Picking an audit firm in Dubai is no longer only about price or brand. Since corporate tax arrived, audited financial statements feed into tax returns, free zone renewals, bank facilities and, for some groups, special purpose tax statements. The wrong auditor can mean a report your free zone will not accept, or an audit that runs past your deadline.
This guide lists ten audit firms active in Dubai, explains which type of auditor your company is legally allowed to use, and shows how to verify any firm before you sign.
Disclosure and method
This guide is published by Farahat & Co., which is included in the list. We have tried to make it useful whichever firm you choose.
Firms were selected on four points: an active audit practice in Dubai, the ability to sign statutory audit reports in the UAE, a range of audit services, and recognition in the UAE market. The order reflects the scale of each firm’s UAE presence. It is not a quality score. We do not publish fees or ratings for other firms because we cannot verify them.
Top 10 Audit Firms in Dubai at a Glance
| Firm | Type | Usually best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| 1. PwC Middle East | Big 4 network | Listed companies, banks, government-related entities, multinational groups |
| 2. EY | Big 4 network | Listed and regulated entities, groups preparing for transactions or listing |
| 3. Deloitte Middle East | Big 4 network | Large corporates, regulated sectors, multinational subsidiaries |
| 4. KPMG Lower Gulf | Big 4 network | Banks, insurers, government and large private groups |
| 5. Farahat & Co. | UAE firm, established 1985 | SMEs, family businesses, free zone companies, large corporates and groups |
| 6. BDO UAE | International mid-tier network | Mid-market companies and regional groups |
| 7. Grant Thornton UAE | International mid-tier network | Mid-sized companies and owner-managed groups |
| 8. Crowe UAE | International mid-tier network | Mid-market companies with cross-border structures |
| 9. RSM UAE | International mid-tier network | Growing and entrepreneurial companies |
| 10. Baker Tilly UAE | International mid-tier network | Mid-sized companies wanting an international network name |
The Firms in Detail
1. PwC Middle East
PwC is one of the Big 4 professional services networks. Its Middle East firm has offices in Dubai and Abu Dhabi and audits many of the region’s listed companies, banks and government-related entities.
Best fit: listed and regulated entities, and UAE subsidiaries whose parent company is audited by PwC elsewhere. Engagement sizes and fees usually suit larger organisations.
2. EY
EY is a Big 4 network offering audit alongside tax, transactions and consulting services, with a large UAE presence.
Best fit: listed and regulated companies, groups preparing for a transaction or listing, and subsidiaries of EY-audited multinationals.
3. Deloitte Middle East
Deloitte is a Big 4 network with a long-standing Middle East practice covering audit, tax, consulting and financial advisory work.
Best fit: large corporates and regulated sectors, and groups that need audit and advisory support across several countries.
4. KPMG Lower Gulf
KPMG Lower Gulf is the KPMG member firm for the UAE and Oman. It audits banks, insurers, government entities and large private groups.
Best fit: regulated financial institutions and large organisations, and subsidiaries of KPMG-audited groups.
5. Farahat & Co.
Farahat & Co. has audited UAE mainland and free zone companies since 1985. The firm is headquartered on Al Rigga Road in Deira, Dubai, and is a member of LEA Global, an international association of independent accounting firms.
Approvals and registrations
- Auditors licensed by the UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism
- Listed as a registered auditor on the DIFC registered auditors list
- Audits companies in Dubai’s major free zones, including DMCC, DAFZA, JAFZA and the free zones under the Dubai Development Authority
- Registered tax agents with the Federal Tax Authority
- Managing partner M. A. Farahat is registered on the DIFC insolvency practitioners list
For SMEs and family businesses
- Statutory and external audits for mainland LLCs and free zone companies, timed to licence renewal and filing deadlines
- First-year audits and companies with incomplete records, supported by backlog accounting before the audit starts
- Separate audit and tax teams in one firm, so clients can use both services while the audit stays independent
For large companies and groups
- Groups with entities across several free zones and the mainland, audited on one timeline
- Tax groups preparing audited special purpose aggregated financial statements
- Qualifying Free Zone Persons that need audited statements and an agreed-upon procedures (AUP) report
- Internal audit, forensic audit, court expert reports and liquidation work
- Real estate audits for developers and owners associations
Best fit: companies of every size, from SMEs and family businesses to large corporates and groups, that want an auditor with deep UAE expertise and direct access to senior staff.
6. BDO UAE
BDO is an international mid-tier network with offices in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, offering audit, tax and advisory services.
Best fit: mid-market companies and regional groups that want an international network name for banks or foreign shareholders.
7. Grant Thornton UAE
Grant Thornton UAE is part of the Grant Thornton international network and works mainly with mid-sized and owner-managed businesses.
