What our accounting service covers
One team handles the full load, from day-to-day books to the annual tax return. You get the numbers to run the business, and the filings the FTA needs to leave you alone.
Bookkeeping
Monthly records kept clean and ready, so nothing is a scramble at year end.
VAT filing
Registration when you cross the threshold, then accurate returns filed every period.
Corporate tax
FTA registration and your annual corporate tax return, worked out and filed on time.
Financial reports
Profit and loss, balance sheet and the statements banks and investors ask for.
FTA dealings
We handle the EmaraTax portal and any questions the tax authority sends your way.
CFO advice
Senior guidance on cash flow, pricing and structure when you need a finance brain.
How much tax does a business pay in Dubai?
Most companies pay 0% on the first AED 375,000 of profit and 9% on anything above that. That is UAE corporate tax, set by Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022. On top of that, if your sales pass AED 375,000 a year you also charge and file 5% VAT. There is no personal income tax in the UAE, which is why the headline stays low even after corporate tax.
A few things owners get wrong:
- A free-zone company is not automatically tax free. The 0% rate is conditional.
- You must register for corporate tax with the FTA even if your tax works out at zero.
- Small Business Relief can zero the bill under AED 3M revenue, but only until 31 December 2026.
We keep the detail on our corporate tax and VAT registration pages. This section is the short version so you know roughly where you stand.
What your UAE company must file and when
What you owe depends on your setup, but every UAE company has filings it cannot skip. Here is what applies to you.
| Obligation | Mainland LLC | Free-zone company | Freelancer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corporate tax registration | Required | Required | If revenue over AED 1M |
| Corporate tax return (yearly) | Required | Required | If registered |
| VAT registration | Over AED 375k sales | Over AED 375k sales | Over AED 375k sales |
| VAT returns | If registered | If registered | If registered |
| Bookkeeping and records | Required | Required | Recommended |
| Audited accounts | If required | If claiming 0% zone rate | Not usually |
Costly compliance mistakes we help you avoid
Most penalties come from missing a step, not from the tax itself. Here is what catches UK owners out.
The fine for late registration is AED 10,000, and it applies even when your tax works out at zero. Many owners assume a small or free-zone company is exempt.
Our fix: We register you with the FTA on time, whatever your final bill.
A late return costs AED 1,000, then AED 2,000 if it happens again within two years. Since April 2026 late payment adds 14 percent a year on top.
Our fix: We track every VAT deadline and file well before the 28th.
The 0% zone rate only holds if you meet the qualifying conditions and, in most cases, keep audited accounts. Get it wrong and the 9% rate applies.
Our fix: We check your zone status properly, so the 0% claim actually stands.
Small Business Relief lets many firms elect zero tax, but only for periods ending on or before 31 December 2026. After that the numbers matter again.
Our fix: We plan for the change now, so 2027 is not a shock.
When taxable income is the number that sets your tax, weak records and missed expenses cost you real money.
Our fix: We keep clean books through the year, so every allowable expense counts.
How working with our accountants works
A clean handover
Moving your accounting to us takes one conversation and a few documents. We take it from there and keep it running, so compliance stops being something you think about.
01 Review your setup
We look at your licence, income and structure to see exactly what you must file.
02 Register where needed
We handle any FTA corporate tax and VAT registration so nothing is missed.
03 Set up your books
We put bookkeeping and a filing calendar in place, built around your year end.
04 File and report
We keep the records current and file every return on time, every period.
What do accounting services in Dubai cost?
There is no single price, because the work scales with your business. A quiet holding company needs far less than a busy trading firm filing VAT every quarter. Your fee depends on a few things.
- How many transactions you run each month
- Whether you are VAT-registered
- Whether corporate tax filing is due
- Whether you need audited accounts
- A monthly retainer or one-off filing
- Any CFO or advisory support you want
Accounting fees vary with your volume, tax status and the work involved, so there is no fixed price here. Riz & Mona Consultancy gives you a clear, personal quote once we understand your company.
Why choose Riz & Mona Consultancy for tax and books
Riz & Mona Consultancy already helps UK owners set up and bank in the UAE, so keeping books and tax with one team is the natural next step. We know the FTA deadlines, we file through EmaraTax, and we flag useful reliefs.
- FTA filings handled
- Deadlines tracked
- UK-based support
- One team, setup to filing
UAE business setup FAQs
The questions UK founders ask us most about choosing where to set up in the UAE. Rules change, so treat these as a guide and confirm your own case before you commit.
