diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 3d56a79..664e376 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -225,6 +225,8 @@ jobs:
           cache-from: type=gha
           cache-to: type=gha,mode=max
           platforms: linux/amd64,linux/arm64
+          build-args: |
+            BUILD_DATE=${{ fromJSON(steps.meta.outputs.json).labels['org.opencontainers.image.created'] }}
 
   # ── Phase 5: GitOps – update preprod k8s manifest ─────────────────────────
   update-k8s-manifest:
diff --git a/backend/Dockerfile b/backend/Dockerfile
index 7d1ef31..2eb5cfe 100644
--- a/backend/Dockerfile
+++ b/backend/Dockerfile
@@ -18,6 +18,10 @@ RUN pip install --no-cache-dir -r requirements.txt
 # Copy application code
 COPY . .
 
+# Inject build metadata
+ARG BUILD_DATE=""
+ENV BUILD_DATE=${BUILD_DATE}
+
 # Create non-root user
 RUN useradd -m -u 1000 appuser && \
     chown -R appuser:appuser /app
diff --git a/backend/app/api/v1/api.py b/backend/app/api/v1/api.py
index fe5eafa..8f06400 100644
--- a/backend/app/api/v1/api.py
+++ b/backend/app/api/v1/api.py
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ from app.api.v1.endpoints import (
     providers,
     app_settings,
     logs,
+    version,
 )
 
 api_router = APIRouter()
@@ -38,3 +39,4 @@ api_router.include_router(app_settings.router, prefix="/settings", tags=["Settin
 api_router.include_router(
     logs.router, prefix="/processing-runs", tags=["Processing Logs"]
 )
+api_router.include_router(version.router, prefix="/version", tags=["Version"])
diff --git a/backend/app/api/v1/endpoints/version.py b/backend/app/api/v1/endpoints/version.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8dbe348
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/app/api/v1/endpoints/version.py
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+"""
+Version endpoint – returns the application version and build date.
+"""
+
+from fastapi import APIRouter
+
+from app.core.config import settings
+
+router = APIRouter()
+
+
+@router.get("")
+async def get_version():
+    """Return application version and build metadata."""
+    return {
+        "version": settings.APP_VERSION,
+        "build_date": settings.BUILD_DATE or None,
+    }
diff --git a/backend/app/core/config.py b/backend/app/core/config.py
index 129df41..44b2cea 100644
--- a/backend/app/core/config.py
+++ b/backend/app/core/config.py
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ class Settings(BaseSettings):
     # Application
     APP_NAME: str = "InboxConverge"
     APP_VERSION: str = "2.0.0"
+    BUILD_DATE: str = ""
     APP_URL: str = "https://inboxconverge.com"
     CONTACT_EMAIL: str = "christian@inboxconverge.com"
     DEBUG: bool = False
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/DashboardLayout.tsx b/frontend/src/components/DashboardLayout.tsx
index 99b2360..e619004 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/DashboardLayout.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/DashboardLayout.tsx
@@ -3,7 +3,9 @@
 import { useState } from 'react';
 import Link from 'next/link';
 import { usePathname, useRouter } from 'next/navigation';
+import { useQuery } from '@tanstack/react-query';
 import { useAuthStore } from '@/store/authStore';
+import { versionApi } from '@/lib/api';
 import { 
   LayoutDashboard, 
   Mail, 
@@ -30,6 +32,12 @@ export function DashboardLayout({ children }: DashboardLayoutProps) {
   const router = useRouter();
   const { user, logout } = useAuthStore();
 
+  const { data: versionInfo } = useQuery({
+    queryKey: ['version'],
+    queryFn: () => versionApi.get(),
+    staleTime: Infinity,
+  });
+
   const handleLogout = () => {
     logout();
     router.push('/login');
@@ -235,13 +243,30 @@ export function DashboardLayout({ children }: DashboardLayoutProps) {
 
         {/* Footer */}
         <footer className="border-t border-gray-200 bg-white py-4 px-4 sm:px-6 lg:px-8">
-          <div className="mx-auto max-w-7xl flex flex-wrap justify-center gap-4 text-xs text-gray-400">
-            <Link href="/impressum" className="hover:text-gray-600 transition-colors">
-              Impressum
-            </Link>
-            <Link href="/datenschutz" className="hover:text-gray-600 transition-colors">
-              Datenschutz
-            </Link>
+          <div className="mx-auto max-w-7xl flex flex-wrap items-center justify-between gap-2 text-xs text-gray-400">
+            <div className="flex flex-wrap gap-4">
+              <Link href="/impressum" className="hover:text-gray-600 transition-colors">
+                Impressum
+              </Link>
+              <Link href="/datenschutz" className="hover:text-gray-600 transition-colors">
+                Datenschutz
+              </Link>
+            </div>
+            {versionInfo && (
+              <div className="flex flex-wrap gap-3">
+                <span>v{versionInfo.version}</span>
+                {versionInfo.build_date && (
+                  <span>
+                    Built{' '}
+                    {new Date(versionInfo.build_date).toLocaleDateString(undefined, {
+                      year: 'numeric',
+                      month: 'short',
+                      day: 'numeric',
+                    })}
+                  </span>
+                )}
+              </div>
+            )}
           </div>
         </footer>
       </div>
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/api.ts b/frontend/src/lib/api.ts
index b007342..aae2a13 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/api.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/api.ts
@@ -755,4 +755,18 @@ export const adminNotificationsApi = {
   },
 };
 
+// ── Version API ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+export interface VersionInfo {
+  version: string;
+  build_date: string | null;
+}
+
+export const versionApi = {
+  async get(): Promise<VersionInfo> {
+    const response = await api.get<VersionInfo>('/version');
+    return response.data;
+  },
+};
+
 export default api;