Accounting & VAT in the UAE

A valid trade licence (DET in Dubai, ADDED in Abu Dhabi, SEDD in Sharjah) or free zone licence for accounting and bookkeeping, and for VAT and Corporate Tax work an FTA-registered tax agent you can name. Audits must be signed by an auditor licensed by the Ministry of Economy, so ask for the auditor's licence separately.

Small companies typically pay AED 500 to 2,000 a month for bookkeeping, AED 300 to 1,000 per quarterly VAT return and AED 2,000 to 6,000 for annual financial statements. Messy records are priced as catch-up work, so tidy receipts lower the fee. These are typical Dubai prices; in the other emirates prices are often similar or somewhat lower.

The Federal Tax Authority sets fixed penalties for late VAT returns and late registration, plus penalties on unpaid tax. The penalty table was revised in April 2026, so check current amounts at tax.gov.ae. Ask the firm how it tracks your deadlines.

Only if your licence or lender requires it. Some free zones, including DMCC and JAFZA in Dubai, ask for audited accounts every year, and a small company audit typically costs AED 3,000 to 10,000. Read your free zone's rules, or ask a licensed auditor.