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Billable time

Time Tracking Software UAE: From Timesheet to Invoice and Project Cost

Record hours against clients, projects and tasks, approve them weekly, and bill or cost them without spreadsheets in between.

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Quick answer Updated October 2026 · Reviewed by UAE ERP Experts consultants

What time tracking software can UAE consultancies use to bill client hours?

Time tracking software for UAE consultancies, engineering firms, IT service companies and agencies records hours against clients, projects and tasks, routes them for weekly approval, and turns billable time into invoices and project costs. Configured on Zoho Projects, Odoo, ERPNext or Microsoft Dynamics 365, it applies billing and cost rates per person or contract and records write-offs.

  • Time tracking records what staff worked on; attendance only records whether they were at work.
  • Billing and cost rates can be set per person, role or contract.
  • Invoices are built from approved timesheets, with write-offs recorded separately.
  • Practice leads can review utilisation and project profitability from the same time data.

Unbilled hours are lost revenue

Consultancies in DIFC, engineering firms in Abu Dhabi, IT service companies in Dubai Internet City and agencies across the country share one weakness: time that was worked but never billed. Time Tracking Software UAE firms choose should make it easier to log time than to forget it, and should carry that time straight into invoices and project margins.

Time tracking is different from attendance. Attendance answers whether someone was at work. Time tracking answers what they worked on, for which client, at what rate, and whether the client will pay for it. Many companies need both, and we connect them, but the design goals are different.

We configure timesheets on Zoho Projects, Odoo, ERPNext and Microsoft Dynamics 365. The result is a weekly rhythm: staff log hours, managers approve them, finance invoices the billable portion, and partners see utilization and project profitability. For the wider project picture see project management ERP.

Unbilled hours are lost revenue
  • Timers and weekly timesheets against project, task and activity
  • Billing and cost rates per person, role or contract
  • Invoices built from approved time, with write-offs recorded
Official Apps

Apps we implement for this in the UAE

The products we configure, integrate and support on projects like this one.

  • Zoho Projects logo
  • Odoo Timesheets logoOdoo Timesheets

Product names and logos are trademarks of their respective owners and are shown only to identify the software we implement.

Business Central Projects Power BI app - project performance to budget - Time Tracking Software UAE
Business Central Projects Power BI app - project performance to budget (real product screenshot). Image: Microsoft (Microsoft Learn documentation), CC BY 4.0 from the official product documentation.
Dashboard Preview

The numbers a practice lead checks every Monday

Time data becomes useful when it shows what is billable, what is stuck and who is overloaded.

  • Timesheets missing or not yet approved for last week
  • Billable utilization per employee and team
  • Unbilled approved hours by client
  • Budgeted versus actual hours per project
  • Write-offs and non-chargeable time by reason
ERP Workflow

The weekly time cycle

A consistent cycle matters more than any feature. This is the sequence we build and train teams to follow.

  1. 1Time logged by task
  2. 2Weekly timesheet submitted
  3. 3Manager review
  4. 4Approved or returned
  5. 5Billable time to invoice draft
  6. 6Invoice issued
  7. 7Project cost updated

One shared database: every step updates stock, finance and reports in real time.

Capabilities

Time tracking features that protect margin

These are the capabilities that separate a useful time system from a reporting chore.

Timers and quick entry

Staff start a timer from a task, or fill a weekly grid, on web or mobile, so time is recorded close to when work happens.

Rate cards

Billing rates can vary by employee, role, client contract or activity, and cost rates are kept separately for margin reporting.

Contract types

Time and materials, fixed fee with hour budgets, retainers and capped engagements each treat logged hours differently.

Approval and locking

Approved periods are locked so invoiced hours cannot be quietly edited afterward.

Utilization reporting

Billable hours against available hours show who is overloaded and who has capacity for the next engagement.

Invoice from timesheets

Approved hours flow into a draft invoice with descriptions the client can understand, ready for review and tax treatment.

Time tracking on Zoho, Odoo, ERPNext and Dynamics 365

Each platform tracks time well. They differ in how billing works and how deeply time connects to accounting.

