UAE bookkeeping and accounting services are no longer optional. Since the introduction of 9% UAE corporate tax in June 2023, every UAE company — including free zone entities — is legally required to maintain audit-ready financial records and file annual corporate tax returns with the Federal Tax Authority (FTA). UAE Free Zone Finder provides full-service bookkeeping, accounting, VAT filing, corporate tax filing, and audit support for UAE businesses of all sizes.
Whether you’re a one-person free zone consultancy filing your first tax return, a growing SME outgrowing your spreadsheet, or a multinational subsidiary needing IFRS-compliant monthly accounts, our chartered accountants handle the entire compliance lifecycle — from raw invoices to FTA submissions — at flat-rate monthly packages starting from AED 750/month.
What’s included in UAE bookkeeping services
- Daily / weekly / monthly bookkeeping — recording all sales invoices, purchase invoices, expenses, payroll, bank movements
- Bank reconciliation — matching bank statements to ledger entries
- Accounts receivable & payable management — tracking customer dues and supplier payments
- Cloud accounting setup — Zoho Books, QuickBooks Online, Xero, Tally Prime, Odoo
- Chart of accounts tailored to your industry (consulting, trading, e-commerce, services)
- Monthly P&L and Balance Sheet with management commentary
- Cash flow forecasting
- Inventory tracking for trading and e-commerce
- Multi-currency accounting (AED, USD, EUR, GBP)
- IFRS compliance — international financial reporting standards required by UAE
UAE accounting and tax compliance services
- UAE Corporate Tax registration with FTA (mandatory for all businesses since 2023)
- 9% Corporate Tax filing annually with the Federal Tax Authority
- Qualifying Free Zone Person (QFZP) structuring to access the 0% rate on Qualifying Income
- VAT registration (mandatory above AED 375,000 annual turnover)
- VAT quarterly returns filed with FTA
- VAT refund applications for export-oriented businesses
- Economic Substance Regulations (ESR) compliance and notification
- Country-by-Country Reporting (CbCR) for multinational groups
- Ultimate Beneficial Owner (UBO) declarations
- Withholding tax assessments where applicable
Audit and assurance
UAE Free Zone Finder works with FTA-approved auditors to deliver:
- Annual statutory audits (mandatory for many UAE free zones)
- Internal audit and risk assessment
- Forensic accounting and fraud investigation
- Due diligence reports for M&A and investment
- VAT health checks and compliance reviews
- FTA inspection support
UAE bookkeeping packages
Starter — AED 750/month
For micro businesses with up to 50 transactions/month. Includes monthly bookkeeping, basic chart of accounts, monthly P&L, annual Corporate Tax return preparation. Perfect for solo founders and free zone consultancies.
Growth — AED 1,500/month
For small businesses with up to 150 transactions/month. Includes everything in Starter plus VAT registration + quarterly filings, bank reconciliation, accounts receivable tracking, IFRS-compliant monthly accounts.
Business — AED 3,500/month
For SMEs with up to 500 transactions/month. Adds payroll processing (up to 10 employees), cash flow forecasting, management dashboards, monthly review meeting, ESR notification.
Enterprise — Custom Quote
For multinationals and large UAE entities. Includes dedicated CFO services, IFRS group consolidation, intercompany reconciliations, audit liaison, transfer pricing documentation, and unlimited transactions.
Why outsource UAE bookkeeping
- Avoid FTA penalties. UAE corporate tax late filing penalty is AED 1,000 (initial) + AED 25,000 (cumulative). VAT non-compliance penalties can reach AED 50,000+.
- Save money vs in-house. A UAE accountant costs AED 6,000–12,000/month. Outsourcing starts at AED 750.
- Real-time financial visibility. Cloud accounting means you check your numbers from anywhere, anytime.
- Audit-ready always. When the FTA requests records, properly maintained books make it easier to respond promptly with the required supporting documents.
- Free zone substance compliance. Maintaining proper books is one of the requirements for Qualifying Free Zone Person status. Corporate tax treatment depends on qualifying status, income type, substance, documentation and UAE tax rules.
- Banking-friendly statements. UAE banks request audited financials annually for credit lines and account renewals.
Cloud accounting platforms we work with
- Zoho Books — best value for SMEs, full FTA compliance, multi-currency
- QuickBooks Online — globally recognised, strong integrations
- Xero — clean UI, popular with consultancies
- Tally Prime — preferred by traditional traders
- Odoo — full ERP for larger businesses with inventory + CRM
- Microsoft Dynamics 365 — for enterprise-scale operations
Frequently asked questions about UAE bookkeeping
Do free zone companies need to keep accounting records?
Yes. Since UAE corporate tax was introduced in June 2023, every UAE company including free zone entities must maintain audit-ready accounting records for at least 7 years and file an annual corporate tax return with the FTA, even if their tax liability is 0%.
When do I need to register for UAE VAT?
UAE VAT registration is mandatory when annual taxable turnover exceeds AED 375,000. Voluntary registration is available from AED 187,500. Once registered, VAT returns are filed quarterly (or monthly for large filers).
How much does bookkeeping cost in the UAE?
UAE Free Zone Finder bookkeeping packages start from AED 750/month for micro businesses, AED 1,500/month for VAT-registered SMEs, and AED 3,500/month for businesses with payroll. In-house accountants typically cost AED 6,000–12,000+ monthly.
What is the deadline for UAE corporate tax filing?
UAE corporate tax returns must be filed within 9 months after the end of the financial year. For a 31 December year-end, the filing deadline is the following 30 September. UAE Free Zone Finder can help coordinate bookkeeping, accounting and filing support based on the company scope and compliance requirements.
Can my UAE company qualify for 0% corporate tax?
Free zone companies that meet the Qualifying Free Zone Person (QFZP) criteria can benefit from the 0% rate on Qualifying Income (e.g. trading with non-mainland customers, distribution from a designated zone, holding shares, manufacturing). UAE Free Zone Finder advises on substance requirements and de minimis rules to keep your QFZP status.
Get audit-ready UAE accounting today
Call us today: +971-507864823
Email: info@uaefreezonefinder.com
Office: Block C, VL02-120, SRTIP, Sharjah, UAE
Free 15-minute consultation — we’ll review your current bookkeeping setup, identify FTA compliance gaps, and quote a flat-rate monthly package.