DDA Approved Auditors
We are Approved Auditors by DDA.
Approved Auditors for Dubai Development Authority (DDA) Companies
Farahat & Co. is an approved auditor for companies regulated by the Dubai Development Authority (DDA).
Established under Law No. 1 of 2000, DDA is the umbrella regulator for TECOM Group’s business districts, including Dubai Internet City, Dubai Media City, Dubai Design District, Dubai Knowledge Park, Dubai Studio City, Dubai Science Park, Dubai Outsource City, Dubai International Academic City and Dubai Production City.
Every DDA-registered company must prepare and submit audited financial statements annually through the AXS portal, generally within six months of the financial year end.
Book a DDA Audit ConsultationServices We Offer as DDA Approved Auditors in UAE
As approved auditors for the Dubai Development Authority, we provide expert financial and compliance services for creative and design businesses in DDA-managed free zones. Our team ensures your company stays fully compliant with DDA regulations.
DDA Audit Requirements and Regulations
Legal basis
DDA-registered companies are governed by the Private Companies Regulations, which require members to appoint an auditor at each annual general meeting and file notice of that appointment with the Registrar. The auditor’s report must address whether the accounts have been properly prepared and whether they give a true and fair view of the company’s profit or loss and financial position for the year. Financial statements should be prepared using generally accepted accounting standards approved by the Registrar, with DDA’s licensing materials referring to IFRS, GAAP, or similar internationally recognised standards.
Who must comply
The requirement applies to FZ-LLCs and branch offices registered across every DDA-regulated business district, regardless of sector, size or activity. Branch offices may submit either the consolidated audited financial statements of their parent company or a stand-alone extract covering the branch’s own operations. Companies must also preserve financial statements and related records for not less than eight years from the date they were first required — a notably longer retention period than several other UAE free zones.
Penalties for non-compliance
Late or missing submission of audited financial statements can lead to penalties, compliance issues, and delays in annual regulatory processes, including licence renewal. Non-compliance can also create difficulties maintaining good standing with the Authority across any of DDA’s business districts.
Audit Process, Deadline and Documents Required
Filing deadline and submission process
Financial statements and the auditor’s report must be laid before members at the annual general meeting within six months after the end of the financial year. DDA requires audited financial statements and the Financial Statements Report Summary Sheet to be submitted through the AXS portal, generally within the same six-month window from the financial year end.
Financial statements typically include: statement of profit and loss, statement of retained earnings or deficit, balance sheet, statement of changes in financial position, notes to the financial statements, and any further information required under the regulations or the company’s articles.
Documents required
Corporate and financial records: trade licence, Memorandum and Articles of Association, shareholder register and share certificates, board resolutions where applicable, general ledger and trial balance, chart of accounts, accounting policies, previous year’s audited financial statements, bank statements and reconciliations for the full financial year.
Transaction and operational records: petty cash records, sales invoices and revenue summary, customer contracts, accounts receivable aging report, supplier invoices and expense ledger, accounts payable aging report, major expense contracts, payroll summary, employee contracts and WPS records, leave and end-of-service provision records.
Asset and compliance records: fixed asset register with depreciation schedule, inventory records and stock valuation where applicable, VAT returns and reconciliation report, corporate tax registration details where applicable, loan agreements, related-party transaction details, and management reports.
Why Choose Farahat & Co. as Your DDA-Approved Auditor
Farahat & Co. supports companies across every DDA-regulated business district, from technology and media firms in Dubai Internet City and Dubai Media City to training providers in Dubai Knowledge Park and academic institutions in Dubai International Academic City. Because DDA’s audit framework applies consistently across these otherwise very different sectors, our team understands both the shared compliance requirements, such as the AXS portal submission and eight-year retention period, and the sector-specific transaction types that differ from one business district to another.
Beyond DDA, Farahat & Co. holds approvals across more than 20 UAE free zones, including DMCC, JAFZA and DIFC, giving groups with entities across multiple TECOM districts and other free zones a single, consistent audit partner.
About DDA and TECOM Group: Regulatory Profile
The Dubai Development Authority was established under Law No. 1 of 2000, originally known as the Dubai Technology and Media Free Zone Authority and later the Dubai Creative Clusters Authority, to position Dubai as a global centre for knowledge-based industries. DDA now regulates registration, licensing, planning and development across TECOM Group’s business districts, which together host more than 12,200 companies and 137,000 professionals across six non-oil sectors: information technology, media, science, education, design and industrial.
TECOM Group PJSC, listed on the Dubai Financial Market, is the master developer operating the physical business districts under DDA’s regulatory jurisdiction, including Dubai Internet City, Dubai Media City, Dubai Design District, Dubai Knowledge Park, Dubai Science Park, Dubai Studio City, Dubai Outsource City, Dubai International Academic City and Dubai Production City. While each district has its own sector focus and community identity, all fall under DDA’s shared regulatory and audit framework.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it mandatory for DDA companies to submit audited financial statements?
How are audited financial statements submitted under DDA?
What is the usual deadline for submitting audited financial statements under DDA?
Do branch offices under DDA also need audited financial statements?
What documents are generally required for a DDA audit?
What accounting standards should DDA companies follow?
How long should accounting records be kept under DDA requirements?
Why should I appoint a DDA-approved auditor?
What can happen if audited financial statements are not submitted on time?
Should a company licensed by DDA submit audited financial statements to renew its trade licence?
Are DDA's audit requirements the same across all its business districts?
Can Farahat & Co. help with DDA audit compliance?
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