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UAE E-Invoicing: A New Era of Digital Tax Compliance
Anmol Rathi, Manager - Indirect Tax, Kreston Menon
The United Arab Emirates (‘UAE’) is embarking on a transformative journey in its tax administration landscape with the introduction of a nationwide Electronic Invoicing System (EIS). This initiative, spearheaded by the Ministry of Finance (‘MOF’) and the Federal Tax Authority (FTA), aims to digitize the issuance, exchange, and storage of invoices in a structured electronic format. The legal foundation for this reform is laid out in Ministerial Decisions No. 243 and 244 of 2025, which define the scope, obligations, and phased implementation of e-invoicing across the country.
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The AI Revolution in UAE Audit and Finance: From Compliance to Strategic Intelligence
Raju Menon, Chairman and Managing Partner - Kreston Menon
I have spent three decades in finance, and I can tell you what is happening right now in the UAE is unlike anything we have seen before. AI is not just another tool in the auditor’s kit. It is fundamentally changing what it means to work in finance.
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Building Trust Through Quality
David Smith, Director of Quality & Professional Standards, Kreston Global
Quality and integrity are two core principles that apply across the globe when a profession is built on trust. The application of these principles, however, must continuously adapt to reflect changing stakeholder expectations, the businesses, and the world in which our professional services firms operate.
So, in a time where significant change is being driven by the introduction of emerging technologies, where there are challenges and opportunities presented by the ways we trade across borders, and in regions like the Middle East and Africa, where we have such pace of transformation and reform, we must ensure that we continuously evolve to provide high-quality, valuable services to our clients whilst our core principles are respected.
Continuous improvement in a changing world
Over the past decade, the global audit and professional services landscape has shifted dramatically and this has driven the need for a proactive approach to continuous quality management and improvement.
All Kreston Global member firms are committed to the adoption of globally recognized quality management standards (ISQM1) which help ensure a common foundation in the way we manage risk. This commitment, even in jurisdictions that do not yet require adoption, alongside local and globally coordinated quality monitoring programs, helps our firms to embed a culture of continuous improvement across our service offerings.
Clients work with firms they trust and regulators respect firms that are proactive. This understanding and commitment to quality across our member firms helps to build relationships and our businesses on solid foundations.
Being technology enabled, but people led
We understand that the way technology is implemented in a business, and the ways that associated risks are managed, have a significant impact on the quality of a business’ products or services. This creates new opportunities to work with clients in areas relating to their own use of technology, as well as driving innovation in the way we design and provide services to existing clients.
By applying the principle of being technology enabled, but people led, we ensure that the right resources are used in the right way by our teams when providing our services. This involves empowering teams to remain authentic, alongside making sure that they are enabled by the right tools and technologies, but still leading the relationships and service provision.
Enhanced regulatory drivers of change
Across the Middle East and Africa, regulatory systems are developing quickly, strengthening oversight, establishing local standard setters, and adopting international frameworks. Our firms operate in accordance with both local and international regulations, ensuring consistency in quality and independence.
For audit engagements, this includes compliance with the International Standards on Auditing, which continue to evolve based on global regulatory feedback and best practice. Recent changes to auditing standards have driven enhancements to the approach we take to conducting group audits. This leads to a greater amount of collaboration with group and subsidiary management, other group auditors and a focused approach to addressing risks of material misstatement to help continuously improve the work performed on these types of engagement.
Working with clients to help define quality
Many of the factors that change the way professional services firms work reinforce the importance of client collaboration as a critical enabler of high-quality service delivery. As regulatory environments change, continuous improvements are made, and technology adoption matures, we see that this can affect the ways this collaboration takes shape.
We are seeing, across many of our firms, that the type, nature and timing of information requests is changing. This often takes the form of more structured, and earlier, information requests than may have been the case previously which helps our teams to plan proactively, focus work and increase the value of work performed.
In many cases we see requests for entire raw datasets, to enable greater depth of work and testing, rather than a trial balance and some selected items, which reflect teams having access to tools that better enable broader testing to support a high-quality deliverable.
This has practical implications. Clients who reconcile and prepare data throughout the year, and who use systems capable of clean, consistent data export, often benefit from smooth engagements, faster delivery and greater overall value. Those who rely on manual or delayed information may find the process more complex as engagement teams need to do more to meet the necessary standards.
Doing the right thing when no one is looking
Consistent quality frameworks help to maintain confidence in our work, with genuine trust coming from acting with integrity. It is important that our teams do the right thing when no one is looking.
In this context, Kreston Global member firms commit to applying policies that adhere to a globally recognized Code of Ethics (the IESBA Code). This helps us to maintain a consistent ethical culture across jurisdictions, and for individual firms, it helps to support making the right decisions in difficult situations.
Growth must be matched by strong governance and ethical leadership. Firms that are known for independence, confidentiality, and fairness build a reputation that supports long-term success.
Collaboration as a defining factor
Few global regions illustrate the pace of change as vividly as the Middle East and Africa. Economic diversification, infrastructure investment, regulatory reform, and digital transformation are redefining how businesses operate, with governments strengthening requirements for transparency, sustainability reporting, and corporate governance.
The introduction of corporate tax, ESG disclosure, and digital reporting requirements across both regions is creating both new opportunities and new challenges and businesses are reassessing their data, systems, and controls to meet a higher standard of accuracy and accountability.
As we consider the future of how our businesses grow alongside regional and global reform, our promise is consistent to clients worldwide: to continue to build trust through quality. This process of driving quality through continuous improvement never ends, and neither does our committed to collaboration.
It is this commitment to collaboration within our businesses, across the Kreston network of firms, and with our clients, that ensures local expertise is combined with global standards. By working together, we ensure our firms can compete not only on scale, but on capability, consistency, and trust.