1. How much tax does a business pay in Dubai?
Most companies pay 0% corporate tax on the first AED 375,000 of profit and 9% on anything above that, under Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022. If your sales pass AED 375,000 a year you also charge and file 5% VAT. There is no personal income tax in the UAE, so the overall burden stays low even after corporate tax.
2. Do I have to register for corporate tax if my company makes no profit?
Yes. Almost every UAE company must register for corporate tax with the Federal Tax Authority, even if the final bill works out at zero. The fine for registering late is AED 10,000, and it applies regardless of your profit, which is one of the most common and avoidable penalties UK owners face.
3. Are free zone companies tax free in the UAE?
No, not automatically. A free zone company only pays 0% if it meets the Qualifying Free Zone Person conditions and, in most cases, keeps audited accounts. Get the conditions wrong and the standard 9% rate applies, so the 0% claim has to be checked properly rather than assumed.
4. When does my UAE company need to register for VAT?
Once your taxable sales pass AED 375,000 over a rolling 12-month period, VAT registration is mandatory, and you then charge and file 5% VAT. You can register voluntarily from AED 187,500. VAT and corporate tax are separate registrations, both handled through the FTA’s EmaraTax portal.
5. What does my UAE company have to file, and when?
Every UAE company has filings it cannot skip: corporate tax registration and an annual return, plus VAT registration and quarterly returns if you are over the threshold. Records must be kept for five years, and all deadlines and thresholds are set by the Federal Tax Authority and filed through EmaraTax. We map exactly what applies to your setup.
6. What are the penalties for missing a tax deadline in the UAE?
Late corporate tax registration is a AED 10,000 fine. A late VAT return costs AED 1,000, rising to AED 2,000 for a repeat within two years, and since April 2026 late payment adds 14% a year on top. Most penalties come from missing a step rather than from the tax itself, which is why deadline tracking matters.
7. What is Small Business Relief, and is it ending?
Small Business Relief lets a UAE company with revenue at or below AED 3 million elect to be treated as having no taxable income, effectively zeroing its corporate tax. It is available only for tax periods ending on or before 31 December 2026, so from 2027 the numbers matter again. It is worth planning for that change now rather than being caught out.
8. Do I need an accountant for my UAE company?
Practically, yes. UAE compliance runs across corporate tax and VAT registrations, ongoing filings and five years of record-keeping, all through the FTA, and missed deadlines carry real fines. An accountant keeps your books filing-ready through the year and tracks every deadline, which is far cheaper than the penalties for getting it wrong.
9. How much do accounting services in Dubai cost?
There is no single price, because the work scales with your business. A quiet holding company needs far less than a busy trading firm filing VAT every quarter, so your fee depends on your transaction volume, whether you are VAT-registered, and the complexity of your setup. We quote based on what your company actually needs.
10. Is corporate tax the same as VAT in the UAE?
No, they are two separate taxes. Corporate tax is 9% on company profit above AED 375,000, filed annually. VAT is 5% on sales, filed quarterly once you pass the registration threshold. They happen to share the AED 375,000 figure, but they are registered, calculated and filed separately.
11. Do I still pay UK tax on my UAE company's profits?
It depends on your own tax residence. A UAE company is taxed in the UAE, but if you remain UK tax-resident, HMRC can still tax your worldwide income, and where the company is genuinely managed matters too. Getting the UK side planned properly is what makes the low UAE tax a real saving rather than an assumed one.
12. What happens if my books are messy at year end?
Your corporate tax is calculated on taxable income, so weak records and missed expenses inflate the bill and cost you real money. Scrambling receipts together at year end also raises the risk of errors and penalties. Keeping clean, filing-ready books through the year is what keeps both your tax and your stress down.
13. How long do I need to keep my company records in the UAE?
Five years. The Federal Tax Authority requires UAE companies to retain their accounting records and supporting documents for at least five years, and it can request them during a review. Good digital bookkeeping makes this straightforward rather than a scramble if you are ever asked.
14. Can you handle my UAE accounting from the UK?
Yes. Riz & Mona Consultancy manages your UAE compliance from one team in the UK, so you deal with people in your own time zone who know the FTA deadlines and file through EmaraTax on your behalf. It is the natural next step if we already set up or bank your company, keeping everything under one roof.
15. When should I start thinking about tax and bookkeeping?
From day one, not at year end. Registering for corporate tax on time, setting up clean books from the first invoice, and knowing your VAT threshold from the start all prevent the penalties and last-minute scrambles that catch owners out. The earlier the system is in place, the less it costs you later.
Keep your UAE company compliant
Talk to Riz & Mona Consultancy and let us take the filing off your plate for good.
