Annual audit
Statutory audit for FFZ renewal, banks and corporate tax.
Fujairah Free Zone Audit Services: Audit, Accounting and Tax for FFZ Companies
Fujairah Free Zone (FFZ) companies submit annual audited financial statements from an auditor approved by the Fujairah Free Zone Authority, generally as a condition of licence renewal. Next to the Port of Fujairah, FFZ hosts oil, shipping, bunkering and trading companies. It is a VAT designated zone, and every company registers for UAE corporate tax. SGA World provides FFZ audits, accounting, VAT and tax.
- Ministry of Economy and Tourism approved auditor
- 500+ clients
- Dubai & Abu Dhabi
Fujairah Free Zone at a glance
- Authority
- Fujairah Free Zone Authority (FFZA)
- Location
- Next to the Port of Fujairah
- Annual audit
- Every year, by an approved auditor
- Focus
- Oil, shipping, trading, logistics
- VAT
- Designated zone for goods
Fujairah Free Zone (FFZ) sits beside the Port of Fujairah on the UAE's east coast, outside the Strait of Hormuz and close to one of the world's largest bunkering and oil storage hubs. It is home to oil and petroleum, shipping, commodity trading and logistics companies. FFZ companies submit audited financial statements every year, and every company deals with UAE corporate tax and VAT.
SGA World provides audit, accounting, bookkeeping, VAT and corporate tax services for Fujairah Free Zone companies, from our office in Business Bay, Dubai.
Working across several zones? See our overview of all UAE free zones.
- Beside the Port of Fujairah
- East coast
- Audited accounts by an approved auditor
- Annual
- VAT designated zone for goods
- Designated
- Ship operation can be a qualifying activity
- Shipping
At a glance
Fujairah Free Zone Companies: Key Facts
- Authority: the Fujairah Free Zone Authority (FFZA), under the Government of Fujairah.
- Audit: companies submit annual audited financial statements, from an auditor approved by FFZA, generally at licence renewal.
- VAT: Fujairah Free Zone and the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone (FOIZ) are designated zones.
- Corporate tax: every company registers; 0% only for a Qualifying Free Zone Person on qualifying income.
- Shipping and commodities: ship operation and qualifying commodity trading can be qualifying activities, with strict conditions.
- Records: keep accounting records for 7 years for corporate tax.
Our services
Which Services Do We Provide for Fujairah Free Zone Companies?
Bookkeeping and accounting
Monthly books, inventory, reconciliations and year-end statements.
Corporate tax and QFZP
QFZP or small business relief review and the annual return.
VAT
Designated zone treatment, registration and returns.
Transfer pricing
Group supplies, services and loans at arm's length.
AML compliance
Due diligence for oil, commodity and shipping counterparties.
About the zone
What Is Fujairah Free Zone?
Fujairah Free Zone was established in 1987 and is run by the Fujairah Free Zone Authority (FFZA). Because Fujairah sits on the Gulf of Oman, ships can reach it without passing through the Strait of Hormuz, which has made it a major centre for oil storage, bunkering and shipping.
FFZ is home to:
- oil and petroleum products trading and storage;
- ship management, chartering and bunkering;
- commodity trading;
- logistics and warehousing;
- general trading and services.
Companies set up as a Free Zone Establishment (FZE), a Free Zone Company (FZC) or a branch. Whatever the licence, the company must keep proper accounts, have them audited and meet its tax obligations.
Compliance
What Must Fujairah Free Zone Companies Do Every Year?
- Audited financial statements
- Accounts under IFRS, audited by an FFZA-approved auditor and submitted for licence renewal.
- Corporate tax return
- Filed on EmaraTax within 9 months of the year end.
- QFZP review
- Check qualifying shipping, commodity or goods income, the de minimis limit and substance.
- VAT returns
- Correct treatment of designated zone goods, bunkers and services.
- Stock records
- Tank and storage records that reconcile to the books.
- UBO records
- Keep the beneficial ownership register up to date with FFZA.
Choosing an auditor
What Should a Fujairah Free Zone Company Look For in an Auditor?
FFZ accepts audited accounts only from auditors it approves. When you appoint one, check that the firm is approved by FFZA, that the audit partner is a registered auditor with the UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism, and that the team understands oil stock measurement, vessel accounting, foreign currency and commodity pricing. The same audited accounts should support your corporate tax return and any QFZP claim.
SGA World audits Fujairah Free Zone companies and plans the work around your renewal date and the corporate tax deadline.
Tax
How Do Corporate Tax and VAT Apply in Fujairah Free Zone?
Corporate tax. Every Fujairah Free Zone company must register for corporate tax and file a return within 9 months of the year end. A Qualifying Free Zone Person pays 0% on qualifying income and 9% on other taxable income; qualifying activities include the ownership, management and operation of ships, trading of qualifying commodities (subject to strict conditions), manufacturing and processing of goods, logistics services and the distribution of goods in or from a designated zone to customers who resell or process them. Non-qualifying revenue must stay within the lower of 5% of revenue or AED 5 million, and audited accounts are a condition of QFZP status. Small service companies with revenue up to AED 3 million may find small business relief simpler, but a QFZP cannot use it.
