Enterprise risk assessment
Company-wide risk register, heat map and risk appetite discussion with leadership.
Risk Assessment Services in Dubai and the UAE: Enterprise, Fraud, Compliance and Financial Risk Reviews
A risk assessment identifies the events that could stop a business meeting its goals, rates them by likelihood and impact, and links each to controls and owners. SGA World provides risk assessment services in Dubai and across the UAE: enterprise risk registers, fraud and AML risk assessments, financial, tax and compliance risk reviews, using recognised frameworks such as COSO and ISO 31000.
- Ministry of Economy and Tourism approved auditor
- 500+ clients
- Dubai & Abu Dhabi
Every business carries risk: a key customer leaving, a supplier failing, a fraud, a tax error or a regulator's inspection. Risk assessment services turn those worries into a structured risk register: what could go wrong, how likely it is, how much it would cost and who is responsible for the controls.
SGA World provides risk assessment services in Dubai and across the UAE for owners, boards and audit committees. We combine audit, tax and compliance experience, so the assessment covers the risks that most often hurt UAE businesses: financial controls, fraud, VAT and corporate tax, AML and licensing.
- Clear list of risks, ratings and owners
- Register
- Likelihood and impact at a glance
- Heat map
- Each risk linked to controls and actions
- Controls
- COSO ERM and ISO 31000 principles
- Frameworks
At a glance
Risk Assessment Services: Key Points
- Output: a risk register and heat map, with owners, controls and actions.
- Scope: strategic, operational, financial, fraud, tax, compliance and IT risks.
- Frameworks: based on COSO ERM and ISO 31000 principles, scaled to your size.
- Regulated sectors: AML-regulated businesses must document a business-wide AML risk assessment.
- Link to audit: the risk assessment drives a risk-based internal audit plan.
- Update: review risks at least annually, and when the business changes.
Our services
What Do Our Risk Assessment Services Include?
Fraud risk assessment
Fraud scenarios by process, existing controls and gaps.
AML risk assessment
Business-wide AML, CFT and CPF risk assessment for DNFBPs.
Tax risk review
VAT, corporate tax and transfer pricing exposure mapping.
Financial and controls risk
Risks in reporting, cash, credit and inventory, linked to controls.
IT and data risk
Access, data loss, system change and cyber exposure at a business level.
Risk types
Which Types of Business Risk Do We Assess?
| Risk type | Typical UAE examples | Typical controls |
|---|---|---|
| Strategic | Dependence on a few customers, new competitors, market changes | Diversification, board review of strategy |
| Operational | Supplier failure, stock losses, key staff leaving | Supplier vetting, stock counts, succession plans |
| Financial | Cash shortfalls, bad debts, currency exposure | Cash forecasts, credit limits, hedging policy |
| Fraud | Fake suppliers, payment diversion, expense abuse | Segregation of duties, bank detail checks |
| Tax | VAT errors, missed corporate tax deadlines, transfer pricing | Tax calendar, reviews, documentation |
| Compliance | AML, UBO, licensing, labour and data protection rules | Policies, training, compliance monitoring |
| IT and data | System outages, data breaches, unauthorised access | Access controls, back-ups, security testing |
How we work
How Does Our Risk Assessment Process Work?
Step01
Set the scope
Agree objectives, business units and the risk categories to cover.
Step02
Identify risks
Interviews and workshops with management and process owners.
Step03
Rate risks
Score likelihood and impact on an agreed scale, before and after controls.
Step04
Map controls
Link each risk to existing controls and identify gaps.
Step05
Agree actions
Owners and deadlines for every high and medium risk.
Step06
Report and refresh
Risk register, heat map and board summary, refreshed regularly.
Why SGA World
Why Choose SGA World for Risk Assessment Services?
Risk work grounded in audit and tax
We know where UAE businesses actually lose money: controls, fraud, tax and compliance.
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.
Worked example
Example: A Risk Assessment for a Growing Trading Group
A Dubai trading group with three companies and AED 80 million revenue asked for a risk assessment before bringing in an investor.
