Bookkeeping
Sales, purchases, expenses and journals recorded in your accounting system, with documents attached to each entry.
Accounting Outsourcing Services in Dubai & the UAE – Tax-Ready Books Every Month
Accounting outsourcing means a specialist firm keeps your books, reconciles your bank accounts and prepares monthly reports instead of an in-house accountant. In the UAE the books must also meet corporate tax and VAT rules: records kept for 7 years, accounts under IFRS, and audited statements for revenue above AED 50 million. SGA World provides this for mainland and free zone companies in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
- Ministry of Economy and Tourism approved auditor
- 500+ clients
- Dubai & Abu Dhabi
Since corporate tax started and e-invoicing was announced, UAE books are no longer just an internal record. The FTA expects accounts prepared under accepted accounting standards, records kept for seven years and figures that reconcile to your VAT and corporate tax returns.
SGA World takes over your accounting each month: recording transactions, reconciling bank accounts, managing payables and receivables, and delivering management accounts you can act on. Because we are also an audit and tax firm, your books are kept the way auditors and the FTA expect to see them. We work with startups, SMEs, mainland and free zone companies across Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
- Corporate tax record retention
- 7 years
- Standard the FTA expects for financial statements
- IFRS
- Revenue above which audited statements are required
- AED 50M
- Mandatory e-invoicing begins in phases
- 2027
At a glance
Accounting Outsourcing in the UAE: Key Facts
- What it covers: bookkeeping, bank reconciliations, payables and receivables, month-end close and management reports.
- Standards: accounts under IFRS; IFRS for SMEs allowed up to AED 50 million revenue; cash basis up to AED 3 million.
- Records: kept for 7 years for corporate tax; VAT records 5 years (15 for real estate).
- Audit: required for revenue above AED 50 million, all QFZPs and all tax groups.
- E-invoicing: large businesses go live 1 January 2027; others from 1 July 2027.
- Penalty: failing to keep records costs AED 10,000, or AED 20,000 if repeated.
The basics
What Is Accounting Outsourcing?
Accounting outsourcing means a specialist firm runs your finance function, partly or fully, instead of an in-house accountant. You send invoices, receipts and bank access; the firm records every transaction, reconciles the accounts, closes each month and reports back to you.
For most UAE SMEs it replaces one full-time accountant, or supports an existing accountant with review, tax and reporting work. You keep control of approvals and payments, and you own the books and the accounting software subscription.
Outsourcing is not the same as bookkeeping alone. Bookkeeping records transactions; outsourced accounting adds reconciliation, adjusting entries, accruals, month-end close, management reporting and making sure the numbers are ready for VAT returns, the corporate tax return and the year-end audit.
Scope of work
What Is Included in Our Accounting Outsourcing Service?
Bank and card reconciliations
Every bank, card and payment-gateway account reconciled monthly, with unexplained items followed up.
Payables and receivables
Supplier bills and customer invoices tracked, ageing reports prepared and overdue items flagged.
Month-end close and reports
Accruals, prepayments, depreciation and adjustments, then a profit and loss, balance sheet and cash flow.
VAT and corporate tax ready
Correct VAT codes on every entry, VAT reports for filing and records arranged for the corporate tax computation.
Year-end and audit support
Fixed asset register, schedules and draft financial statements prepared for your auditor.
UAE rules
Which UAE Rules Decide How Your Books Must Be Kept?
These rules apply whether your accounting is done in-house or outsourced. We keep your books to meet all of them.
- Corporate Tax Law, Article 56
- Keep accounting records and supporting documents for 7 years after the end of the tax period.
- Ministerial Decision No. 114 of 2023
- Financial statements under IFRS. IFRS for SMEs may be used where revenue is up to AED 50 million; the cash basis where revenue is up to AED 3 million.
- Ministerial Decision No. 84 of 2025
- Audited financial statements for revenue above AED 50 million, every Qualifying Free Zone Person and every tax group, for years from 1 January 2025.
- VAT law
- Keep VAT records and tax invoices for 5 years, or 15 years for real estate.
- Ministerial Decisions No. 243 and 244 of 2025
- E-invoicing through an accredited service provider: 1 January 2027 for revenue of AED 50 million or more, 1 July 2027 for others.
