DAFZA Approved Auditors

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Services We Offer as DAFZA Approved Auditors in UAE

As DAFZA approved auditors in the UAE, we offer comprehensive audit and financial services for companies established in the Dubai Airport Freezone. Our team is well-versed in DAFZA regulations to keep your business compliant and financially healthy.

DAFZA Audit Requirements and Regulations

Legal basis

DAFZA was established under Law No. 2 of 1996, with the Dubai Airport Free Zone Authority formally constituted under Law No. 25 of 2009 to regulate the zone. Under DAFZA’s Free Zone Rules and Regulations, every company registered as a Free Zone Establishment (FZE) or Free Zone Company (FZCO) must prepare annual financial statements and have them audited by a firm approved by DAFZA. Financial statements must be prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards and reflect a true and fair view of the company’s financial position.

Who must comply

The audit requirement applies uniformly to all DAFZA licence holders, regardless of sector or company size. This includes companies operating under Trading, Service, Industrial, E-Commerce and General Trading licences, as well as branch offices of foreign companies. DAFZA also offers a Dual Licence arrangement with the Dubai Department of Economic Development, allowing a DAFZA company to operate on the Dubai mainland without a separate physical office; companies using this arrangement remain subject to the same DAFZA audit requirement.

Penalties for non-compliance

DAFZA links audit compliance directly to trade licence renewal and continued access to the Authority’s services. A missed or incomplete audit submission is recorded as a compliance query against the company, which can delay or block licence renewal until the audited financial statements are submitted and accepted. Repeated non-compliance can affect the company’s standing with the Authority and create complications with banking relationships that rely on up-to-date audited financials.

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Audit Process, Deadline and Documents Required

Filing deadline and submission process

Audited financial statements must be submitted to DAFZA within 90 days of the end of the company’s financial year. For a company with a 31 December year-end, this places the submission deadline around 31 March. Submission is made directly to the Authority together with the signed audit report, and companies should confirm the current process and any DAFZA circulars affecting a specific financial year before relying on a fixed date, since free zone authorities periodically update filing procedures.

Step-by-step audit process

Maintain financial records — keep ledgers, invoices, bank statements, payroll records and VAT documentation throughout the year.
Prepare financial statements — at year-end, prepare the balance sheet, profit and loss statement and supporting schedules in line with IFRS.
Appoint a DAFZA-approved auditor — confirm the firm’s approval status with the Authority before engagement.
Complete the audit — the auditor reviews the accounting records, tests the accuracy of the financial statements, and issues a signed audit report.
Submit to DAFZA within 90 days of the financial year-end, along with any supporting documents the Authority requests.

Documents required

Auditors typically request: valid trade licence, Memorandum and Articles of Association, share certificates or shareholder register, bank statements for the full financial year, trial balance and general ledger, sales, purchase, expense and payroll ledgers, fixed asset register with depreciation schedules, management accounts, VAT registration certificate and returns where applicable, corporate tax registration details where applicable, and supporting invoices, contracts and inventory records.

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Why Choose Farahat & Co. as Your DAFZA-Approved Auditor

Farahat & Co. has provided audit services across the UAE since 1985 and is approved to conduct statutory audits for DAFZA-registered companies. Our team of CPA, CA and ACCA-qualified professionals understands DAFZA’s specific submission timeline and documentation expectations, reducing the risk of a delayed or rejected filing.

Beyond DAFZA, Farahat & Co. holds approvals across more than 20 UAE free zones, including DMCC, DIFC and JAFZA, giving businesses with operations in multiple free zones a single audit partner rather than separate firms in each jurisdiction. Our audit work also connects to VAT and corporate tax compliance, since audited financial statements support consistency between accounting records and tax filings during any FTA review. Businesses choose us because the same team conducting the DAFZA audit also understands the broader compliance picture it feeds into.

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About DAFZA: Free Zone Profile

Dubai Airport Free Zone was established in 1996 under Law No. 2 of 1996, with the Dubai Airport Free Zone Authority formally constituted under Law No. 25 of 2009. Located adjacent to Dubai International Airport, DAFZA is home to more than 2,000 registered businesses across more than 20 sectors, including aviation, logistics, technology, media, engineering and trading.

DAFZA offers several licence types to match different business models, including Trading, Service, Industrial, E-Commerce and General Trading licences, along with a Dual Licence option that allows a DAFZA company to also operate on the Dubai mainland without maintaining a separate physical office. This licence flexibility means audit requirements apply across a wide mix of business types, from single-activity trading companies to larger logistics and technology operations, all subject to the same annual audit and 90-day filing requirement.

FAQs

Is an audit mandatory for all DAFZA companies?

Yes. Every company registered in DAFZA as a Free Zone Establishment (FZE) or Free Zone Company (FZCO) must prepare annual financial statements and have them audited by a DAFZA-approved auditor, regardless of size or sector.

When should audited financial statements be submitted in DAFZA?

Audited financial statements must be submitted within 90 days of the end of the company’s financial year. For a company with a 31 December year-end, this generally places the deadline around 31 March.

Who can audit a DAFZA company?

Only an auditor approved by DAFZA can conduct the audit. Companies should confirm a firm’s current approval status with the Authority directly before engagement.

What happens if a DAFZA company misses the audit deadline?

A missed or incomplete submission is recorded as a compliance query, which can delay or block trade licence renewal until the audited financial statements are submitted and accepted by the Authority.

What documents are required for a DAFZA audit?

Commonly required documents include the trade licence, Memorandum and Articles of Association, shareholder register, bank statements, trial balance and general ledger, payroll and purchase ledgers, fixed asset register, and relevant VAT or corporate tax records.

Does a DAFZA Dual Licence company still need a DAFZA audit?

Yes. Companies using DAFZA’s Dual Licence arrangement with the Dubai Department of Economic Development remain subject to the same DAFZA audit and filing requirements as any other DAFZA-registered company.

Does the DAFZA audit requirement apply to both FZE and FZCO companies?

Yes. Both Free Zone Establishments (single shareholder) and Free Zone Companies (multiple shareholders) registered in DAFZA are required to prepare audited financial statements annually.

Can an audit help during VAT or Corporate Tax reviews?

Yes. Audited financial records help maintain consistency between a company’s accounting records and its tax filings, which supports the business during VAT or Corporate Tax reviews by the Federal Tax Authority.

How long does a DAFZA audit take?

Timing depends on company size and how organised the accounting records are. Most DAFZA audits are completed within a few weeks when records are up to date and readily available.

Do you provide services beyond audit for DAFZA companies?

Yes. Farahat & Co. also provides accounting, VAT, corporate tax and related advisory services for DAFZA-registered companies and businesses across the UAE.

DAFZA Approved Auditors