WC (Dubai South) Approved Auditors
We are Approved Auditors by Dubai South, formerly known as DWC.
DWC (Dubai South) Approved Auditors
Farahat & Co. is an approved auditor for Dubai South, formerly known as Dubai World Central (DWC), authorised to conduct statutory audits for companies registered in the free zone.
Positioned around Al Maktoum International Airport, Dubai South supports logistics, aviation, commercial, exhibition and humanitarian sectors.
Every company registered under DWC, including branches and subsidiaries, must appoint an approved auditor, prepare audited financial statements annually, and submit them to the authority as part of the trade licence renewal process.
Book a DWC Audit ConsultationServices We Offer as Dubai South (DWC) Approved Auditors in UAE
As approved auditors for Dubai South (DWC), we support businesses in the world’s largest aviation and logistics hub with tailored audit, tax, and financial compliance services. Let us help you navigate the regulatory landscape with confidence.
DWC Audit Requirements and Regulations
Legal basis
The requirement to appoint an approved auditor is set out in the Memorandum of Association of each DWC-registered company, in line with the free zone authority’s company regulations. Every company incorporated in Dubai South must appoint an auditor from the DWC approved auditors list, prepare financial statements in accordance with IFRS, and have them independently audited each year. The audit also verifies compliance with the UAE Commercial Companies Law, VAT Law and Economic Substance Regulations, in addition to DWC’s own regulations.
Who must comply
The audit requirement applies to all DWC member companies, including branch offices and subsidiaries of foreign companies. There is no revenue-based exemption under DWC’s company regulations, so newly registered and low-activity companies are expected to comply in the same way as established entities. Unlike some other free zones, DWC explicitly ties audited financial statement submission to the trade licence renewal process, meaning the audit is not a standalone filing but a direct precondition for keeping the licence active.
Penalties for non-compliance
Failure to submit audited financial statements within the required period is reported to attract a financial penalty in the region of AED 5,000 for each month the submission remains outstanding. Beyond the direct fine, the principal risk is non-renewal or suspension of the DWC trade licence, since the audited financial statements form part of the renewal requirements. Companies that anticipate difficulty meeting the deadline can request an extension from the authority.
Audit Process, Deadline and Documents Required
Filing deadline and submission process
Audited financial statements must be submitted to the Dubai South authority within 90 days of the end of the company’s financial year, together with the signed audit report and summary sheet. Submission forms part of the trade licence renewal process, so companies should complete the audit well before their renewal date rather than treating the two as separate deadlines. The authority can request additional documents, or the original signed report, at any stage during its review.
Step-by-step audit process
- Maintain financial records — keep ledgers, invoices, bank statements and supporting documents throughout the year.
- Prepare financial statements — at year-end, prepare accounts in line with IFRS, ready for independent review.
- Appoint a DWC-approved auditor — confirm the firm’s inclusion on the DWC approved auditors list before engagement.
- Complete the audit — the auditor reviews the books and records, verifies compliance with UAE Commercial Companies Law, VAT Law and Economic Substance Regulations, and confirms alignment with DWC’s own regulations.
- Submit the audited financial statements and summary sheet within 90 days of the financial year-end, timed to support the trade licence renewal.
Documents required
Trade licence, Memorandum and Articles of Association, DWC portal deposit statement, bank statements, complete books of accounts and trial balance, sales invoices, purchase bills, expense bills, general ledgers, VAT registration certificate and return records, and any other supporting documents the auditor considers necessary.
Why Choose Farahat & Co. as Your DWC-Approved Auditor
Farahat & Co. is an approved auditor for Dubai South and has supported companies across logistics, aviation, trading and services sectors within the free zone. Our audit approach checks compliance not only with DWC’s own regulations but also with the UAE Commercial Companies Law, VAT Law and Economic Substance Regulations that apply alongside them, reducing the risk of a licence renewal being held up by an incomplete filing.
Beyond Dubai South, Farahat & Co. holds approvals across more than 20 UAE free zones, including DMCC, JAFZA and DIFC, giving businesses with entities in multiple free zones a single audit partner instead of coordinating separate firms. Since audited financial statements in DWC are tied directly to trade licence renewal, our team works to complete the audit with enough lead time before the renewal date, rather than leaving submission until the deadline is close.
Schedule Your DWC AuditAbout Dubai South (DWC): Free Zone Profile
Dubai South, formerly known as Dubai World Central (DWC), is one of Dubai’s landmark master developments, built around Al Maktoum International Airport. Cargo operations at the airport began in 2010, followed by passenger operations in 2013. Dubai South supports a wide range of sectors, including logistics, aviation, commercial, exhibition and humanitarian activities, and served as the host site for Expo 2020 Dubai.
Many businesses and search users continue to refer to the free zone by its earlier name, DWC, even though it now operates under the Dubai South brand. Its position around one of the region’s largest planned airports makes it a hub for aviation-linked and logistics-heavy businesses in particular, which is reflected in the sector mix of companies registered there.