Annual audit
Statutory audit of your financial statements for licence renewal, banks and corporate tax.
DSO Approved Auditors: Audit, Accounting and Tax for Dubai Silicon Oasis Companies
Companies licensed in Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO), including companies set up through IFZA Dubai, must keep proper accounts and submit audited financial statements each year, usually before licence renewal. They also register for UAE corporate tax, where 0% applies only to a Qualifying Free Zone Person on qualifying income. SGA World provides approved audits, accounting, VAT and corporate tax for DSO companies.
- Ministry of Economy and Tourism approved auditor
- 500+ clients
- Dubai & Abu Dhabi
DSO at a glance
- Authority
- Dubai Silicon Oasis (part of DIEZ)
- Also covers
- Companies set up through IFZA Dubai
- Annual audit
- Before licence renewal
- Corporate tax
- 0% QFZP / 9% standard
- VAT
- 5% on most services
Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO) is a technology-focused free zone and community on the Dubai–Al Ain Road. It is part of Dubai Integrated Economic Zones (DIEZ), and it is also where companies set up through IFZA Dubai are licensed. DSO companies submit audited financial statements every year, and every DSO company deals with UAE corporate tax and VAT.
SGA World provides DSO approved audits, together with accounting, bookkeeping, VAT and corporate tax services for DSO and IFZA companies, from start-ups and consultancies to trading and technology firms, from our office in Business Bay, Dubai.
Working across several zones? See our overview of all UAE free zones.
- DSO is part of Dubai Integrated Economic Zones
- DIEZ
- Audited accounts before licence renewal
- Annual
- Corporate tax for QFZPs and others
- 0% / 9%
- IFZA Dubai companies are licensed in DSO
- IFZA
At a glance
DSO Companies: Key Facts
- Authority: Dubai Silicon Oasis, part of Dubai Integrated Economic Zones (DIEZ) with DAFZA and Dubai CommerCity.
- IFZA: companies set up through IFZA Dubai are licensed in Dubai Silicon Oasis, so the same rules apply.
- Audit: audited financial statements are submitted each year, usually before licence renewal.
- Corporate tax: every DSO company registers; 0% only for a Qualifying Free Zone Person on qualifying income.
- VAT: register once taxable supplies exceed AED 375,000; most services are taxed at 5%.
- Records: keep accounting records for 7 years for corporate tax.
Our services
Which Services Do We Provide for DSO Companies?
Bookkeeping and accounting
Monthly books, reconciliations, management accounts and year-end statements.
Corporate tax and QFZP
Registration, QFZP assessment, small business relief and the annual return.
VAT
Registration, returns and VAT on services to UAE and overseas clients.
Transfer pricing
Owner fees, intercompany services and loans at arm's length.
Virtual CFO
Cash flow, budgets and investor reporting for growing companies.
About the zone
What Is Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO)?
Dubai Silicon Oasis is a free zone and residential community built around technology and innovation. Since 2022 it has been run under Dubai Integrated Economic Zones (DIEZ), which also oversees Dubai Airport Freezone (DAFZA) and Dubai CommerCity.
DSO is home to:
- technology, software and electronics companies;
- start-ups in the Dubai Digital Park and incubator programmes;
- consultancies and service businesses set up through IFZA Dubai, which operates from Dubai Digital Park;
- trading and light industrial companies.
Companies set up as a Free Zone Establishment (FZE) with one shareholder, a Free Zone Company (FZCO) with two or more shareholders, or a branch. Whatever the route, the company must keep proper accounts, have them audited and meet its tax obligations.
Compliance
What Must DSO Companies Do Every Year?
- Audited financial statements
- Accounts prepared under IFRS and audited each year, submitted before licence renewal.
- Corporate tax return
- Filed on EmaraTax within 9 months of the financial year end, whether or not tax is due.
- QFZP review
- If relying on the 0% rate, check qualifying income, the de minimis limit and substance each year.
- VAT returns
- Quarterly or monthly returns once registered.
- Transfer pricing
- Related-party transactions at arm's length, including owner fees and group charges.
- UBO records
- Keep the register of ultimate beneficial owners up to date with the authority.
Approved auditors
Why Does a DSO Company Need an Approved Auditor?
Free zone authorities accept audited financial statements only from audit firms they recognise. A report from a firm that is not accepted can be rejected at licence renewal, which means a second audit and a delayed licence.
When you appoint a DSO approved auditor, check that:
- the firm is accepted by the authority for DSO and IFZA companies;
- the audit partner is a registered auditor with the UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism;
- the audit can be finished before your licence renewal date;
- the same audited accounts can be used for your corporate tax return and any QFZP claim.