Time tracking on Zoho, Odoo, ERPNext and Dynamics 365
ZohoOdooERPNextDynamics 365
Main appZoho Projects timesheetsOdoo Timesheets with ProjectTimesheet with ProjectsBusiness Central projects (jobs) time sheets; Project Operations for larger firms
Timer and mobileTimer and mobile appTimer, web and mobileWeb and mobile; timer on taskTime sheet entry; mobile via Business Central app
Billing ratesBilling rates per user or projectPricing through sales order lines and employee ratesActivity Type and Activity Cost ratesResource prices and project price lists
InvoicingThrough Zoho Books or Zoho InvoiceInvoice from sales order based on timesheetsSales Invoice created from timesheetProject invoicing from planning lines
CostingCost reporting with Zoho BooksCost per employee posted to analytic accountsCosting rate per activityResource unit cost posted to project ledger
Best fitAgencies and consultancies wanting an easy startService companies running sales and accounting in OdooEngineering and IT firms on a budgetFirms needing detailed project accounting

Odoo Timesheets is part of Odoo Enterprise. Edition details are confirmed against your licensing during scoping.

Where time data needs to go

Time logged once should serve billing, costing, payroll and client reporting.

  • Project and task management
  • Invoicing and accounts receivable
  • Attendance records
  • Payroll for overtime or hourly staff
  • Client portals
  • Calendar and email
  • Jira or development tools
  • Resource planning
  • BI and partner reports
  • Contract and retainer records
UAE Compliance

UAE tax points for billed time

Invoicing time is a taxable supply of services, so the invoice and records need to be right. We configure the setup; your tax advisor confirms the treatment.

VAT on services

Services billed to UAE clients are generally subject to 5% VAT, while some services supplied to clients outside the UAE may qualify for zero rating under specific conditions. We set tax codes per client and contract so the invoice applies the treatment your advisor confirms.

Tax invoice content

Invoices built from timesheets still need the prescribed tax invoice details, including your TRN. Templates are set up once so every time-based invoice carries them.

Intercompany time charges

Groups that charge staff time between UAE entities or to overseas affiliates should keep clear records of hours and rates. Corporate tax transfer pricing rules may apply; confirm with your tax advisor.

E-invoicing

From 1 January 2027 (revenue of AED 50 million or more) or 1 July 2027 (others), B2B invoices are expected to be exchanged through an Accredited Service Provider using PINT AE. Check the latest Ministry of Finance and FTA guidance.

General information, not tax or legal advice. Rules change; confirm current FTA, MOHRE and Ministry of Finance guidance with your advisor.

UAE Compliance Built In

UAE regulations covered in every Time Tracking Software UAE project

We configure the system for the rules UAE businesses report against, and test it before go-live.

General information, not tax or legal advice. Confirm current requirements with the FTA, MOHRE or your advisor. See all UAE compliance guides.

Serving the UAE

Time Tracking Software UAE across all seven emirates

On-site workshops in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah, and remote or on-site delivery across the Northern Emirates and free zones.

Official sources and references

Facts on this page were checked against these sources in October 2026. Rules change, so confirm current requirements before acting.

FAQs

Time tracking questions

Still have a question? Our consultants are happy to help.

Ask an Expert
Should we use the same system for attendance and time tracking?

It helps when both live on the same platform, because you can compare hours present with hours logged. But they serve different purposes, so we design them as separate records that can be reconciled rather than one combined form.

How do we get staff to submit timesheets on time?

Make entry quick, send automatic reminders, and make missing timesheets visible to managers. Some firms link timesheet completion to expense reimbursement or performance reviews. A simple, consistent weekly deadline matters more than the tool.

Can we bill fixed-fee projects and still track time?

Yes. Time is still logged against the project for costing and budget control, but invoices follow milestones or a fixed schedule. Comparing hours used with the fee shows which fixed-fee engagements are losing money.

Can clients see the hours we bill?

Most platforms support a client portal or timesheet report attached to the invoice. We usually show approved hours with task descriptions, and hide internal cost rates and non-billable notes.

We bill in AED and USD. Is that a problem?

No. Contracts can carry their own currency, and invoices are raised in that currency while the ledger records the AED equivalent. Rate cards can be held in each currency so no conversion happens at billing time.

How long does it take to implement?

If projects and clients are already in the system, timesheets and billing rules often take 3-6 weeks to set up and roll out. Migrating open projects and unbilled work from another tool adds time.

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Turn logged hours into billed revenue

Show us how your teams record and bill time today, and we will design a timesheet flow that fits your contracts.

Location

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