VAT. Fujairah Free Zone and the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone (FOIZ) are listed as a designated zone in Cabinet Decision No. 59 of 2017. Some supplies of goods within or between designated zones can be outside the scope of VAT if the conditions are met, while services are taxed normally, and goods released into the mainland are subject to VAT.
See our QFZP guide and VAT services.
Worked example
Example: A Ship Management Company in Fujairah Free Zone
A Fujairah Free Zone company manages and operates three tankers owned by group companies and charters them to oil traders.
- QFZP: the ownership, management and operation of ships is a qualifying activity, so charter and management income can be qualifying if all conditions are met.
- Transfer pricing: management fees charged to group ship owners must be at arm's length and documented.
- Audit: an FFZA-approved auditor audits the accounts, with vessel depreciation and dry-docking costs as key areas.
- VAT: many international transport and vessel services have zero-rated treatments that need careful evidence.
What to prepare
What Documents Do We Need for a Fujairah Free Zone Audit?
Company documents
Fujairah Free Zone licence, memorandum and articles, and share register.
Accounts
Trial balance, ledgers, bank statements and confirmations.
Vessels
Vessel registers, charter parties and dry-docking records.
Operations
Voyage results, bunker records and port costs.
Related parties
Management agreements and group balances.
Tax
Corporate tax registration, VAT returns and the chosen tax route.
Fees and timing
How Long Does a Fujairah Free Zone Audit Take and What Affects the Fee?
Fieldwork usually takes one to three weeks once the books are closed. Plan it at least two months before any licence renewal or bank deadline, and well inside the corporate tax filing date.
The fee depends on vessel and voyage accounting, commodity or bunker stock, foreign currency, related parties, the condition of the books and whether corporate tax work is included. We confirm a fixed fee after reviewing your trial balance.
Industries
Which Fujairah Free Zone Industries Do We Support?
Oil and petroleum trading
- Tank stock measurement
- Price movements and write-downs
- Qualifying commodity trading rules
Shipping, chartering and ship management
- Voyage revenue and costs
- Vessel depreciation
- Qualifying shipping income
Bunkering and marine services
- Fuel stock and losses
- Foreign currency balances
- VAT on supplies to vessels
Logistics and general trading
- Landed cost and customs
- Designated zone VAT
- Mainland sales tracking
Avoid problems
Common Mistakes Fujairah Free Zone Companies Make
Using an auditor not approved by FFZA
The report is rejected at renewal
No agreed method for measuring oil stock
Qualified audit opinion on inventory
Assuming all commodity trading is qualifying
Strict conditions apply
Charging VAT on all goods movements
Designated zone rules may apply
Weak due diligence on counterparties
AML and sanctions risk
Unrecorded foreign exchange differences
Misstated profit
Why SGA World
Why Choose SGA World for Fujairah Free Zone Audit Services?
We check the Fujairah Free Zone rules first
We confirm the current Fujairah Free Zone requirements for your licence before planning the audit and tax filings.
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.
FFZ desk
Get Your Fujairah Free Zone Audit and Tax Done on Time
Tell us your licence renewal date, activity and financial year end. We will plan the audit and tax filings around them.
We handle
- Annual audit by an approved auditor
- Oil and inventory accounting
- Corporate tax and QFZP review
- Designated zone VAT
- AML compliance
Location: Dubai
Dubai Office
Our Dubai office in The Exchange Tower, Business Bay serves Fujairah Free Zone companies and free zone companies across the northern emirates.
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 12 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
Fujairah Free Zone Audit and Accounting – FAQs
Short answers to the questions UAE businesses ask us most. Still unsure?
Talk to our team01.Do Fujairah Free Zone companies need an annual audit?
Yes. FFZ companies submit annual audited financial statements from an auditor approved by the Fujairah Free Zone Authority, generally as a condition of licence renewal.
02.Is Fujairah Free Zone a designated zone for VAT?
Yes. Fujairah Free Zone and the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone (FOIZ) are listed as designated zones in Cabinet Decision No. 59 of 2017.
03.Can shipping or oil trading income be taxed at 0%?
The ownership, management and operation of ships and the trading of qualifying commodities can be qualifying activities for a Qualifying Free Zone Person, subject to strict conditions.
04.Which services does SGA World provide for Fujairah Free Zone companies?
Audit, bookkeeping and inventory accounting, corporate tax and QFZP reviews, VAT, transfer pricing and AML compliance.
05.Is ship management a qualifying activity?
Yes. Ownership, management and operation of ships is a qualifying activity for a Qualifying Free Zone Person, subject to all conditions.
06.How long does a Fujairah Free Zone audit take?
Usually one to three weeks of fieldwork, longer for shipping or commodity groups.
07.What is FOIZ?
The Fujairah Oil Industry Zone, a separate designated zone for oil storage and related activities.
08.Do you serve Fujairah clients from Dubai?
Yes. We serve Fujairah clients from our Dubai office and visit for fieldwork when needed.
References:Fujairah Free Zone · Federal Tax Authority · UAE Ministry of Finance — reviewed 14 October 2026
