Audit
Statutory audit for QFZP status, corporate tax, banks and investors.
Meydan Free Zone Audit Services: Audit, Accounting and Corporate Tax for Meydan Companies
Meydan Free Zone does not generally require an audit for licence renewal, but many Meydan companies still need one. Audited financial statements are required for corporate tax if the company claims Qualifying Free Zone Person status or has revenue above AED 50 million, and banks, investors or the authority may ask for them. SGA World provides audit, accounting, VAT and corporate tax for Meydan companies.
- Ministry of Economy and Tourism approved auditor
- 500+ clients
- Dubai & Abu Dhabi
Meydan Free Zone at a glance
- Location
- Meydan, Nad Al Sheba, Dubai
- Licence renewal audit
- Not generally required
- Audit for QFZP
- Required
- Revenue over AED 50m
- Audit required
- Corporate tax
- 0% QFZP / 9% standard
Meydan Free Zone in Dubai is one of the UAE's most popular free zones for start-ups, consultancies, e-commerce and trading companies, with fully digital set-up and many low-cost licence packages. Unlike DMCC or JAFZA, Meydan does not generally ask for audited accounts at licence renewal. But since UAE corporate tax, many Meydan companies do need an audit anyway.
SGA World provides audit, accounting, bookkeeping, VAT and corporate tax services for Meydan Free Zone companies, and helps owners decide whether an audit is needed, from our office in Business Bay, Dubai.
Working across several zones? See our overview of all UAE free zones.
- General audit requirement at licence renewal
- No
- Audited accounts required to claim 0%
- QFZP
- Revenue above which an audit is required
- AED 50m
- To file the corporate tax return
- 9 months
At a glance
Meydan Free Zone Companies: Key Facts
- Licence renewal: Meydan does not generally require audited accounts to renew a licence.
- Corporate tax audit: required if you claim QFZP status or revenue exceeds AED 50 million.
- On request: banks, investors, visa or authority requests can still require audited accounts.
- Corporate tax: every Meydan company registers and files a return within 9 months of the year end.
- Choice: a small Meydan company often chooses between QFZP and small business relief; it cannot use both.
- VAT: Meydan is not a designated zone; register once taxable supplies pass AED 375,000.
Our services
Which Services Do We Provide for Meydan Companies?
Bookkeeping and accounting
Monthly books, reconciliations and year-end statements for small companies.
Corporate tax
Registration, QFZP or small business relief, and the annual return.
VAT
Registration, returns and VAT on services to UAE and overseas clients.
Transfer pricing
Owner fees, connected-person payments and group charges at arm's length.
Virtual CFO
Cash flow, budgets and investor reporting for growing companies.
About the zone
What Is Meydan Free Zone?
Meydan Free Zone is based at The Meydan in Nad Al Sheba, Dubai, near Downtown Dubai and Business Bay. It is known for:
- digital company set-up, often completed online;
- a wide range of business activities on one licence;
- popularity with freelancers, consultants, start-ups, e-commerce and trading businesses;
- flexible office options, including shared desks.
Because many Meydan companies are small, owner-managed businesses, the owners often assume they have no accounting duties. In fact, every Meydan company must keep proper accounts, register for corporate tax and file a return each year, and many must also have an audit.
Do you need an audit?
Does a Meydan Free Zone Company Need an Audit?
| Your situation | Audit needed? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Claiming the 0% QFZP rate | Yes | Audited financial statements are a condition of QFZP status. |
| Revenue above AED 50 million | Yes | Required for corporate tax for large taxable persons. |
| Bank loan, investor or tender | Usually | Banks, investors and tenders typically ask for audited accounts. |
| Small company using small business relief | Not for tax | No corporate tax audit requirement, but records must still be kept. |
| Authority or regulator request | Yes | Audited accounts must be provided when requested. |
Even when an audit is not required, every Meydan company must keep accounting records for 7 years and file its corporate tax return.
Why audit
Why Do Many Meydan Companies Choose an Audit Anyway?
For many Meydan companies, an audit is the price of the 0% corporate tax rate. A company that wants to be a Qualifying Free Zone Person must prepare audited financial statements; without them, it loses QFZP status and is taxed under the standard rules.
An audit also helps when you:
- open or keep a corporate bank account, where banks increasingly ask for audited figures;
- raise investment or sell the business;
- apply for tenders, golden visas or credit lines;
- want an independent check before the corporate tax return.
SGA World audits Meydan companies and helps you decide, before the year end, whether the QFZP route or small business relief is better for you.
Tax
How Do Corporate Tax and VAT Apply in Meydan?
Corporate tax. Every Meydan company must register for corporate tax and file a return within 9 months of the year end. It then has three broad options:
- Qualifying Free Zone Person: 0% on qualifying income and 9% on other taxable income, with audited accounts, adequate substance and non-qualifying revenue within the lower of 5% of revenue or AED 5 million. Services to mainland UAE customers are generally non-qualifying.
- Small business relief: for resident companies with revenue up to AED 3 million, available for tax periods ending on or before 31 December 2029. A QFZP cannot elect it.
- Standard rules: 0% on the first AED 375,000 of taxable income and 9% above.
VAT. Meydan is not a designated zone, so normal UAE VAT rules apply. Register once taxable supplies pass AED 375,000; voluntary registration is possible from AED 187,500.
See our Small Business Relief guide and QFZP guide.
Worked example
Example: A Meydan Consultant Choosing a Tax Route
A marketing consultant runs a Meydan Free Zone company with revenue of AED 900,000, mostly from Dubai mainland clients.
- Licence renewal: Meydan does not generally require an audit, so none is needed for the licence.