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DMCC: Bridging Trade, Technology and Capital
H.E. Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, DMCC
Dubai has always traded on geography and reinvention. From pearl diving to one of the world’s leading hubs for trade and innovation, the engine has been connection – across goods, ideas, and capital.
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Sudhir Kumar Re-elected as Board Director for Kreston Global
London – Kreston Global is happy to announce the re-election of Sudhir Kumar, Senior Partner and Head of Corporate Communications at Kreston Menon, as Board Director for Kreston Global, representing the newly formed Middle East and Africa (MEA) region.
His leadership in the Middle East has been exemplary in terms of driving collaboration and commercial partnerships as well as ensuring high standards of client service delivery. Sudhir will continue to focus on supporting Kreston’s strategic vision, and being a strong voice for member firms in the Middle East and Africa. His ongoing commitment aligns with Kreston Global’s mission to drive collaboration, innovation, and sustainable growth across its international network.
Sudhir Kumar said
“I am so pleased to be able to continue serving on the Kreston Global Board. Being re-elected is an honour and testament to the collaborative spirit we have built. I look forward to continuing to help support the network’s strong focus on risk and international expansion to help create opportunities for our member firms, and strengthening our presence in emerging markets.”
Liza Robbins. Chief Executive, said:
“Sudhir is an excellent board member and a wonderful advocate for the network – having won our global network entrepreneur award in previous years demonstrates how much he cares about what we do and how we do it. I am so pleased we can continue to work together on the Board. “
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A gateway to global markets: Ennogen Healthcare on why the UAE is key to their expansion
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has emerged as a premier destination for global entrepreneurs. The UAE’s transformation into a hub for global business can be attributed to several key factors, including strategic location, government support, and a pro-business environment.
Ennogen Healthcare, a UK-based pharmaceutical company, is among the many international companies that have expanded their operations to the UAE. In a recent interview, Jason Tate, Chief Financial Officer of Ennogen Healthcare, shared his insights on why the UAE was chosen as their base for expansion and how their journey has been facilitated by Kreston Menon.
The strategic appeal of the UAE
Tate outlined the strategic appeal of the UAE, highlighting three primary reasons for their decision to expand into the region. First and foremost, the UAE’s geographic location offers unparalleled access to key markets. Positioned as a gateway between Asia, Europe, and the wider Middle East, the UAE allows companies like Ennogen Healthcare to efficiently reach a broad spectrum of markets while maintaining proximity to their European base.
“The proximity of the UAE to other regions around the world, including Asia and the subcontinent, while remaining close to Europe, was a critical factor for us,” Tate explained. This accessibility has made the UAE a preferred destination for companies seeking to expand their global footprint.
Another crucial factor is the UAE’s talent pool, which is enriched by a diverse, multicultural workforce attracted by the country’s high quality of life. “The talent pool that’s available here is attracted by the lifestyle and the agglomeration of skills from around the world,” said Tate. The ability to draw skilled professionals from various global markets has been instrumental in Ennogen Healthcare’s success in the UAE, as the company operates in a highly regulated industry that requires top-tier expertise.
Lastly, the pro-business environment fostered by the UAE government has been a significant enabler. The UAE’s regulatory framework is designed to be business friendly, reducing the bureaucratic barriers that often hinder international expansion. Tate noted, “The pro-business environment, which the government leads, helps us to drive forward our success.” This environment, coupled with the UAE’s continuous efforts to streamline business operations, has made it an attractive destination for companies looking to establish a presence in the region.
A trusted partner
The role of professional services firms like Kreston Menon in supporting international businesses cannot be overstated. When Ennogen Healthcare began considering its expansion into the UAE, the company evaluated several firms, including the Big Four, before deciding that Kreston Menon was the best fit for their needs. “Kreston Menon was introduced to me by a fellow professional, and we assessed their capability in the UAE compared to other firms,” Tate recalled. “We considered that Kreston Menon was best placed in the UAE to give appropriate local advice for the region, which is important in the process of setting up and also expanding.”
Kreston Menon’s local expertise and understanding of the UAE’s regulatory landscape proved invaluable as Ennogen Healthcare navigated the administrative complexities of establishing operations in the country. The firm provided tailored advice and support, ensuring a smooth transition for Ennogen Healthcare as they set up their UAE base.
Advice for new businesses
As the UAE continues to attract a growing number of international businesses, Tate offered some advice for those considering expansion into the region. He emphasised the importance of understanding the local market and leveraging the UAE’s business culture. “The UAE provides a very dynamic environment for interpreneurs, attracting talent and facilitating the sharing of knowledge,” Tate observed.
He also highlighted the importance of being strategic in selecting a location within the UAE that aligns with the company’s business objectives. Proximity to key markets, access to talent, and ease of doing business should all be considered when making this decision.
Bright future
Reflecting on Ennogen Healthcare’s journey, Tate rated their success in the UAE as 9 out of 10, acknowledging that while they have achieved significant milestones, there is still potential for further growth. “We’ve arrived here, set up the business, and begun to achieve some of our early goals,” Tate said “But we’re also beginning to identify new opportunities that we didn’t anticipate before we came here. As a consequence, I’ll be moving larger parts of the business into the UAE in the coming months ”
This positive outlook is indicative of the broader trend among interpreneurs in the UAE. The country’s ongoing efforts to enhance its business ecosystem and its commitment to creating a competitive and investor-friendly environment have positioned it as a global leader in attracting foreign investment.
As more international entrepreneurs discover the opportunities that the UAE has to offer, the country is poised to continue its ascent as a top destination for global business. With firms like Kreston Menon offering essential support, and the UAE government’s unwavering commitment to fostering a pro-business climate, the future looks bright for interpreneurs aiming to make their mark in the UAE.
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