Annual accounts and audit
The DIEZA Implementing Regulations 2023 require FZCO accounting records, accounts and audit under Regulation 65.1. Check the legal form shown on your current registration documents.
Company and branch requirements differ.Dubai Airport Freezone · DAFZA / DAFZ
DAFZA Approved Auditors in Dubai
SAIF Chartered Accountants provides annual audit, financial reporting and submission support for Dubai Airport Freezone businesses—listed by DAFZ under registration 0033.
Audit and accounting for Dubai Airport Freezone
Clear financial reporting for a connected business.
Your audit should reflect how your company earns revenue, holds assets and manages obligations—not just the name of the free zone on its licence.
SAIF Chartered Accountants supports DAFZA companies with financial statement audits and coordinated reporting assistance. We start by understanding the legal entity, reporting period, business model and condition of the accounting records.
For a distributor, that may mean stock in transit and overseas customer balances. For a service company, the focus may be contract milestones, deferred income or group charges. Our annual audit approach connects these business activities with the evidence needed to support the accounts.
DAFZA and DAFZ are names commonly used for Dubai Airport Freezone. Its location beside Dubai International Airport makes cross-border transactions a relevant part of audit planning for many businesses operating there.
Check the authority record
Our DAFZA auditor registration
The official DAFZ auditor list dated 12 December 2025 includes SAIF Chartered Accountants, registration 0033. This is the registration shown on the authority’s list, distinct from its row number.
Confirm the signing firm’s legal name and current status before appointing an auditor. Keep the engagement letter and appointment records with the company’s reporting file.
View the official DAFZ auditor list ↗- Listed firm
- SAIF Chartered Accountants
- DAFZ registration
- 0033
- Listed office
- 1106, The Prism Tower
Business Bay, Dubai - Source checked
- 16 September 2026
Entity, accounts and timing
DAFZA audit requirements and deadlines
Separate the work needed to complete the accounts from the steps needed to file them.
FZCO: Regulation 67.5
The published rule provides 30 days after financial year-end for directors’ preparation and approval and the auditor’s examination and report.
Plan the engagement before year-end.FZCO: Regulation 67.6(b)
Accounts and the auditor’s report are filed with the Registrar within 30 days after the audit examination and report.
This is a separate filing trigger.PLCs and branches
PLCs have separate provisions in Regulations 67.4 and 67.6(a); branches are addressed in Regulation 73. Do not apply an FZCO checklist to every structure.
Confirm the correct reporting route.One reporting cycle, separate responsibilities
From accounting records to a completed filing
Use a single agreed timetable, with an owner for every handover.
- 01
Reconcile
Finance closes the ledger and prepares supporting schedules.
- 02
Examine
The auditor tests evidence and discusses reporting issues.
- 03
Approve
Management approves the final accounts and representations.
- 04
Submit
The authorised filer follows the current request through to completion.
DAFZA audit and accounting services
A scope built around your reporting needs
Know which work is included, who is responsible and what you will receive at completion.
Annual financial statement audit
An independent audit planned around material balances, business activities and reporting risks. We agree the financial reporting framework, audit scope and timetable before fieldwork begins.
Audit preparation and readiness
Identify missing reconciliations, unsupported balances and opening-balance issues early. A prioritised request list helps your finance team prepare evidence and assign responsibility for outstanding items.
Financial reporting and disclosures
Discuss the presentation of accounts and relevant accounting policies, including inventory, leases, foreign currency and related parties. Any additional accounts-preparation assistance is separately scoped and subject to independence requirements.
Group and branch reporting support
Coordinate reporting periods, head-office balances, group instructions and consolidation information. Confirm whether the engagement concerns the DAFZA entity, a branch or a reporting package for its parent.
Submission and query support
Help management organise the approved accounts, auditor’s report and supporting filing information. Agree who submits, who follows up and how any authority questions will be handled.
Connected accounting and tax advice
Coordinate relevant findings with separately scoped accounting, Corporate tax, VAT and transfer pricing services. Keep the financial statement audit distinct from tax-return preparation and specialist tax conclusions.
Business-specific evidence
Audit planning for trading, logistics and service companies
Explain how the business actually operates before fieldwork starts. Location, contracts, systems and group relationships help determine where reliable evidence is needed.
For stock-based businesses, discuss count arrangements early. Identify goods held by third parties, consignment stock and shipments crossing the year-end. A later spreadsheet may not resolve missing evidence about quantities or condition.
