ICAP hosts e-Invoicing Boot Camp as UAE advances digital tax drive

As the UAE accelerates the digital transformation of its tax ecosystem, e-Invoicing and its impact on businesses took centre stage at the UAE e-Invoicing Boot Camp 2026, hosted by the UAE Chapter of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan (ICAP) recently at InterContinental Abu Dhabi.

The event brought together finance, tax, compliance and technology professionals to examine what the transition to e-Invoicing will mean for UAE businesses — from regulatory readiness and internal controls to technology integration and the way financial data will move between businesses and the tax ecosystem.

A key highlight of the evening was the participation of Abdulla Al Bastaki, Chief Executive Officer of the Information Technology Sector at the Federal Tax Authority (FTA), who addressed the gathering on the UAE’s e-Invoicing journey and the wider digital transformation of tax administration.

Al Bastaki was joined by representatives from the Federal Tax Authority, further strengthening the Authority’s presence at the event and providing the finance and business community with a valuable opportunity to engage with the regulator as the UAE prepares for this important transition.

The FTA’s participation added particular significance to an evening that sought to move the conversation beyond simply complying with another tax requirement. Discussions highlighted e-Invoicing as part of the UAE’s broader digital transformation — with the potential to enhance transparency, data quality, business efficiency and connectivity across the tax ecosystem.

The UAE has steadily expanded the digitalisation of its government and tax infrastructure in recent years, and e-Invoicing represents another important step in that evolution. For businesses, however, the transition is expected to involve much more than changing the format of an invoice.

That message ran throughout the Boot Camp: e-Invoicing is as much a finance and technology transformation as it is a tax compliance exercise.

The technical discussions began with Muhammad Aaliyan, Managing Partner at ADEPTS Chartered Accountants, and Vikash Bhuwania, Associate Director – Tax, Risk & GRC at ADEPTS, who addressed the tax and regulatory perspective and the issues organisations should consider as they prepare for implementation.

The compliance dimension was taken forward by Muhammad Rizwan Khan, Senior Partner & Global Compliance Head at AJMS Global, who discussed how regulatory requirements need to be incorporated into business processes, governance structures and internal control frameworks rather than treated as a standalone tax exercise. Technology then moved from discussion to demonstration.

Sangmesh Hiremath, Co-Founder and CEO of Marmin AI, walked the audience through the “Journey of an E-Invoice – C1 to C4 through C5” and demonstrated the Marmin platform as an Accredited Service Provider solution, giving attendees a practical view of how an e-Invoice can move through the technology ecosystem.

The discussions highlighted a challenge that UAE organisations will increasingly need to address: e-Invoicing cannot be owned by one department alone. Finance, tax, IT, compliance and senior management will need to work together as businesses assess systems, data, processes and controls ahead of implementation.

The event also brought a broader professional and economic perspective through Shafqat Ali Khan, Ambassador of Pakistan to the United Arab Emirates, who attended as Chief Guest.

Addressing the gathering, the Ambassador spoke about the longstanding economic relationship between Pakistan and the UAE and recognised the contribution Pakistani professionals, including Chartered Accountants, continue to make to the UAE’s economy and institutional development. He also highlighted the UAE’s wider digital transformation journey, linking developments such as VAT, Corporate Tax, digital government services and e-Invoicing with the country’s drive towards a more transparent, efficient and globally competitive economy.

For finance professionals in particular, his message looked beyond compliance. As technology reshapes the finance function, Chartered Accountants will increasingly be expected to support digital transformation, strengthen governance and internal controls and contribute to strategic decision-making.

The message resonated with an audience drawn from a sizeable professional community. More than 1,000 members of ICAP are currently working across the UAE, serving in finance and leadership roles across different sectors and contributing to the country’s business and economic landscape. The UAE Chapter provides a platform for this community through professional development, technical knowledge-sharing and engagement with regulators and industry.

The event was opened by Asif Iqbal, Chairman of the ICAP UAE Chapter, followed by Yasir Gadit, ICAP Council Member and Chairman of the Overseas Chapters Committee.

The programme concluded with the presentation of shields and a vote of thanks by Khushboo Mushtaq, Former Chairperson of the ICAP UAE Chapter, who acknowledged the FTA representatives, Chief Guest, speakers, sponsors, participants and the Chapter’s Managing Committee for bringing together the regulatory, professional and technology communities on a single platform.

The timing of the gathering added another dimension to the evening. Taking place on the eve of Pakistan’s Independence Day, the event concluded with an Independence Day celebration bringing together the Ambassador, distinguished guests and members of the professional community.

For the UAE’s finance community, however, the evening’s central message remained firmly forward-looking: e-Invoicing is coming as part of a much larger digital transformation, and the businesses that prepare their people, processes and technology early will be better positioned for the transition ahead.