We identified 24 risks and rated 6 as high, including:
- customer concentration: two customers made up 45% of sales;
- payment fraud: supplier bank details could be changed by one person;
- QFZP status: the free zone company's mainland sales were close to the de minimis limit;
- related-party pricing: intercompany charges had no transfer pricing support.
Each high risk received an owner, a control and a deadline. The investor's due diligence later relied on the register, which shortened the process and supported the valuation.
AML
Do AML-Regulated Businesses Need a Risk Assessment?
Yes. Designated non-financial businesses and professions, such as real estate brokers, dealers in precious metals and stones, accountants and company service providers, must document a business-wide risk assessment under the UAE AML framework, covering customers, products, countries, channels and transactions. Supervisors ask for it during inspections.
We prepare AML risk assessments as part of our AML compliance services, alongside policies, procedures and training.
What to prepare
What Do We Need for a Risk Assessment?
Strategy
Business plan, objectives and key performance measures.
Structure
Group chart, organisation chart and key people.
Financials
Latest financial statements and management accounts.
Policies
Existing policies, procedures and delegation of authority.
Past issues
Audit reports, incidents, losses and regulator findings.
Access
Time with management and process owners for interviews.
Fees and timing
How Much Does a Risk Assessment Cost?
Fees depend on the size of the business, the number of entities and sites, the risk categories in scope and whether you need a one-off assessment or regular refreshes. A focused assessment for an SME typically takes two to four weeks. We agree a fixed fee after a scoping call.
Avoid problems
Common Risk Management Mistakes
A risk register no one updates
Out of date within months
Risks without owners
No one acts
Only financial risks considered
Fraud, tax and compliance risks missed
No link to internal audit
Controls never tested
Generic template risks
Real risks of the business ignored
No AML risk assessment for DNFBPs
Inspection findings and fines
Risk desk
Know Your Biggest Risks and Who Owns Them
Tell us about your business and what worries you most. We will propose a scoped risk assessment and a fixed fee.
We handle
- Enterprise risk register
- Fraud risk assessment
- AML risk assessment
- Tax risk review
- Board reporting
Location: Dubai & Abu Dhabi
Talk to Our Team
Our offices in Business Bay, Dubai and Al Bateen, Abu Dhabi support clients 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 14 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
Risk Assessment Services – FAQs
Short answers to the questions UAE businesses ask us most. Still unsure?
Talk to our team01.What is a business risk assessment?
A structured review that identifies risks to a business, rates them by likelihood and impact, and links each to controls, owners and actions.
02.What is a risk register?
A list of the business's key risks, with ratings, owners, existing controls and planned actions, updated regularly.
03.Which frameworks do you use?
We apply principles from COSO Enterprise Risk Management and ISO 31000, scaled to the size of the business.
04.Is a risk assessment required by law in the UAE?
For AML-regulated businesses, a business-wide AML risk assessment is required. For other companies it is good practice and often expected by investors, banks and boards.
05.How is risk rated?
Usually by scoring likelihood and impact on a scale, before and after considering existing controls.
06.What is a fraud risk assessment?
A review of how fraud could occur in each process, the controls that prevent or detect it, and the gaps.
07.How often should risks be reviewed?
At least annually, and whenever the business, its markets or regulations change significantly.
08.How does a risk assessment link to internal audit?
It drives the risk-based internal audit plan, so audits focus on the highest risks.
09.Can a risk assessment help with an investor or sale?
Yes. A documented risk register and controls give investors confidence and can shorten due diligence.
10.How long does a risk assessment take?
A focused assessment for an SME usually takes two to four weeks.
11.Do you cover tax risks?
Yes. We include VAT, corporate tax and transfer pricing risks, and can follow up with a tax health check.
12.Which services does SGA World provide for risk management?
Enterprise, fraud, AML and tax risk assessments, internal audit and controls reviews.
References:ISO 31000 Risk management · COSO Enterprise Risk Management · Ministry of Economy and Tourism: AML — reviewed 14 October 2026