Trading and distribution
Goods in transit, ownership of stock, shipment cut-off, foreign-currency balances, customer credit and supplier rebates.
Logistics and aviation-related services
Contract revenue, unbilled services, pass-through costs, deposits, leased assets and balances with overseas counterparties.
Technology and service businesses
Project milestones, recurring fees, deferred income, payroll, subcontractors and the support for capitalised development costs.
Regional offices and group entities
Intercompany reconciliations, shared-service charges, financing, management estimates and consistency with group reporting.
Records to prepare
Your DAFZA audit document checklist
A starting point for management—not a fixed authority-upload list. The engagement team will tailor requests to the business.
Company and governance
Current licence, incorporation documents, ownership details, relevant resolutions, prior accounts and the confirmed reporting period.
Accounting and cash
Trial balance, general ledger, bank statements, bank reconciliations, cash schedules and details needed for external confirmations.
Customers and suppliers
Receivable and payable ageing, invoices, credit notes, subsequent settlements, disputes and explanations for older balances.
Inventory and fixed assets
Stock lists, count records, goods-in-transit evidence, valuation workings, fixed-asset register and acquisition or disposal documents.
Contracts and employee costs
Customer agreements, leases, borrowings, payroll, employee-benefit calculations, accruals and significant commitments.
Group and tax information
Related-party agreements and reconciliations, relevant tax workings, VAT returns and correspondence affecting the accounts.
Make the evidence easy to follow
Reconcile each schedule to the trial balance, explain unusual movements and keep a log of adjustments after the first version is shared. Assign an owner and due date to every outstanding request. Share sensitive documents only through the secure channel agreed with the engagement team.
Preparation and communication
Bring your finance team into the plan early.
A short planning discussion helps turn the document checklist into a practical work plan. Identify who holds each record, which balances need attention and when supporting evidence will be ready.
- Agree one contact for audit requests and progress updates.
- Flag stock counts, overseas confirmations and group reporting dates.
- Resolve missing schedules before they delay the final review.
How the engagement works
Five stages, with clear handovers
Early preparation gives management time to resolve issues before they affect the reporting timetable.
- 01
Scope and appointment
Confirm the legal entity, year-end, reporting obligations and signing arrangements. Agree the engagement letter, responsibilities and fee.
- 02
Readiness and planning
Review the trial balance and request supporting schedules. Plan inventory evidence, confirmations and access to accounting systems.
- 03
Fieldwork and review
Examine the relevant evidence, discuss discrepancies and track unresolved issues. Management considers and approves accounting adjustments.
- 04
Approval and audit report
Complete the review, obtain required management representations and finalise the financial statements and auditor’s report.
- 05
Filing and follow-up
Assemble the agreed final pack, follow current portal instructions and retain the submission reference and outcome.
The final reporting pack
Check the version before you file.
The final financial statements, auditor’s report and agreed supporting documents should tell the same story. Company details, reporting dates, currency and figures need to match across the filing pack.
Follow the instructions on the current DAFZA client request rather than another free zone’s process. Agree whether your authorised company user or an appointed representative handles submission. Retain the reference, monitor comments and keep evidence of the outcome.
An upload is not automatically confirmation of acceptance. If an item is returned, identify the specific issue and coordinate the response using the final approved documents.
Before the handover
- Confirm the correct entity name and reporting period.
- Reconcile schedules and filing figures to the signed accounts.
- Check the required approvals, signatures and current forms.
- Keep one controlled set of final documents.
- Record who submits and who responds to follow-up queries.
What the audit does not replace
Tax returns, specialist tax assessments, bookkeeping and internal-control projects need their own scope where required. An audit opinion is based on the work performed and cannot be promised in advance.
Audit fees and timing
A clear proposal starts with the right information.
Share your entity type, financial year-end, approximate transaction volume, latest trial balance, stock locations and the status of your records. Include the prior audit report and any authority notice affecting this year’s work.
Fees reflect the scope and effort involved. A low-volume service company and a distributor with several warehouses, overseas balances and group transactions need different plans. First-year opening balances, accounting-system changes and incomplete records can also affect the engagement.
Ask the proposal to distinguish audit work from additional accounts preparation, tax work and filing assistance. Agree milestones and responsibilities, including how new issues or extra requests will be handled.
