Audit in the UAE

Audit in the UAE covers three situations: an audit that your licensing authority or free zone asks for, one that a bank, investor or parent company requires, and one that the tax authority may require. The Corporate Tax law lets the Minister require categories of Taxable Persons to prepare and maintain audited or certified financial statements, so the list of who must be audited can change. Free zones set their own audit rules, which differ between authorities.

Ask the firm whether it is approved by your free zone or licensing authority for audit work, which reporting framework it applies, how long a first audit takes and what you must supply. Ask who signs the report and whether the firm also keeps your books; independence rules often keep the two roles apart. Check the licences declared in the profile. The UAE country guide explains how mainland and free zone licences differ.

239 firms list audit in the UAE: 162 accounting firms and 76 corporate services providers and 1 law firms. The list has a larger share of medium firms and large networks than most service pages (153 small, 75 medium and 11 large network). Real estate, healthcare, e-commerce and manufacturing are the sectors named most. Browse Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah and Ajman.

Firms offering audit in the UAE

Avyanco

Corporate services provider · Medium-sized firm

Dubai

  • Company formation
  • Accounting and bookkeeping
  • Tax compliance
  • +7 more

Languages: English

View profile of Avyanco

Incorpyfy

Corporate services provider · Medium-sized firm

Dubai

  • Company formation
  • Accounting and bookkeeping
  • Tax compliance
  • +4 more

Languages: English · Arabic · Hindi

View profile of Incorpyfy

215 more firms offering audit in the UAE

Frequently asked questions

Does my UAE company need an audit?

It depends on your licence, your free zone, your bank or investor and any decision by the Minister of Finance. Many free zones ask for annual audited accounts. Ask your free zone authority and a registered auditor to confirm the rule that applies to you.

Can the firm that does my bookkeeping audit my accounts?

Auditors are expected to be independent of the books they check, so many firms keep the two services separate. Ask how the firm handles this and whether your free zone accepts the auditor you are considering.

How long does an audit take?

It depends on the size of the company and on how complete the records are. A first audit often takes longer, because the auditor needs to understand the business. Ask for a timeline and the list of documents before you agree.

Other services in the UAE

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Setting up a company in the UAE: the guide and every firm

General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules, rates and fees change: check them with the official sources linked on this page or with a qualified adviser before you act.