Question

I have developed an enterprise app and its ready to use for my client.

My company bought an account and provides me with the credentials. So i created the ad-hoc distribution profile to distribute the app to my client’s testing team during development using testflight.

But as i read somewhere, the account type iOS developer program can not distribute the app to any one,

If you want to distribute your app, you need to enroll for iOS developer [enterprise] program account. But that was not in my case, I was able to distribute my app to the client using the iOS developer program account.

I know, if you want to submit your app to the app store, you need to have an iOS developer program and,

iOS Developer Enterprise Program only allows you to distribute your applications to employees or members of your organization through Ad Hoc distribution.

Now my doubt is,

Is it really mandatory to submit our app to the apple for review to
ensure that our app is free of explicit OR else we can use it without
review? Why do we need an approval from apple when we are not
submitting to app store.
The client is telling they just want to get approval then they can sell it within In-House or B2B use.

Because my client asked me to submit our app to apple for just review, but do not want to put on app store. Once they approved, then they will distribute by using ad-hoc distribution profile.

Thanks.

Answer 1

You dont need to submit an enterprise app to the app store for review.

Your client’s request is weird. It doesn’t make sense. You can tell your client that Apple does not review enterprise apps.

Update:
your doubt:

Is it really mandatory to submit our app to the apple for review to
ensure that our app is free of explicit OR else we can use it without
review?

Answer: NO. Its not mandatory

Why do we need an approval from apple when we are not
submitting to app store.

Answer: You dont need an approval.

Now, there is a case where your client’s request will fail for sure:
Assuming (for the sake of explanation) this app is a porn video viewer app, it’d never be approved by the Apple App Store reviewer. And if the enterprise build deploy is contingent upon AppStore approval, even that wouldn’t happen (since the client is adamant)

Note: Enterprise accounts are not meant to circumvent Apple’s pay wall. i.e., you should not distribute the app outside your organization.

Hope this answers your question. (if it didn’t feel free to add a more specific question to the original post.)

3rd Update:
FYI Enterprise Developer account are not easy to obtain. If Apple Developer Center thinks your client is shady, they may have to manage with the regular developer account. The question you are asking has no credible sources for answers because no one would insist on doing something like this.