
Does a UAE tax invoice have to be in Arabic?
No. Article 59 of the VAT Executive Regulation lists what a tax invoice must show, and language is not on the list. This applies to paper, PDF and e-invoices alike.
Can the FTA ask for an Arabic translation of my e-invoices?
Yes. Article 5 of Cabinet Decision No. 74 of 2023 lets the FTA accept records in English and ask you to translate some or all of them into Arabic. The translation must be certified under the UAE law regulating translation and submitted within the period the FTA sets.
Can I send a bilingual PDF with my e-invoice?
Yes. The e-invoice is the structured file your ASP sends; you can still send a readable PDF alongside it, in English, Arabic or both.
Is this tax advice?
No. This is general information from the official texts listed on the page. Confirm your position with the FTA or a qualified tax advisor.