- Cabinet Decision No. 75 of 2023
- Penalty for failing to keep records: AED 10,000, rising to AED 20,000 for a repeat within 24 months.
Free zone authorities and banks often add their own requirements, such as audited accounts at licence renewal or quarterly management accounts for a credit facility.
Compare the options
In-House Accountant vs Outsourced Accounting: Which Is Better?
An accountant's salary is only part of the cost. This compares what each option includes for a typical SME.
| Factor | In-house accountant | Outsourced accounting |
|---|---|---|
| Visa, medical and Emirates ID | Paid by you | Not your cost |
| Health insurance (mandatory) | Paid by you | Not your cost |
| End-of-service gratuity | Builds up every year | Not your cost |
| Cover for leave and resignations | No | Yes |
| Review by a senior accountant | No | Yes |
| VAT and corporate tax knowledge | Depends on the hire | Yes |
| Scales with transaction volume | No | Yes |
| Someone in your office every day | Yes | No |
In the UAE, end-of-service gratuity is 21 days' basic salary for each of the first five years and 30 days for each year after that.
Pricing
How Much Does Accounting Outsourcing Cost in Dubai?
Published Dubai market guides in 2026 commonly place outsourced accounting between about AED 500 and AED 5,000 a month, with larger or more complex businesses paying more. A full-time accountant, once visa, insurance, gratuity and software are added, usually costs well above the top of that range.
What decides the fee is the work involved, not the size of your company:
- Transactions per month: the number of sales invoices, bills, receipts and bank lines.
- Bank accounts and currencies: each account and currency adds reconciliation work.
- Inventory and projects: stock, cost of sales and project accounting take more time.
- Reporting needs: monthly versus quarterly reports, budgets, or group reporting.
- Tax work: VAT returns, corporate tax computations and transfer pricing schedules.
- State of the books: catch-up work if previous months or years need to be cleaned up first.
We review a sample month of your transactions and quote a fixed monthly fee, so you know the cost before we start.
Onboarding
How Do You Switch to Outsourced Accounting?
Step01
Free review
We look at your current books, software, bank accounts and filing calendar, and agree the scope and fixed fee.
Step02
Handover
You give us read access to bank feeds and software, plus prior-year accounts, VAT returns and open balances.
Step03
Opening balances
We reconcile the opening trial balance, receivables, payables and bank balances, and fix any differences.
Step04
Monthly routine
Documents are shared during the month; we record, reconcile and close within an agreed number of days after month end.
Step05
Reporting and filing
You receive management accounts each month, VAT reports each period and year-end schedules for the audit.
Step06
Review meeting
We go through the numbers with you and flag cash, margin and compliance issues before they become problems.
Deliverables
What Do You Receive Each Month, Quarter and Year?
Every month
- Deliverable
- Profit and loss, balance sheet and cash flow
- Why it matters
- Shows performance and cash in time to act
Every month
- Deliverable
- Bank reconciliations and ageing reports
- Why it matters
- Catches missing receipts, duplicate payments and slow payers
Each VAT period
- Deliverable
- VAT report reconciled to the ledger
- Why it matters
- Supports an accurate VAT 201 return
Every year
- Deliverable
- Trial balance, schedules and draft financial statements
- Why it matters
- Speeds up the audit and reduces audit queries
Every year
- Deliverable
- Corporate tax workings from the final accounts
- Why it matters
- Feeds the corporate tax return due within 9 months of year end
By industry
How Does Accounting Outsourcing Work for Your Type of Business?
The core service is the same, but every industry has its own accounting questions.
Startups and free zone companies
- Set up the chart of accounts and accounting software correctly from day one
- Track share capital, shareholder loans and set-up costs
- Meet free zone renewal requirements for audited accounts
- Check whether Qualifying Free Zone Person conditions are being met
Trading and e-commerce businesses
- Inventory, landed cost and cost of sales recorded correctly
- Marketplace and payment-gateway settlements reconciled to bank receipts
- Customs and import VAT matched to the VAT return
- Margin reporting by product or channel
Construction and contracting companies
- Revenue recognised over time under IFRS 15, based on project progress
- Retentions, advances and variations tracked by project
- Subcontractor costs and job costing
- Work-in-progress and project profitability reports
Restaurants and retail outlets
- Daily POS sales reconciled to card settlements and cash
- Food or stock cost percentages tracked monthly
- Mall rent and turnover-rent calculations supported
- Records ready for mall tenant sales audits
Consultancies and professional firms
- Time-based billing and unbilled work tracked
- Revenue recognised in the right period
- Partner or owner drawings separated from salaries
- Connected-person payments reviewed for corporate tax
Industries
Which Industries Do We Serve?
