Freelance Invoice Template UAE
A freelance invoice bills a client for work you did as an independent professional, usually by the hour, the day or the project. This template is set up for the UAE: amounts in AED, VAT at 5% on each line. Change anything you like, then download it as a PDF.
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How to write a freelancer invoice
- Describe each deliverable so the client's accounts team can match it to the project without asking.
- Bill extra work separately and say who agreed it, so scope changes do not turn into disputes.
- Invoice as soon as a milestone is delivered rather than at the end of the month.
- Agree your payment terms and late fee in your contract or quote before you start.
Not sure what to charge? Work out your minimum rate with the freelance rate calculator, and agree the price first with the quote generator.
What an invoice must include in the UAE
- The words 'Tax Invoice' clearly displayed
- Supplier's name, address and TRN
- Recipient's name, address and TRN where the recipient is registered
- A sequential invoice number
- Date of issue, and date of supply if different
- Description of the goods or services
- For each line: unit price, quantity, rate of tax and amount payable in AED
- Any discount, the gross amount payable, and the tax payable in AED
- Exchange rate where another currency is used
- Where the reverse charge applies, a statement to that effect and reference to the provision
- Issued within 14 days of the date of supply
Invoice rules in the UAE at a glance
- Tax
- VAT, standard rate 5%. See all rates and the VAT calculator
- Tax number
- TRN (Tax Registration Number)
- Title
- Tax invoice (VAT-registered suppliers)
- Not registered for tax
- A business that is not registered for VAT must not charge VAT or issue tax invoices. Registration is mandatory above AED 375,000 of taxable supplies a year.
- Small invoices
- Simplified tax invoices have been allowed for supplies to unregistered customers or up to AED 10,000, but amendments to Article 59 of the VAT Executive Regulation (Cabinet Decision No. 100 of 2025, from 29 September 2025) remove the simplified invoice for businesses within the e-invoicing system.
- Payment terms
- No statutory default payment period; the agreed terms apply.
- Late payment
- No fixed late payment fee. Under the Commercial Transactions Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 50 of 2022) a creditor can claim delay interest on a commercial debt from its due date without proving loss; compound interest is not allowed.
- Keep records
- 5 years after the end of the tax period (15 years for real estate records).
Freelance Invoice Template UAE: frequently asked questions
What should a freelance invoice include?
Your name and contact details, the client's details, a unique invoice number, the date, a description of the work with hours or a fixed price, any tax, the total, the due date and how to pay you.
Should freelancers charge by the hour or by the project?
Both work. Hourly suits open-ended work; a fixed project price suits clear deliverables and rewards working efficiently. Use the freelance rate calculator to find your minimum rate either way.
Do I have to charge VAT on my invoices in the UAE?
A business that is not registered for VAT must not charge VAT or issue tax invoices. Registration is mandatory above AED 375,000 of taxable supplies a year.
How long must I keep invoices in the UAE?
5 years after the end of the tax period (15 years for real estate records).
Can I charge interest on late payments in the UAE?
No fixed late payment fee. Under the Commercial Transactions Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 50 of 2022) a creditor can claim delay interest on a commercial debt from its due date without proving loss; compound interest is not allowed. Work it out with the late payment calculator.
Is this invoice template free?
Yes. Edit the template in your browser and download it as a PDF for free, with no sign-up and no watermark. Nothing you type is uploaded.
Sources
- Meydan Free Zone: UAE tax invoice requirements (Article 59 summary)
- Grant Thornton UAE: Executive Regulation amendments and e-invoicing
- KPMG: Implementation of the electronic invoicing system in the UAE
- Global Law Experts: Delayed payments in the UAE (Commercial Transactions Law articles)
- Akin Gump: Five key updates to the UAE Commercial Transactions Law
The rules on this page were checked in October 2026 and are general information, not legal or tax advice. Check the official sources or ask an accountant in the UAE if you are unsure what your invoices must show.
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