DAFZA Approved Auditor
Registered DAFZ audit firm, Reg# 0104.
DAFZA Approved Auditors for Dubai Airport Free Zone Companies
Farahat & Co. is a registered audit firm with Dubai Airport Freezone (DAFZ) under Reg# 0104. We carry out the annual statutory audit that every FZE and FZCO registered in the free zone needs, and we have audited UAE mainland and free zone companies since 1985.
Dubai Airport Freezone (DAFZ) was established by the Government of Dubai under Law No. 2 of 1996, with direct access to Dubai International Airport. It is home to more than 3,400 registered businesses from over 20 sectors, employing more than 20,000 professionals, and is part of the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ).
Every company registered in DAFZA, regardless of size or activity, must have its annual financial statements audited by an auditor approved by the DAFZ Authority. Financial statements are prepared under IFRS.
Book a DAFZA Audit ConsultationServices We Offer as DAFZA Approved Auditors
As a registered DAFZ audit firm, we audit companies of every licence type in the Dubai Airport Freezone, from first-year audits and annual statutory audits to QFZP audit readiness and special purpose audits for banks and investors. Our team knows DAFZ’s audit rules, so your accounts are ready for submission and licence renewal.
DAFZA Audit Requirements and Regulations
Legal basis
DAFZA was established under Law No. 2 of 1996, and the Dubai Airport Free Zone Authority was formally constituted under Law No. 25 of 2009. Companies are governed by the DAFZA Implementing Regulations 2021, in force since 14 March 2021, which set out how FZCOs, PLCs and branches are formed and run. DAFZ requires all companies registered in the free zone to conduct an annual audit of their financial statements by an auditor approved by the Authority. Financial statements are prepared under International Financial Reporting Standards and must give a true and fair view.
Who must comply
The audit requirement applies to all DAFZA entities, regardless of sector or size: FZE, FZCO, PLC and branches of foreign companies, across Trading, Service, Industrial, E-Commerce and General Trading licences. Companies using DAFZA’s Dual Licence with the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism remain subject to the same audit requirement. A DAFZA PLC has extra duties under the 2021 Regulations: it must appoint its auditors every year, prepare a directors’ report with a corporate governance report, and publish its annual report and accounts on its website.
Corporate Tax requirement
Under Ministerial Decision No. 82 of 2023, a free zone company that claims the 0% rate as a Qualifying Free Zone Person must prepare and keep audited financial statements, whatever its revenue. Any business with revenue above AED 50 million needs audited statements too. So for most DAFZA companies, the audit also protects their Corporate Tax position.
What happens if the audit is late or missing
DAFZA links audit compliance to trade licence renewal, so a missing or late audit can delay or block the renewal until the audited financial statements are submitted and accepted. Out-of-date audited accounts can also cause problems with banks that ask for them. DAFZ’s own 2026 Violations and Penalties list also fines companies that submit incorrect or forged information or documents: AED 10,000, 20,000 and 30,000 for repeat cases after a first warning, which is why audited figures need to be right the first time.
DAFZA Audit Deadline, Process and Documents Required
DAFZA audit deadline
DAFZA audited financial statements are generally due within 90 days (three months) of the financial year-end, and are usually asked for again at trade licence renewal. For a 31 December year-end, that points to around 31 March. Deadlines can vary by company and DAFZ can update its procedures, so confirm your date with the Authority. Start the audit at least two months before the deadline.
Step-by-step audit process
- Keep records through the year: ledgers, invoices, bank statements, payroll records and VAT documents.
- Close the books at year-end and prepare the draft financial statements under IFRS.
- Appoint a DAFZA-approved auditor. Under the 2021 Regulations, FZCO and PLC auditors are appointed or approved by an ordinary resolution of the shareholders. Check the firm is on the latest DAFZ list.
- The auditor tests your records and balances, agrees any adjustments with you, and issues the signed audit report.
- Submit the audited financial statements to DAFZA, with any supporting documents the Authority asks for.
If your books are behind, our backlog accounting team can bring them up to date before the audit starts.
Documents required
Auditors usually ask for: a valid trade licence, Memorandum and Articles of Association, share certificates or shareholder register, the shareholder resolution appointing the auditor, bank statements for the full year, trial balance and general ledger, sales, purchase, expense and payroll ledgers, fixed asset register with depreciation schedules, management accounts, VAT registration and returns where applicable, Corporate Tax registration details where applicable, and supporting invoices, contracts and inventory records.
Farahat & Co. on the Official DAFZ Auditors List
Farahat & Co. is listed on the official DAFZ auditors list under Reg# 0104. DAFZ publishes its approved audit firms under “Official Auditors of DAFZ” on its downloads page, and updates the list every few months. Always check the latest version before you appoint an auditor.
How to check an auditor is approved by DAFZ
- Open the DAFZ downloads page and find “Official Auditors of DAFZ”.
- Open the approved auditors list and check the date on it.
- Search for the firm’s registration number & name.
- Ask the firm for its current DAFZ certificate of registration.
Why Choose Farahat & Co. as Your DAFZA-Approved Auditor
Farahat & Co. has audited UAE mainland and free zone companies since 1985. We are a registered DAFZ audit firm (Reg# 0104) and a Ministry of Economy approved auditor. Our team of CPA, CA and ACCA-qualified professionals knows DAFZA’s submission steps and document expectations, which lowers the risk of a delayed or rejected filing.
We also audit in other major free zones, including DMCC, JAFZA, IFZA, Meydan, RAKEZ and the DDA zones, and in DIFC. Groups with companies in several zones can use one audit firm. The audit is carried out independently. If you also need Corporate Tax or VAT support, our separate tax and VAT teams can help. See all free zone audit services.
About DAFZA: Free Zone Profile
Dubai Airport Freezone was established by the Government of Dubai under Law No. 2 of 1996, and the Dubai Airport Free Zone Authority was formally constituted under Law No. 25 of 2009. Located next to Dubai International Airport, it is home to more than 3,400 registered businesses from over 20 sectors and more than 20,000 professionals. Since 2021 it has been part of the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ).
DAFZA offers Trading, Service, Industrial, E-Commerce and General Trading licences, plus a Dual Licence that lets a DAFZA company also operate on the Dubai mainland without a separate physical office. Every one of these licence types carries the same annual audit requirement.