Best fit: mid-sized companies that need audit and advisory support with an international network behind it.
8. Crowe UAE
Crowe UAE is a member of the Crowe global network, formerly known as Crowe Horwath. It offers audit, tax and consulting services.
Best fit: mid-market companies, including those with cross-border ownership or operations.
9. RSM UAE
RSM UAE is part of the RSM international network, offering audit, tax and consulting services to UAE businesses.
Best fit: growing and entrepreneurial companies that expect to need an international network later.
10. Baker Tilly UAE
Baker Tilly is an international network of independent accounting firms with member firms in the UAE.
Best fit: mid-sized companies that want international standards and a network name at mid-tier pricing.
Need Expert Advice?
Contact the team at Farahat & Co. for professional support and expert insights for businesses operating in the UAE.
Which Auditor Is Your Company Allowed to Use?
Not every licensed auditor can sign every audit. Who can sign depends on where your company is licensed and how it is regulated. Check this first, then compare firms.
| Your company | Who can sign the audit report |
|---|---|
| Mainland LLC or private joint stock company | An auditor licensed by the Ministry of Economy and Tourism |
| Public joint stock company, bank or insurer | A Ministry-licensed audit firm that also meets the Securities and Commodities Authority’s requirements |
| DMCC, DAFZA or RAKEZ company | A firm on that free zone’s approved auditor list |
| JAFZA or DDA free zone company | A Ministry-licensed auditor (JAFZA submissions run through the Dubai Trade portal) |
| DIFC company | An auditor on the DIFC registered auditors list. DFSA-regulated firms have separate DFSA requirements. |
| ADGM company | An auditor registered with ADGM |
| Owners association or developer escrow account | An auditor on the Dubai Land Department approved list |
| Qualifying Free Zone Person distributing goods | Audited financial statements plus an independent AUP report for the distribution activity |
If your company also needs audited statements for corporate tax, the same rules apply to who signs. For what changes inside the audit once corporate tax applies, see how UAE corporate tax changes your statutory audit. For which companies need an audit at all, see audit requirements in the UAE.
How to Verify Any Audit Firm in Five Minutes
Every firm on this list, including ours, should pass these checks.
- Ask for the Ministry licence. The Ministry of Economy and Tourism does not run a public online search, so ask for the firm’s licence and the name of the partner who will sign. The firm name on the licence should match the engagement letter.
- Check the zone list. Use the official source for your jurisdiction: the DIFC registered auditors list, ADGM’s find an auditor page, the Dubai Land Department approved auditors list, or your free zone’s own approved list.
- Confirm the zone will accept the report. If in doubt, ask your free zone’s company services team before you sign.
- Check who signs. The report must be signed by a licensed auditor of the firm, not by an unlicensed consultant or a referral partner.
- Check the deadline fits. Ask for the expected report date in writing and compare it with your filing or renewal deadline.
What Drives Audit Fees in Dubai
Audit fees vary widely, and a quote without seeing your records is a guess. These factors decide the fee:
- Revenue and transaction volume: more transactions mean more testing.
- Quality of your books: unreconciled bank accounts and missing invoices add time.
- Number of entities: groups, consolidation and intercompany balances add work.
- Jurisdiction: some free zones and regulators require extra reporting.
- Corporate tax: current and deferred tax balances and disclosures are now part of the audit.
- Timing: audits requested close to a deadline cost more.
Be careful with very low quotes. A report that your free zone or bank rejects costs more than the fee saved.
Questions to Ask Before You Sign the Engagement Letter
- Which partner will sign the report, and are they licensed by the Ministry?
- Is the firm approved or registered for my free zone?
- What is the report date, and what happens if my records arrive late?
- What records do you need from us, and by when?
- Is a management letter on internal control findings included?
- What will it cost to reissue the report if the free zone or bank asks for changes?
- Will the same team handle next year’s audit?
Big 4, Mid-Tier or UAE Firm: How to Decide
Big 4 firms bring global networks, standard methodologies used across many countries and deep benches in regulated sectors. Listed companies, banks and insurers often use them, as do subsidiaries whose parent company is audited by the same network abroad.
International mid-tier firms combine an international network name with a smaller client base, which some mid-market companies and their banks prefer.
UAE-focused firms such as Farahat & Co. bring decades of local expertise: a close understanding of UAE company law, free zone requirements, corporate tax and VAT, and of how local regulators, courts and banks work. Clients usually get direct access to senior staff throughout the audit.
For any company, small or large, the questions that decide the choice are the same: is the firm approved for your jurisdiction, can it meet your deadline, and does its team understand your business and your compliance obligations?
Need Expert Advice?
Contact the team at Farahat & Co. for professional support and expert insights for businesses operating in the UAE.
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