The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation reports that the UAE is planning to implement new import regulations (MoFAIC). Any international import invoices with a value of AED10,000 or more must be attested by MoFAIC beginning in February.
In a post on social media, MoFAIC stated that “All imports into the country must be accompanied by an invoice certified by MoFAIC, pursuant to UAE Cabinet Decision No.(38) of 2022 on the attestation fees of commercial invoices and certificates of origin for importers into the United Arab Emirates.”
The rules were announced in 2022, as part of Cabinet Decision 38, and they come into law on February 1, according to Arabian Business. MoFAIC will collect a fee of AED150 for every commercial invoice of imported goods valued at AED10,000 or more, However, exemption for UAE import attestation fees include:
• Invoices for a value of less than AED10,000
• Personal imports
• GCC imports
• Freezone imports
• Police and military imports
•Charity imports
Attestation can be done digitally at the MoFAIC website by uploading documents. The Electronic Document Attestation Service (eDAS) website says: ”Attestation is a procedure to confirm validity of the seal and signature on documents issued in the UAE or abroad. Commercial Invoices attestation service is an automated online service to provide digital attestation for commercial invoices only issued in the UAE or abroad within 12 minutes.” Following the setting of the customs declaration for imported goods, importers have 14 days to pay the attestation fees.