JAFZA Approved Auditors

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Services We Offer as JAFZA Approved Auditors in UAE

As JAFZA approved auditors in the UAE, we provide specialised financial and compliance services for businesses operating in the Jebel Ali Free Zone. Our team ensures your company meets all JAFZA regulatory requirements while maintaining sound financial management.

JAFZA Audit Requirements and Regulations

Legal basis

The requirement for an annual audit is set out in the JAFZA Implementing Regulations. Under Regulation No. 1/99, Article 51, every company registered in Jebel Ali Free Zone must appoint an auditor from the JAFZA-approved auditors list to examine and report on its accounts each year. Only firms licensed by the relevant UAE economic development authority are eligible for inclusion on this list. Financial statements must give a true and fair view of the company’s financial position and should be prepared consistently with recognised accounting standards.

Who must comply

The audit requirement applies to all companies registered under a JAFZA trade licence, whether trading, service, industrial or logistics. There is no revenue-based exemption under the Implementing Regulations, so newly registered and low-activity companies are generally expected to comply in the same way as established entities. The appointed auditor examines whether the company’s trading activities are consistent with the scope of its trade licence, checks the accuracy of financial records, and reports on any irregularities, including inconsistencies in VAT treatment or evidence of financial misconduct.

Penalties for non-compliance

Failure to submit audited financial statements within the required period can result in financial penalties and puts trade licence renewal at risk. JAFZA maintains discretion to withhold licence renewal until compliant audited accounts are submitted, and repeated or prolonged non-compliance can lead to further restrictions on a company’s ability to operate within the free zone. Companies that anticipate difficulty meeting the deadline can request a formal extension from the Authority before the deadline passes, rather than after it has already lapsed.

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Audit Process, Deadline and Documents Required

Filing deadline and submission portal

Audited financial statements, together with the signed summary sheet of financial figures, must be submitted to JAFZA within three months (90 days) of the end of the company’s financial year. Submission is completed through the Dubai Trade Portal: companies log in, go to the Registration section, select Submit Financial Statement – Approval, and upload the audited financial statements and summary sheet. The original signed report is typically collected by courier for verification as part of the process. Where a company has a valid reason for delay, an extension request can be submitted to JAFZA before the original deadline expires, rather than afterward.

Step-by-step audit process

Maintain accounting records — keep ledgers, invoices, contracts, bank statements and VAT records throughout the year in a form that supports the trade licence’s stated activities.
Prepare financial statements — at year-end, prepare the balance sheet, profit and loss statement and supporting schedules, reflecting the company’s actual trading activity.
Appoint a JAFZA-approved auditor — confirm the firm’s inclusion on the JAFZA-approved auditors list before engagement.
Complete the audit — the auditor examines the accounts, verifies consistency with the trade licence, and issues a signed audit report.
Submit through the Dubai Trade Portal — upload the audited financial statements and summary sheet within three months of the financial year-end, and courier the original signed report if required.

Documents required

Auditors typically request: trade licence, Memorandum and Articles of Association, balance sheet and profit and loss statement from the prior period, bank statements for all company accounts, credit and debit notes, sales and purchase invoices, VAT records and returns, trial balance and general ledger, payroll records, and a fixed asset register where applicable. Additional documents may be requested depending on the company’s licence type and trading activity.

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

Farahat & Co. is listed on the JAFZA Approved Auditors List and has supported JAFZA-registered companies across trading, logistics, industrial and services licences. Our audit team is familiar with JAFZA’s Dubai Trade Portal submission process and the specific summary sheet format the Authority requires, reducing the risk of a rejected or delayed filing.

Beyond JAFZA, Farahat & Co. holds approvals across more than 20 UAE free zones, including DMCC, DIFC and DAFZA, giving groups with entities in multiple free zones a single audit partner instead of separate firms in each jurisdiction. Our audit work also connects directly to VAT and corporate tax compliance, since audited financial statements support accurate tax filings and, where relevant, a company’s position under UAE Corporate Tax Law. Businesses choose us because the same team conducting the JAFZA audit also understands the broader compliance picture it feeds into.