Discuss your DAFZA audit scope →Frequently asked questions
Choosing and working with a DAFZA auditor
Practical answers for finance teams and business owners preparing their next reporting cycle.
Speak to our audit team →01Is SAIF Chartered Accountants on the DAFZA approved auditors list?+
Yes. The official DAFZ list dated 12 December 2025 names SAIF Chartered Accountants under registration 0033. You can check the linked authority list and confirm current standing before appointing the signing firm.
02What does a DAFZA approved auditor do?+
The engagement examines the company’s financial statements and the evidence supporting material balances and disclosures. The scope, responsibilities, reporting framework and deliverables are agreed in writing. Approval is not a guarantee of an unmodified opinion or of authority acceptance.
03What is the DAFZA audit submission deadline?+
The deadline section distinguishes the FZCO preparation and filing stages in Regulations 67.5 and 67.6(b). Check your legal form, year-end and current authority notices before fixing the timetable; do not assume a generic three- or six-month deadline applies.
04Does a company with no revenue still need to consider an audit?+
Do not assume that no sales means no reporting obligations. Capital, bank balances, expenses and liabilities may still exist. Confirm the company’s legal status and any written relief with the authority before deciding not to prepare accounts or arrange an audit.
05Do FZCOs, PLCs and branches follow the same rules?+
No. Their requirements must be assessed separately. Bring the entity’s registration documents and any authority notice to the initial discussion so the engagement and filing responsibilities can be matched to the correct structure.
06Which records should we prepare for a DAFZA audit?+
Begin with the licence, prior accounts, trial balance, reconciliations and supporting schedules for material balances. The checklist on this page covers the main record groups; the engagement team will tailor its requests to your activities.
07Can you help if our bookkeeping is incomplete?+
We can discuss a readiness review and any separately scoped accounting assistance. Missing records need to be identified and resolved, not replaced by unsupported estimates. Additional services are considered subject to independence requirements.
08Can we change our existing DAFZA auditor?+
Discuss the reason, reporting period and outstanding work before making the change. Allow time for appointment formalities, professional communication and opening-balance evidence. Share prior reports and authority correspondence with the proposed auditor.
09How much does a DAFZA audit cost?+
The fee depends on the entity, transaction volume, systems, stock locations, group arrangements and record quality. Request a written scope covering the audit and any additional preparation or submission work. No fixed price is appropriate before reviewing the relevant information.
10How long will the audit take?+
Agree a timetable after reviewing the scope and readiness of the records. Confirmations, inventory evidence, complex estimates and delayed responses can affect completion. Plan backwards from the confirmed deadline rather than relying on a generic turnaround promise.
11Does the audit also confirm Corporate tax or VAT compliance?+
Not as a separate tax assurance conclusion. Financial statement audit, tax-return preparation and specialist tax assessments have different scopes. Agree any Corporate tax, VAT or transfer pricing work separately and reconcile the financial information used across them.
12What if a submission is overdue or returned with comments?+
Read the actual notice, identify the missing information and contact the authority promptly where clarification is needed. Agree a response plan with your auditor. Do not assume an extension, fee waiver or acceptance, and retain the request reference and correspondence.
Further reading
Audit and free-zone insights
AuditRecommended Auditing Firms UAE 2026: Comparison Guide
How to assess professional registration, authority approval, sector experience, service quality and engagement scope when choosing a UAE audit firm.
Read insight ↗
Corporate TaxQualifying Free Zone Persons Assessment
Eligibility conditions, adequate substance, qualifying income and compliance areas to review when assessing a UAE Free Zone Person.
Read insight ↗
Transfer PricingHow a transfer pricing benchmarking study works in the UAE
A practical guide to comparable searches, method selection, profit level indicators and the arm’s-length range under UAE Corporate Tax.
Read insight ↗Official reference points
Verify the listing and reporting framework
- DAFZ official auditors list, dated 12 December 2025 — SAIF Chartered Accountants, registration 0033.
- DIEZA Implementing Regulations 2023 — the applicable framework replacing the 2021 DAFZA regulations; see Regulations 65–73.
- DAFZ download centre — authority resources and updates.
Page updated 16 September 2026. General information; confirm current entity-specific instructions before acting.
SAIF Chartered Accountants · DAFZ registration 0033
Plan your next audit with a clear path to completion.
Tell us your business activity, year-end and the condition of your accounts. We will discuss the information, scope and timetable required.
Request a DAFZA audit proposal →