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An accounting firm in Dubai is any business licensed to do accounting work for other companies. That covers a one-room bookkeeping practice and a member of an international network. They do different jobs, so the first step is to decide what you are buying, not who is biggest. Then check the licence, check who signs, and compare written quotes.
DubaiAccountingFirms.com is an independent directory. It is not an accounting firm, an auditor or the Federal Tax Authority (FTA). The list of firms is being compiled and will be added to this page. Until then, this guide shows you how to buy.
What kinds of accounting firms are there in Dubai?
| Kind of firm | What it usually does |
|---|---|
| Bookkeeping practice | Records invoices, bills and bank lines each month and produces management reports. See bookkeeping services. |
| Audit firm | Examines your financial statements and gives an opinion. See audit services. |
| Tax consultant | Registers you for VAT and corporate tax, prepares returns and answers FTA queries. See corporate tax consultants. |
| CFO advisory | Part-time finance leadership: budgets, cash planning, investor reporting. See CFO services. |
| International network member | A local firm that belongs to a global network and offers several of the above. |
Many firms offer more than one line. That is fine, but ask which team does your work and what that team does all day.
How the work splits
Three jobs are often mixed up. The accountant keeps and prepares your accounts. The auditor, who should be independent from that, checks the financial statements. A tax adviser handles registration and returns with the FTA.
For corporate tax, audited financial statements are required for a Qualifying Free Zone Person and for a taxable person that is not a tax group with revenue above AED 50,000,000 in the tax period. For the rest, an audit may still be asked for by your free zone or a lender. Source: Ministry of Finance, Ministerial Decision No. 84, checked .
For how the audit rules work in detail, read audit requirements in the UAE.
How do I choose an accounting firm in Dubai?
- Trade licence. Ask for a copy and read the licensed activity. It should cover the service you want.
- Who signs the audit. If an audit is part of the job, ask for the name of the signing person. The Commercial Companies Law says the auditor of a limited liability company must be registered with the Ministry of Economy and licensed by the competent authority. The Ministry keeps electronic registers of practising auditors, trainees and audit firms. Check the register entry yourself, do not rely on a sales deck. Source: UAE Legislation portal and Ministry of Economy, checked .
- Free zone acceptance. Some zones keep their own auditor lists and some accept any registered UAE auditor. See free zone approved auditors before you sign.
- Software. Ask which system the firm uses and who owns the subscription and the data. See accounting software.
- Scope in writing. Months covered, number of transactions, VAT and corporate tax filing, and who talks to the FTA.
How much do accounting firms in Dubai charge?
Most firms use one of three models: a fixed monthly fee for recurring work, a per-project fee for set-up or filing, or hourly rates for advice. Bookkeeping prices published by three providers range from AED 400 to AED 1,500 a month, depending on transaction volume and what is included. Source: provider price pages, checked . For audit, no reliable public range exists for small free zone companies, so get quotes. Read more on accounting costs in Dubai.
How do I compare accounting quotes?
Put the quotes side by side on the same scope. Look for what is left out: extra transactions, VAT filing, year-end work, the audit, the FTA correspondence. A low monthly fee that excludes filing is not cheaper. Ask each firm how it handles a missed deadline and who you call.
What are the red flags when hiring an accountant?
- It cannot show a trade licence for the activity.
- It will not say who signs the audit.
- It promises a result with the tax authority or a fixed outcome for a fee.
- It asks for your portal login instead of working under proper authority.
- The quote has no scope, or the price changes after you sign.
- It keeps your records in a system you cannot access.
Ready to compare? Use the quote form below and ask for the same scope from each firm. Also read the FTA penalty rules so you know what a missed filing costs.
