Knowing the UAE’s audit rules is important if you want to earn the trust of investors and other related parties. According to Government Decree-Law No. 32 of 2021 and Ministerial Decision No. 82 of 2023, audits are now required for businesses on the mainland, businesses with sales over 50 million dirhams, and Qualifying Free Zone Persons. The IFRS rules are followed to make sure that the financial statements are correct and that businesses remain compliant and competitive.
What Are Audit Requirements in the UAE?
Under Federal Decree-Law No. 41,2023 and Ministerial Decision No. 84, 2025, companies in the UAE must give financial records that have been audited and follow IFRS. That is especially true for businesses and individuals with high revenue who pay taxes.
What are UAE Audit Laws?
According to Federal Decree-Law No. 32, 2021, mainland businesses must have their books checked by licensed professionals every year. These are the rules for accounting that are set by Federal Decree-Law No. 41 of 2023.
Companies that make more than 50 million AED, Qualifying Free Zone Persons (QFZPs), and tax groups must be audited, according to Ministerial Decision No. 84 of 2025. For tax reasons, financial records for a business must be kept for at least five years.
Together, these laws and Government Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022 say that tax returns must have audited books by the ninth month after the end of the financial year. If that’s not the case, businesses can be fined up to AED 20,000, and then another AED 10,000 every month after that.
Falsifying information on your application could cost you 50,000 to 1 million dirhams, cause you to lose your license, or even lead to criminal charges.
Authorities in Charge (like the Ministry of Economy and ESCA)
Auditor licenses, up-to-date records, and following the rules for ongoing professional development are all overseen by the Ministry of Economy (MOE).
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- The Emirates Securities and Commodities Authority (ESCA) checks the audits of companies that are traded on the stock market and securities firms on regular basis. This keeps the market fair.
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- Government Decree No. 7 of 2025 says that the Federal Tax Authority (FTA) is in charge of tax checks. They are experts at setting up special business bank accounts.
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- Both Abu Dhabi (ADGM) and Dubai (DMCC) have free zones that are governed by federal laws. But there are some exceptions for businesses that aren’t QFZP.
Who Needs to Conduct an Audit in UAE?
The UAE say that companies in the UAE must do audits based on mainland license rules, revenue thresholds, and the fact that the company is in a free zone.
For sales over AED 50 million, an audit is mandatory.
If a business makes more than 50 million AED a year and isn’t in a tax group, it needs audited financial statements in order to file its tax return. Companies on the mainland and in free zones that aren’t QFZP and use combined revenue are included.
According to IFRS, statements need to be kept for five years. Returns are due nine months after the end of the fiscal year.
Audit for Qualifying Free Zone Persons (QFZP)
Any QFZP business in a designated free zone that wants to get 0% tax on qualifying income has to be audited, no matter how much money it makes. Businesses in DMCC, JAFZA, and similar areas that follow substance rules should use this.
For free zone authorities to renew licenses every year, applications must be checked. This is usually done 90 to 180 days after the end of the year.
Exemptions and Special Cases
Small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) that make less than 50 million dirham a year don’t have to go through an audit unless they are QFZPs or the bank or shareholders demand it. But companies with a mainland DED license need to be audited for loans, some industries, or emirate licenses. They don’t have to follow federal rules.
Companies in DMCC or JAFZA that are not in the QFZP free zone are not required to do audits to renew, but many of them still do.
Types of Audits Required in UAE
There are many types of audits that businesses in the UAE have to deal with. These include internal or external audits of their financial statements, VAT and corporate tax returns, external and internal audits.
Financial Audit
A financial audit is when someone from outside the company looks at its IFRS-prepared annual financial statements. A business on the mainland, a QFZP, or a free zone must have one in order to pay taxes and get licenses. Law says that companies that make more than 50 million AED or claim to be QFZPs must have their finances checked before they can file their corporate tax returns.
VAT and Tax Checks
The Federal Tax Authority (FTA) checks VAT reports, input/output tax, and good records to make sure they follow the rules set by the executive branch.
During a corporate tax audit, taxable income, transfer pricing, and supporting papers are all looked at. As Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022 says, they do this in line with other FTA decisions, like Decisions on audited/special purpose financial accounts.
External and Internal Audit of the company
A check of compliance, risk management, and measures is what an internal audit is. Someone inside or outside the company can do it. Even though it’s not needed by law, it’s often done for good governance and to meet the needs of regulators in areas that are regulated.
Outside audits are done by a licensed audit company that is registered with the Ministry of Economy. They look at the financial statements without bias. Because of free zone rules, loans, and taxes, a lot of businesses need this.
How to Meet the Requirements of a UAE Audit
Here’s how businesses can follow the audit rules set by the UAE Audit Law.
Choose a Licensed Auditor
The first thing you should do is find an audit company that has been approved by the UAE Ministry of Economy. Sometimes, you will also need approval from the authority or regulator in charge of your free zone.
Make sure the company knows about your business, the UAE’s corporate tax rules, and free zone laws. Also, make sure you sign an annual contract letter that spells out the firm’s duties and when they are due.
Putting together financial statements (IFRS Standards)
This way auditor can see all of the correct information, make sure you keep good books of accounts, supporting papers, and bank reconciliations. IFRS should be used to make the balance sheet, profit and loss, cash flows, and notes. You should also check that they match your tax and VAT records.
Due dates and penalties for submissions
For company tax, you need to file your tax returns and, if necessary, audited accounts within 9 months of the end of the financial year. If you miss a deadline or give wrong information, you could face daily and fixed fines, as well as problems with renewing your license or using your bank account.
Audit Requirements in UAE Free Zones vs. Mainland
Free Zone Specific Rules
To keep their licenses, businesses in most free zones (like DMCC and JAFZA) have to show audited financial statements every year. Whereas, Qualifying Free Zone Persons (QFZPs) must keep their books audited to keep the 0% corporate tax rate on qualifying income.
Mainland Company Obligations
A lot of mainland companies have to get audits every year because of the law, bank relationships, or income of over 50 million AED. Some industries that work in financial services or perform regulated activities have to face strict audit requirements from their regulators or lenders.
Benefits of Auditing Your Business in UAE
Honesty and Trust from Investors
A good audit report shows that your numbers have been checked by a third party, which builds trust with investors, business partners, and banks. This makes it easier to get funding, buyers, or new shareholders, and it raises the value of the business.
Tax Optimization
Having your accounts properly audited will help you correctly claim deductions and tax breaks, which lowers the chance that you will pay too much tax.
Keep good records so you don’t have a problem with the Federal Tax Authority. This will also make it easier to do a tax review or audit in the future.
Apart from that, audits also show where controls aren’t working well, which helps management lower the risk of fraud and operational mistakes. This way business can make better decisions about budgeting, pricing, and growth as they have correct financial data.
Conclusion:
Audit requirements in the UAE make sure that businesses follow the rules. They do this by demanding financial statements, VAT/tax checks, and on-time submissions that meet IFRS standards. Don’t miss the due dates, and hire licensed auditors to avoid getting fined. Plus, your businesses will be stronger, investors will trust you more, and your taxes will go down.
Regular audits will help your business grow in Dubai’s tough market. Get in touch with HH and HALE right away for easy compliance and professional help with audits.