Real estate and construction
Developers, contractors, brokers and landlords.
Retail and e-commerce
Shops, brands and online sellers.
Oil and gas
Service companies, suppliers and traders.
Hospitality
Hotels, restaurants and cafés.
Healthcare and clinics
Clinics, hospitals and pharmacies.
Free zone companies
Every UAE free zone, one team.
Tech start-ups and fintech
SaaS, start-ups and fintechs.
Accounting desk
Hand Over Your Books, Keep Control of Your Business
We record, reconcile and close your books every month and send you clear reports, so your VAT, corporate tax and audit are straightforward when they fall due.
What you get
- Fixed monthly fee agreed upfront
- Monthly management accounts
- Bank and card reconciliations
- VAT and corporate tax ready records
- Year-end schedules for your auditor
Software and e-invoicing
Is Your Accounting System Ready for E-Invoicing?
The UAE's e-invoicing system requires invoices and credit notes to be exchanged in a structured electronic format through an Accredited Service Provider (ASP), with data reported to the FTA. PDF invoices sent by email will no longer be enough for B2B and B2G sales.
- Revenue of AED 50 million or more: appoint an ASP by 30 October 2026 and go live on 1 January 2027.
- Revenue below AED 50 million: appoint an ASP by 31 March 2027 and go live on 1 July 2027.
- Business-to-consumer sales are outside the first phases.
E-invoicing depends on clean master data: correct customer TRNs, product codes, VAT treatment and invoice numbering. We work in your existing cloud accounting software, check that this data is right as part of the monthly routine, and help you prepare for the switch.
Free zones and mainland
Do Free Zone and Mainland Companies Have Different Accounting Requirements?
The accounting standards are the same: both keep books under IFRS and both must register for corporate tax. The differences come from licensing authorities and the tax regime:
- Free zone companies often must submit audited financial statements to renew their licence, and a Qualifying Free Zone Person must have audited accounts every year to keep the 0% rate.
- Mainland companies are generally expected by the Commercial Companies Law, banks and the licensing authority to keep proper books and have an annual audit.
- Designated zone businesses need careful VAT coding, because goods moving within designated zones can be outside the scope of VAT.
We set up the books so that free zone qualifying income, non-qualifying income and transactions with related parties can be identified for the corporate tax return.
Is it time?
Signs Your Business Should Outsource Its Accounting
Most businesses outsource after a missed deadline or a difficult audit. These signs usually appear first.
Books are months behind
Reports arrive too late to help decisions, and VAT returns are prepared from incomplete records.
One person holds all the knowledge
Leave or resignation of a single accountant stops invoicing, payments and reporting.
Audits find the same errors
Auditors keep raising unreconciled balances, missing documents or wrong VAT codes.
You are growing fast
More transactions, a second entity or a new free zone licence have outgrown the current set-up.
Corporate tax questions are piling up
Connected-person payments, related-party balances and add-backs need someone who knows the rules.
Avoid penalties
Common Bookkeeping Mistakes That Lead to FTA Problems
Bank accounts not reconciled
Missing or duplicate entries go unnoticed until the audit
Wrong VAT codes on expenses
Input tax over-claimed or lost on the VAT return
Owner expenses mixed with business costs
Disallowed for corporate tax and hard to defend
No documents attached to entries
Records fail the 7-year retention requirement
Related-party balances not tracked
Transfer pricing disclosures cannot be supported
Year-end adjustments skipped
Accrual-basis accounts and the tax return will not match
Glossary
Accounting Outsourcing Terms Explained
- Bookkeeping
Recording day-to-day financial transactions in the accounting system.
- Bank reconciliation
Matching the bank statement to the ledger and explaining every difference.
- Month-end close
Posting accruals and adjustments so a month's results are complete.