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About JAFZA: Free Zone Profile

Jebel Ali Free Zone was established in 1985 in the Jebel Ali area of Dubai, adjacent to Jebel Ali Port and near Al Maktoum International Airport. It is widely regarded as one of the world’s oldest and largest free zones, home to more than 8,000 companies, including numerous Fortune Global 500 businesses, across trading, logistics, manufacturing and professional services.

JAFZA issues four main categories of trade licence: trading (import, export, wholesale and distribution of goods), service (consulting, professional and knowledge-based services), industrial (manufacturing, processing and assembly), and logistics (warehousing, freight forwarding and distribution). This breadth means audit requirements apply uniformly across a wide range of business models, from single-activity trading companies to larger industrial and logistics operations. Free zone companies operating under any of these licence types remain subject to the same annual audit and Dubai Trade Portal submission requirements described above.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is auditing mandatory in JAFZA?

Yes. Under JAFZA Implementing Regulation No. 1/99, Article 51, every company registered in Jebel Ali Free Zone must appoint an auditor from the JAFZA-approved auditors list and submit audited financial statements annually.

What exactly is a JAFZA audit?

A JAFZA audit is the annual, independent examination of a registered company’s financial statements, carried out by a JAFZA-approved auditor. It confirms whether the accounts give a true and fair view of the company’s financial position and whether trading activity is consistent with the company’s trade licence.

Who can audit a JAFZA company?

Only an auditor listed on the JAFZA-approved auditors list can audit a JAFZA-registered company. Firms not on this list are not permitted to examine or report on a JAFZA company’s accounts.

When should audited financial statements be submitted in JAFZA?

Audited financial statements and the signed summary sheet must be submitted within three months, or 90 days, of the end of the company’s financial year. Companies expecting a delay should request a formal extension from JAFZA before this deadline passes.

Where are audited financial statements submitted in JAFZA?

Submission is completed through the Dubai Trade Portal, under Registration and then Submit Financial Statement – Approval. The original signed audit report is typically collected by courier for verification as part of the process.

What happens if a company misses the JAFZA audit deadline?

Missing the deadline can result in financial penalties and puts trade licence renewal at risk, since JAFZA can withhold renewal until compliant audited accounts are submitted. Repeated or prolonged non-compliance can lead to further restrictions on the company’s ability to operate.

What documents are required for a JAFZA audit?

Auditors typically request the trade licence, Memorandum and Articles of Association, prior period financial statements, bank statements, sales and purchase invoices, VAT records, trial balance, payroll records and a fixed asset register where applicable.

Are branch companies also required to submit audited financial statements in JAFZA?

Yes. Branch companies registered under a JAFZA trade licence are generally required to appoint a JAFZA-approved auditor and submit audited financial statements in the same way as other registered entities.

Can any audit firm in the UAE audit a JAFZA company?

No. The auditor must be specifically listed on the JAFZA-approved auditors list. Companies should confirm a firm’s current approval status before engagement rather than relying on the firm’s own claim.

What does a JAFZA-approved auditor examine?

A JAFZA-approved auditor examines the company’s financial records for accuracy, checks that trading activity matches the scope of the trade licence, and reports on any irregularities, including VAT inconsistencies or signs of financial misconduct.

Does the JAFZA audit requirement apply to all licence types?

Yes. Trading, service, industrial and logistics licence holders in JAFZA are all subject to the same annual audit and Dubai Trade Portal submission requirements, regardless of business activity.

Can JAFZA request an extension for audit submission?

Yes. Companies with a valid reason for delay can submit a formal extension request to JAFZA before the original three-month deadline expires. Extensions are not automatic and should be requested in advance.

JAFZA Approved Auditors