Audit and assurance

Audit Services in the UAE
Who Can Sign an Audit and How to Arrange One

An audit in the UAE has to be signed by a registered, licensed auditor, not by a business consultant. We coordinate the engagement with independent licensed audit firms and keep your records moving, so the audit firm can start with a complete file.

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By Imran Mirza, Founder & CEO, Xillion Group UAE. Born and raised in the UAE, with 18+ years of professional working experience, including nearly seven years at Barclays and ADCB and 12 years in UAE business setup. Last reviewed 29 October 2026.

Short answer

UAE audits fall under Federal Decree-Law No. 41 of 2023, and auditors must be on the ministry register. Free zones such as DIFC, ADGM and DMCC run their own auditor approval rules, so the right firm depends on where your company is licensed. Your zone, bank or lender may ask for financial statements or an audit report, so ask them in writing which one and by when. Cost and timing are quote on request.

Who does the work

Xillion Group UAE is a business setup consultancy. It is not an auditor and does not issue audit opinions. Audit work is coordinated through independent licensed external professional partners, who are not Xillion employees. The audit firm, not Xillion, signs the audit report.

Xillion Group UAE is a consultancy. It is not a licensing authority, a bank or a law firm, and approvals are decided by the authority. This page is general information, not legal, tax or investment advice, and nothing here is a guarantee.

Who it is for

Who this page is for

  • Companies whose free zone, bank or lender has asked for audited or filed financial statements.
  • Owners who need clean, signed numbers before a sale, a purchase or a new investor.
  • Companies closing down, where the liquidator report is part of the process. DMCC says its liquidator should be a reputable auditing or law firm in the UAE.
  • Groups and holding structures that want one set of statements across entities.
  • Owners who suspect their books are not ready and want to know before the auditor arrives.
Steps

How it works, step by step

  1. Tell us the facts. Your licence zone or mainland authority, financial year end, activity and the name of whoever asked for the audit (zone, bank, investor or buyer).
  2. Confirm what is required. We help you ask the zone or bank in writing whether they need an audit, a review or only prepared statements, and the deadline.
  3. Check the books. If your records are behind, a bookkeeping partner brings them up to date first. See our accounting and bookkeeping page.
  4. Get quotes. We introduce licensed audit firms that are allowed to act for your zone. You receive each quote directly and choose.
  5. Audit work. The audit firm requests documents, tests the records and issues its report. It is independent of us.
  6. File and follow up. Submit the signed report to the zone, bank or buyer, and keep a copy for your tax filings. See corporate tax and VAT.
Documents

Documents usually asked for

  • Trade licence and Memorandum of Association
  • Shareholder and director passports and Emirates IDs
  • Trial balance, ledgers and last year's statements if any
  • Bank statements for the full financial year
  • Sales and purchase invoices, contracts and loan agreements
  • Lease or Ejari, payroll records and visa list
  • VAT and corporate tax returns, if registered

Your case may need more or less. We confirm the exact list with the authority or partner before you spend time on it.

Time and cost

Timeline and cost, honestly

ItemWhat we can say
CostQuote on request. Audit fees depend on size, number of transactions, quality of the books and the firm. We do not publish a fixed fee because the figures we found elsewhere conflict.
TimelineQuote on request. Firms normally need complete records before they start, so the books decide the timeline more than the audit itself.
Who signsThe independent audit firm. Not Xillion.
GuaranteeNone. The auditor forms its own opinion and the zone or bank decides what it accepts.
Common questions

FAQ

Is an audit compulsory for every UAE company?

It depends on your licence type, your zone, your bank or lender and any investor agreement. Ask your zone in writing what it requires. Do not assume either way.

No. Xillion is not an auditor. We coordinate the work through independent licensed audit firms, and the firm signs the report.

No. Tax filings are separate. See our corporate tax and VAT pages.

Auditors must be on the ministry register, and free zones such as DIFC, ADGM and DMCC run their own approval. Ask the firm for proof of approval for your zone before you sign.

Quote on request. It depends on your size, activity and records. Get at least two quotes.

Often a liquidator report is part of closing. Rules differ by authority, so read how company liquidation works and ask your zone.

Related guides

Related guides

Pages on this site that sit next to this topic:

Sources

Sources and checks

Law numbers come from law firm and consultancy summaries. A licensed partner confirms the current text for your case.

Talk to us

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Phone and WhatsApp: +971 50 158 5088. You can also contact us through the website.

Official Sources

Check the Official Pages

Rules and fees change. These government and regulator pages are the place to confirm current requirements before you commit.

Ready to Begin

Talk It Through
Before You Commit.

Book a free 30 minute consultation with Imran Mirza, Founder & CEO. We look at your plans and set out the right route, the documents and the costs in plain words. Licences, visas and bank accounts remain subject to authority and bank approval.

Book a Call WhatsApp +971 50 158 5088Telegram @xillion_ae
Please note: Government fees, regulations and processing timelines are subject to change by the relevant authorities without prior notice. Please contact us for the latest requirements applicable to your case.