SGA World audits DSO and IFZA companies and plans the work around the renewal date and the corporate tax deadline.
Tax
How Do Corporate Tax and VAT Apply in DSO?
Corporate tax. Every DSO company must register for corporate tax. A company that meets all the conditions to be a Qualifying Free Zone Person pays 0% on qualifying income and 9% on other taxable income. Many DSO companies sell services to mainland UAE customers, which is generally non-qualifying income; it must stay within the lower of 5% of revenue or AED 5 million, or the company loses QFZP status. Audited accounts are a condition of QFZP status. Companies that are not QFZPs pay 0% on the first AED 375,000 of taxable income and 9% above.
Small business relief. Resident companies with revenue up to AED 3 million can elect small business relief, but a QFZP cannot. Choosing between the two needs care.
VAT. Most services supplied by DSO companies are taxed at 5%, with zero-rating possible for qualifying services exported outside the UAE. Check the VAT position of your specific premises before treating any goods movements as outside the scope of VAT.
See our corporate tax services and QFZP guide.
Worked example
Example: An IFZA Consultancy Licensed in DSO
A two-person IT consultancy set up through IFZA Dubai is licensed in Dubai Silicon Oasis. It bills clients in Dubai, Saudi Arabia and Europe, with revenue of AED 1.8 million.
- Audit: DSO companies submit audited accounts each year, usually before licence renewal.
- QFZP: IT consulting is not a listed qualifying activity, and most of its clients are on the mainland, so the 0% route offers little.
- Small business relief: with revenue under AED 3 million, it can elect small business relief for tax periods ending on or before 31 December 2029, which is simpler and often better.
- VAT: services to Dubai clients are taxed at 5%; services to clients abroad can be zero-rated with the right evidence.
The audit still goes ahead for the licence, but the tax route is chosen on the numbers, not on the assumption that free zone means 0%.
What to prepare
What Documents Do We Need for a DSO Audit?
Company documents
DSO or IFZA licence, memorandum and articles, and share register.
Accounts
Trial balance, ledgers, bank and payment gateway statements.
Revenue
Client contracts, invoices and unbilled work at the year end.
Expenses
Supplier invoices, payroll and owner expenses.
Related parties
Owner fees, loans and group charges.
Tax
Corporate tax registration, VAT returns and tax route decision.
Fees and timing
How Long Does a DSO Audit Take and What Affects the Fee?
For a small DSO or IFZA service company with tidy books, fieldwork is often one to two weeks. Start one to two months before renewal.
The fee depends on revenue and number of transactions, the state of the books, inventory (for traders), related-party activity and whether corporate tax work is included. Small companies with organised records cost less to audit; we confirm a fixed fee after a quick review.
How we work
How Does Our DSO Audit Process Work?
Step01
Plan
Agree scope, timetable and documents, working back from your licence renewal date.
Step02
Fieldwork
Test revenue, expenses, bank balances and related-party transactions.
Step03
Report
Agree adjustments and issue the audited financial statements.
Step04
File
Submit for licence renewal and use the same figures for your corporate tax return.
Why SGA World
Why Choose SGA World as Your DSO Approved Auditor?
Approved audits for DSO
Audit reports prepared to DSO requirements and planned around your licence renewal and corporate tax return.
Ministry-approved audit firm
SGA World is a Ministry of Economy and Tourism approved audit firm, so our reports are accepted where it matters.
Audit and tax in one team
Auditors, VAT, corporate tax and transfer pricing specialists work together, so nothing falls between advisers.
Qualified chartered accountants
A team of chartered accountants qualified in India and the UK, focused on UAE rules.
500+ clients
Mainland and free zone companies, from start-ups and SMEs to regional groups.
Listed with major UAE banks
Our audit work is recognised by major UAE banks for facilities and account reviews.
Industries
Which DSO Industries Do We Support?
