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Bookkeeping services in Dubai are published at AED 400 to AED 1,500 a month. That range comes from 2 firms plus one free zone, checked . The low figure is a promotional price plus VAT, so treat it as a starting point, not a quote.
Source: DubaiAccountingFirms.com price check of published firm and free zone pages, checked .
What the published prices look like
| Source type | Published monthly price | What it depends on |
|---|---|---|
| Accounting firm | AED 400 (promotional, plus VAT) | Entry package, scope not the same as a full service |
| Setup and tax firm | Published as a monthly plan | Bundled with tax filing |
| Meydan Free Zone | AED 1,000 up to 100 transactions, AED 1,500 up to 200 transactions | Transaction count |
We name the free zone because it publishes its own rate card. We do not name the firms. Prices change, so confirm in writing before you sign.
What drives the price
Four things move a bookkeeping quote more than anything else.
- Transaction volume. Every invoice, bill, receipt and bank line is work. A trading company with hundreds of small sales costs more than a consultancy with ten invoices a month.
- Backlog. Missing months are priced as a separate catch-up job.
- Software. If the firm works in your system, the price is lower than when it has to move you to its own. See our guide to accounting software.
- What else is bundled. VAT returns, payroll, management reports and year-end accounts can sit inside the monthly fee or outside it. A low monthly price with every extra billed separately can end up higher.
What does a monthly bookkeeping service cover?
- Recording sales and purchase invoices.
- Matching bank and card lines to those entries.
- Keeping a ledger and a chart of accounts.
- A monthly trial balance or simple report.
Ask each firm to list what is in and what is out. If you want the firm to also file returns or prepare statements, that is closer to full accounting services.
What your books must support
Your bookkeeping is the base for three things. If it is weak, all three cost more.
VAT. Your VAT return figures come from your ledger. The books need correct VAT codes and a tax invoice for each taxable sale. See VAT return filing.
Corporate tax. The corporate tax return starts from your financial statements, which start from your books. See corporate tax return filing.
Audit. An auditor tests your records against source documents. If a company has to be audited, gaps in the books show up there first. See external audit in Dubai.
Questions to put to each firm
- Is the price per month for a fixed number of transactions, and what is charged above it?
- Is VAT added to the quote?
- Who does the work, and who reviews it?
- What do you need from me each month, and by which date?
- What happens to my records if I leave you?
Use the quote form on this page and ask for the same scope from each firm, so the prices compare.
Monthly bookkeeping or a one-off clean-up
Some owners only need a clean-up before an audit, a bank loan or a sale. A one-off job is priced by the number of months and the state of the paper. It is usually cheaper than a year of monthly service, but it leaves you with the same problem next year. If the books are already current, a monthly plan costs less over time than repeated rescue jobs.
A simple monthly rhythm
Send documents by a fixed date. The firm posts them, matches the bank and sends a short report. You read it, ask questions and approve. Keep it boring and regular. That routine is what keeps VAT returns and year-end statements on time, and it is what the price is really paying for.