- Management accounts
Internal monthly reports on profit, financial position and cash flow.
- IFRS for SMEs
Simplified IFRS allowed for corporate tax where revenue is up to AED 50 million.
- Accrual basis
Recording income and expenses when earned or incurred, not when cash moves.
- Accredited Service Provider (ASP)
Approved provider that exchanges e-invoices and reports them to the FTA.
- Trial balance
List of all ledger balances, the starting point for financial statements.
Why SGA World
Why Choose SGA World for Accounting Outsourcing?
Audit-ready books
As a Ministry of Economy and Tourism approved audit firm, we keep your books the way auditors expect to test them.
Tax built in
VAT, corporate tax and transfer pricing considered as the books are kept, not at the deadline.
Dubai and Abu Dhabi
Offices in Business Bay, Dubai, and in Abu Dhabi, serving mainland and free zone companies.
Location: Dubai
Dubai Office
Our Dubai office in The Exchange Tower, Business Bay is the central hub for our audit, accounting and tax services 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.
Insights
Related guides
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 7 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
Accounting Outsourcing in the UAE – FAQs
Short answers to the questions UAE businesses ask us most. Still unsure?
Talk to our team01.What is accounting outsourcing?
It is hiring a specialist firm to keep your books, reconcile your accounts and prepare monthly reports instead of employing an in-house accountant. You keep control of approvals and payments.
02.How much does accounting outsourcing cost in Dubai?
Market guides in 2026 commonly quote about AED 500 to AED 5,000 a month, depending on transaction volume, bank accounts, inventory, reporting and tax work. We quote a fixed monthly fee after reviewing a sample month.
03.Is outsourcing cheaper than hiring an accountant in the UAE?
For most SMEs, yes. An employee also brings visa, health insurance, gratuity, leave cover and software costs, while outsourcing is a single fee that scales with your volume.
04.What is the difference between bookkeeping and accounting outsourcing?
Bookkeeping records transactions. Accounting outsourcing adds reconciliations, month-end adjustments, management reports and preparing the numbers for VAT, corporate tax and audit.
05.Which accounting standard must UAE companies use?
IFRS. Under Ministerial Decision No. 114 of 2023, businesses with revenue up to AED 50 million may use IFRS for SMEs, and those up to AED 3 million may use the cash basis.
06.How long must accounting records be kept in the UAE?
Seven years after the end of the tax period for corporate tax. VAT records must be kept for five years, or fifteen years for real estate.
07.Does my company need audited financial statements?
For corporate tax, yes if revenue is above AED 50 million, if you are a Qualifying Free Zone Person or if you are in a tax group. Many free zones, banks and mainland authorities also require an annual audit.
08.Can you work in our existing accounting software?
Yes. We usually keep your existing cloud accounting software so you retain access and ownership. If you do not have a system, we help you choose and set one up.
09.Who owns the books and data?
You do. The books stay in your accounting system and you can give or remove our access at any time.
10.Can you catch up on books that are behind?
Yes. We reconcile the opening balances, record the missing months and fix errors before starting the monthly routine, and quote the catch-up work separately.
11.Do you file VAT and corporate tax returns as part of the service?
VAT reporting is part of the monthly work, and VAT returns and corporate tax returns can be added to the same engagement so the books and returns are prepared together.
12.How quickly can we start?
Usually within a few weeks: a review, a handover of access and documents, and reconciliation of the opening balances before the first monthly close.
13.Do we need to change our accounting for e-invoicing?
Your invoicing must run through an Accredited Service Provider from 1 January 2027 for revenue of AED 50 million or more, and from 1 July 2027 for others. Clean customer and VAT data in your books makes the switch much easier.
14.Do free zone companies need outsourced accounting?
They need proper books like any company, and often audited accounts for licence renewal and the QFZP regime. Outsourcing is a common way for small free zone companies to meet these requirements.
15.What happens if my books are not kept properly?
The FTA can charge AED 10,000 for failing to keep records, AED 20,000 for a repeat within 24 months, and errors can lead to VAT and corporate tax penalties and a difficult audit.
16.Do you serve companies in Abu Dhabi?
Yes. We serve mainland and free zone companies across the UAE from our offices in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