Software and SaaS
- Subscription and licence revenue under IFRS 15
- Capitalised development costs
- Investor and board reporting
Start-ups and venture-backed companies
- Convertible notes, SAFEs and share-based payments
- Cash runway and burn reporting
- Small business relief or QFZP: which applies
Consultancies and professional services
- Time-based billing and unbilled revenue
- Owner pay and connected-person rules
- VAT on services to UAE and overseas clients
Trading and e-commerce
- Inventory, landed costs and margins
- Marketplace and payment-gateway reconciliations
- Mainland sales against the de minimis limit
Electronics and light industry
- Inventory counts and valuation
- Fixed assets and depreciation
- Import and re-export documentation
Avoid problems
Common Mistakes DSO Companies Make
Leaving the audit until renewal week
Licence renewal is delayed
Thinking an IFZA licence has no audit or tax duties
DSO audit and corporate tax rules still apply
Billing mainland clients without tracking it
Can breach the QFZP de minimis limit
Electing small business relief as a QFZP
A QFZP cannot use small business relief
Undocumented owner fees and group charges
Transfer pricing adjustments
Mixing personal and company spending
Disallowed expenses and audit qualifications
DSO desk
Get Your DSO Audit and Tax Done on Time
Tell us your licence renewal date and financial year end. We will plan the audit, accounts and tax filings around them.
We handle
- Annual audit for licence renewal
- Bookkeeping and accounts
- Corporate tax and QFZP review
- VAT registration and returns
- Transfer pricing and virtual CFO
Location: Dubai
Dubai Office
Our Dubai office in The Exchange Tower, Business Bay serves DSO and IFZA companies, and free zone companies across the UAE.
Dubai
Office 1923, The Exchange Tower, Business Bay, Dubai
Abu Dhabi
Khalidiya Towers M-B6, W10, Al Bateen, Al Khalidiyah, Abu Dhabi
Talk to an auditor
Tell us your company type, jurisdiction and deadline. We will confirm the scope, timeline and fee.
- WhatsApp us+971 50 627 3556
- Call us+971 4 570 1795
- Email us[email protected]
- Book an appointmentChoose a time that suits you
Prefer a form? Send us a detailed enquiry.
Who prepared this page
Written and reviewed by SGA World's audit and tax team
This guide is prepared by chartered accountants at SGA World Auditing Accounting L.L.C S.P.C in Business Bay, Dubai, a Ministry of Economy and Tourism approved audit firm, and checked against Federal Tax Authority legislation and guidance. It is reviewed whenever the rules change.
- Last reviewed 9 October 2026
- Chartered accountants from India and the UK
- FTA representation through Saif Chartered Accountants
Have a question about your company?
Tell us your activity, jurisdiction and deadline. A chartered accountant will reply.
Ask an expertFrequently asked questions
DSO Audit and Accounting – FAQs
Short answers to the questions UAE businesses ask us most. Still unsure?
Talk to our team01.Do DSO companies need an annual audit?
Yes. Dubai Silicon Oasis companies submit audited financial statements each year, usually before the licence is renewed.
02.Do IFZA companies need an audit?
Yes. Companies set up through IFZA Dubai are licensed in Dubai Silicon Oasis, so the same audit, corporate tax and VAT rules apply.
03.Do I need a DSO approved auditor?
Yes. The audit report must come from a firm the authority accepts. SGA World provides DSO approved audits for DSO and IFZA companies.
04.Do DSO companies pay corporate tax?
Every DSO company must register for corporate tax. A Qualifying Free Zone Person pays 0% on qualifying income and 9% on other taxable income; other companies pay 0% up to AED 375,000 and 9% above.
05.Can a DSO company use small business relief?
A resident company with revenue up to AED 3 million can elect small business relief, but a Qualifying Free Zone Person cannot. The company has to choose one route.
06.Which services does SGA World provide for DSO companies?
Audit, bookkeeping and accounting, corporate tax and QFZP reviews, VAT, transfer pricing and virtual CFO support.
07.Is an IFZA company audited like a DSO company?
Yes. Companies set up through IFZA Dubai are licensed in Dubai Silicon Oasis, so the same audit and corporate tax rules apply.
08.Is Dubai Silicon Oasis a designated zone for VAT?
DSO is not on the designated zone list in Cabinet Decision No. 59 of 2017, so normal VAT rules apply.
09.Does a DSO company need to register for corporate tax with no profit?
Yes. Every company must register and file a return, even with no profit or when using small business relief.
10.Which DSO companies benefit from QFZP?
Mainly those with qualifying activities such as manufacturing, trading of goods to resellers or holding activities, and limited mainland income. Many service companies are better served by small business relief.
11.How long does a DSO audit take?
Often one to two weeks of fieldwork for a small service company with organised books.
12.What happens if a DSO company files late?
Late audit submission can delay licence renewal, and late corporate tax filing carries FTA penalties.
13.Who regulates Dubai Silicon Oasis?
Dubai Silicon Oasis is part of Dubai Integrated Economic Zones (DIEZ).
References:Dubai Silicon Oasis · Federal Tax Authority · UAE Ministry of Finance — reviewed 14 October 2026
