Approved Auditors in Dubai Design District (D3)
We are Approved Auditors by D3.
Audit Services for Dubai Design District Companies
Farahat & Co. is an approved auditor for companies registered in Dubai Design District (D3), a business district regulated under the Dubai Development Authority (DDA).
Established in 2013 with backing from TECOM Group, D3 is home to creative, fashion, media and design businesses, alongside professional services and technology companies.
Every D3-registered company must prepare and submit audited financial statements annually through the AXS portal, in line with DDA’s Private Companies Regulations.
Talk to a D3-Approved AuditorServices We Offer as Dubai Design District Approved Auditors in UAE
As approved auditors for Dubai Design District (D3), we provide tailored financial and compliance services for creative, fashion, and design businesses in the UAE. Our team supports D3 companies in meeting their regulatory and financial obligations.
D3 Audit Requirements and Regulations
Legal basis
As a DDA-regulated business district, D3 companies are governed by DDA’s Private Companies Regulations. Members must appoint an auditor at each annual general meeting, and the auditor’s report must confirm whether the accounts give a true and fair view of the company’s financial position, prepared using IFRS or another accounting standard approved by the Registrar. Financial statements and the auditor’s report are generally submitted through the AXS portal within six months of the financial year-end.
Who must comply
The requirement applies to all free zone LLCs, branches and holding companies registered in D3, across creative, fashion, media, design and technology activities. Even a company with minimal trading activity during the year is generally still expected to prepare audited financial statements, unless formally exempted by the relevant authority. Companies should also retain financial statements and supporting records for at least eight years, consistent with DDA’s broader retention requirement.
Penalties for non-compliance
Using an auditor who is not accepted by D3’s governing authority can result in the audit report being rejected outright, requiring the engagement to be redone with a properly recognised firm. Late or incomplete submission can also delay trade licence renewal and create broader compliance complications with DDA.
Book a D3 Audit ConsultationAudit Process, Documents and Common D3-Specific Pitfalls
Audit process
- Financial assessment — review of financial records and supporting documentation.
- Compliance assessment — verification against DDA and D3 reporting standards.
- Reconciliations — detailed checks and balance reconciliation to support data integrity.
- Final reporting — preparation of audited financial statements and the audit report.
- Submission to D3 — filing through the AXS portal ahead of licence renewal.
Documents required
Company documents: valid trade licence or certificate of incorporation, Memorandum and Articles of Association, share certificates, passport and visa copies of shareholders, directors and manager, Ejari or lease agreement.
Financial records: trial balance at year-end, general ledger, profit and loss statement, balance sheet, bank statements for all accounts over the 12-month period, bank reconciliation statements, fixed asset register, inventory list, sales invoices, purchase and expense invoices, payment receipts, payroll records including WPS records, petty cash records.
Tax and compliance records: VAT Registration Certificate (TRN), VAT return filings, Corporate Tax Registration Certificate, and the DDA Financial Summary Sheet where required for AXS portal submission.
Common pitfalls specific to D3
- Starting the audit too close to the licence renewal date, creating pressure and possible delays.
- Poor or incomplete accounting records built up over the year, which extend the audit process.
- Bank and accounting records that don’t reconcile, requiring additional rework.
- Using an auditor not accepted by D3’s governing authority, risking outright rejection of the report.
- Inconsistent or inaccurate financial reporting that creates compliance risk and rework
Why Choose Farahat & Co. as Your D3-Approved Auditor
Farahat & Co. supports Dubai Design District companies across the creative, fashion, media and design sectors the free zone was built around, alongside its growing base of technology and professional service tenants. Our audit approach keeps D3’s specific licensing and reporting standards in view from day one, rather than applying a generic commercial audit template to businesses with genuinely different revenue models, from royalty-linked fashion licensing to project-based design consultancy.
Beyond D3, Farahat & Co. holds approvals across more than 20 UAE free zones, including DMCC, JAFZA and DIFC, and supports companies across every other DDA-regulated business district, giving creative and design groups with operations spanning D3, Dubai Media City and Dubai Studio City a single, consistent audit partner.
About Dubai Design District: Free Zone Profile
Dubai Design District was established in 2013 with backing from TECOM Group, with its first phase completed in 2015. D3 was created to bring together designers, artists and creative businesses from the fashion, art, architecture and media sectors, positioning Dubai as a hub for regional creative talent. The district hosts major annual events including Dubai Design Week and Fashion Forward Dubai, drawing designers and brands from across the region.
D3 requires a minimum share capital of AED 100,000 for new company formations and, as a DDA-regulated business district, shares its core audit and filing framework with other TECOM-operated free zones. The district’s tenant base has expanded beyond its original creative focus to include technology, media and professional service companies operating alongside design houses and fashion brands.