- QFZP: services to mainland clients are non-qualifying, so the company would fail the de minimis test. Claiming 0% would also need audited accounts.
- Small business relief: with revenue under AED 3 million, the company elects small business relief and is treated as having no taxable income, without an audit.
- VAT: revenue is above AED 375,000, so the company must be VAT registered and charge 5% to UAE clients.
Result: no audit, but proper books, a corporate tax return and VAT returns every period.
What to prepare
What Documents Do We Need for a Meydan Audit?
Company documents
Meydan licence, memorandum and articles, and share register.
Accounts
Trial balance, ledgers, bank and payment statements.
Revenue
Client invoices, contracts and platform payouts.
Expenses
Supplier invoices and owner expenses, separated from personal spending.
Bank
Business bank statements and payment gateway reports.
Tax
Corporate tax registration, VAT returns and the chosen tax route.
Fees and timing
What Affects the Cost of Accounting and Audit for a Meydan Company?
Most Meydan companies are small, so costs are usually modest. The main factors are the number of transactions, whether you need a full audit or just bookkeeping and tax filings, VAT registration, the state of the records and how many bank and payment accounts you use. We offer fixed monthly or annual fees once we have seen your activity.
How we work
How Does Our Meydan Audit and Tax Process Work?
Step01
Assess
Check whether you need an audit and which corporate tax route suits you.
Step02
Books
Bring the accounts up to date and reconcile bank, sales and expenses.
Step03
Audit
Audit the financial statements where needed and agree adjustments.
Step04
File
File the corporate tax return on EmaraTax using the final figures.
Why SGA World
Why Choose SGA World for Meydan Free Zone Audit Services?
We check the Meydan Free Zone rules first
We confirm the current Meydan 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.
Industries
Which Meydan Industries Do We Support?
Consultants and freelancers
- Owner pay and connected-person rules
- VAT on services to UAE and overseas clients
- Small business relief or QFZP
E-commerce and online businesses
- Marketplace and payment-gateway reconciliations
- Inventory and fulfilment costs
- VAT on sales to UAE consumers
General trading
- Inventory, landed costs and margins
- Mainland sales against the de minimis limit
- Customs and import records
Software and digital services
- Subscription revenue under IFRS 15
- Capitalised development costs
- Investor reporting
Marketing, media and events
- Project revenue and unbilled work
- Supplier and agency costs
- VAT on cross-border services
Holding and investment companies
- Dividends and the participation exemption
- Intercompany loans
- Consolidation and group reporting
Avoid problems
Common Mistakes Meydan Companies Make
Thinking "no audit" means no accounting
Records must be kept for 7 years
Claiming 0% without audited accounts
QFZP status is lost and 9% applies
Not registering for corporate tax
AED 10,000 late registration penalty
Billing mainland clients as a QFZP
Can breach the de minimis limit
Electing small business relief as a QFZP
A QFZP cannot use small business relief
Mixing personal and company spending
Disallowed expenses and weak records
Meydan desk
Not Sure If Your Meydan Company Needs an Audit?
Tell us your revenue, your customers and your financial year end. We will tell you whether you need an audit and which corporate tax route suits you.
We handle
- Audit for QFZP and banks
- Bookkeeping and accounts
- Corporate tax registration and returns
- QFZP or small business relief review
- VAT registration and returns
Location: Dubai
Dubai Office
Our Dubai office in The Exchange Tower, Business Bay is a short drive from Meydan and serves 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
Meydan Free Zone Audit and Accounting – FAQs
Short answers to the questions UAE businesses ask us most. Still unsure?
Talk to our team01.Does Meydan Free Zone require an audit for licence renewal?
Meydan does not generally require audited financial statements to renew a licence. Audited accounts can still be required for corporate tax, by banks or investors, or on request from the authority.
02.Does a Meydan company need an audit for corporate tax?
Yes, if it claims Qualifying Free Zone Person status, or has revenue above AED 50 million. Other companies are not required to audit for corporate tax.
03.Can a Meydan company pay 0% corporate tax?
Yes, if it meets all the conditions to be a Qualifying Free Zone Person, including audited financial statements, adequate substance and the de minimis limit. Otherwise standard rates apply: 0% up to AED 375,000 and 9% above.
04.Can a Meydan company use small business relief?
A resident company with revenue up to AED 3 million can elect small business relief for tax periods ending on or before 31 December 2029, but not if it is a Qualifying Free Zone Person.
05.Is Meydan a designated zone for VAT?
No. Meydan Free Zone is not on the designated zone list, so normal UAE VAT rules apply.
06.Which services does SGA World provide for Meydan companies?
Audit, bookkeeping and accounting, corporate tax registration and returns, QFZP and small business relief reviews, VAT, transfer pricing and virtual CFO support.
07.Do Meydan freelancers need to register for corporate tax?
Yes, the Meydan company must register for corporate tax and file a return each year, even if it uses small business relief or has no profit.
08.When must a Meydan company register for VAT?
Once taxable supplies over 12 months pass AED 375,000, or are expected to in the next 30 days. Voluntary registration is possible from AED 187,500.
09.Can a Meydan company switch from small business relief to QFZP later?
Yes, the choice is made each tax period, but QFZP requires audited accounts and all conditions to be met for the whole period.
10.Do banks ask Meydan companies for audited accounts?
Often, yes, especially for loans, credit cards or account reviews. An audit can be worthwhile even when not required.
11.How long does a Meydan company audit take?
For a small company with organised books, usually about one to two weeks.
References:Meydan Free Zone · Federal Tax Authority · UAE Ministry of Finance — reviewed 14 October 2026
