Approved auditors
DubaiInternationalFinancialCentre(DIFC)
Since 20179 Since 2017
- On the zone's approved auditor list
- FTA approved tax agency
- Signed in time for renewal
Talk to a specialist
Tell us your licence expiry and we will tell you what the zone needs and by when.
- Reply in 24h
- FTA approved
- Direct to a specialist
Vigor is a registered auditor for Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC)
Licensed by DIFC Registrar of Companies. A financial free zone with its own civil and commercial law, used by banks, funds, insurers and professional firms.
Overview
Auditors registered in Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC)
Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) is one of the world's most advanced economic sectors. DIFC as a leading free zone offers the best environment for business, trade and investment in addition to a financial regulation hub based out of Dubai. DIFC has achieved all these by promising a world-class financial ecosystem supported by its well-established and secure environment that makes it the dream destination for entrepreneurs to operate their businesses
It is mandatory to have registered auditors when you establish a business in DIFC. However, any enterprise under DIFC must hand in their financial statements at the end of every fiscal year and this auditing process should be performed by accredited auditors based within the center.
Companies are also required under DIFC regulations to keep accurate and current financial records. In DIFC, auditors are responsible for these records to comply with the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). Financial records to be kept at the company are its registered office and open for inspection screditors. Not following these laws can bring with it hefty fines.
All companies are required to be audited, but the DFSA regulates this process and all DIFC businesses. The use of qualified auditors in the provision also ensures compliance with some highly demanding financial centre regulations. DIFC audits fall into a unique category of auditing, and not any accounting firm is capable to conduct them; only approved auditors can provide DIFC Audit Services.
5,000+
Audits completed
20
Zones approved in
9
years, since 2017
What the zone requires
Three rules that decide your renewal
Audited statements at renewal
Most free zone licences require audited financial statements before the authority will renew. The window and the format are set by the zone, so the date to work back from is your licence expiry.
Signed by an approved auditor
The zone will only accept a report from a firm on its own approved list. A report from a firm that is not listed is rejected at submission, whatever its quality.
Records kept for five years
Every UAE company must keep its accounting records for at least five years, which is separate from the audit itself and applies whether or not the licence requires one.
When to start
Count back from your licence expiry
The deadline is set by your renewal date, not by the calendar year, which is why two companies in the same zone can have completely different audit seasons.
90 days out
Engage the auditor
Scope and fixed fee agreed while there is still room to move.
60 days out
Records handed over
Books, statements and supporting documents. Backlog rebuilt first if there is any.
30 days out
Fieldwork and queries
Balances verified. Anything that does not reconcile is raised while it can still be corrected.
Renewal
Signed report submitted
Audited statements in the zone's format, in time for the licence.
Vigor’s working guidance for a straightforward set of accounts, counted back from your licence expiry. Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) sets the submission deadline and the accepted format, so the date to plan from is your own renewal date rather than a fixed month in the year.
If it slips
- 01
The licence renewal stalls
The authority can hold the renewal until the audited statements are submitted. Everything below follows from that one thing.
- 02
Visas follow the licence
Residence visas and new hires are tied to a current licence, so a delay reaches the team before it reaches the accounts.
- 03
Banking gets harder
Relationship reviews and facility renewals ask for current audited statements. An expired licence turns a routine check into a problem.
- 04
The work does not get smaller
A late start compresses the same fieldwork into less time, and books that have drifted have to be rebuilt before any of it can begin.
How it runs
Four steps from engagement to a signed report
- 01
Engagement and scope
We confirm the zone, the licence type and the financial year, then issue a scope and a fixed fee in writing. Nothing starts before you have both.
- 02
Records and reconciliation
You send the books, bank statements and supporting documents. Where the books are behind, that backlog is quoted separately and rebuilt first.
- 03
Fieldwork and testing
Balances verified, controls tested, and anything that does not reconcile raised with you while there is still time to correct it rather than after signing.
- 04
Signed report for renewal
Audited financial statements in the format the zone accepts, signed by an auditor on its approved list, in time for the licence renewal window.
Engagement and scope
Talk to an approved auditor
Tell us your licence expiry in Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and we will tell you what is needed and by when.
Before we start
What we need from you
Tick what you already have. Most companies are further along than they think, and fieldwork can usually begin before the last of it arrives.
Tick what you already have
Most companies have more of this than they expect. Nothing here is sent anywhere.
Side by side
Free zone or mainland, on the points that differ
- Audited statementsGenerally required for licence renewal
- Who may signA firm on that zone's own approved auditor list
- Deadline set byThe zone, counted from your licence expiry
- Records retentionAt least five years
- Corporate tax0% on qualifying income if the qualifying free zone person test is met
- If the audit is lateRenewal can be withheld, which affects visas and banking
General rules, not advice on your own position. What applies to your company turns on the licence, the activity and the structure, which is what the first call establishes.
Government Agencies
We work closely with all Government Agencies
Company formation, licensing, visas, customs codes and tax registration all pass through these authorities. Start a company setup.
Answers
Questions about this zone
The six asked most often before an audit engagement starts.
01Do DIFC companies need an audited financial statement?
Yes. DIFC entities are required to submit audited financial statements as part of their annual licence renewal and regulatory filings. The DIFC is a heavily regulated financial free zone, so the audit must be carried out by a firm registered with the DIFC as an approved auditor. The exact filing requirements depend on the entity's licence category and regulator.
02How much does a DIFC audit cost?
There is no fixed fee, since the cost depends on the size of the entity, the complexity of its accounts and the volume of transactions to be tested. We review the entity's structure and records before issuing a proposal. Bookkeeping support, where needed, is priced separately and starts at AED 599 per month for up to 50 transactions.
03What is the deadline for submitting a DIFC audit report?
DIFC entities must submit their audited financial statements within the timeframe set by the DIFC Authority and their specific regulator, typically tied to the financial year end. The precise deadline varies by licence type, so it is worth checking the entity's own regulatory calendar. Late submission can affect licence renewal, so records should be finalised well in advance.
04What happens if a DIFC company misses its audit deadline?
A missed audit deadline can delay or block licence renewal and may trigger regulatory scrutiny from the DIFC Authority, since audited accounts are a core compliance requirement in the centre. The specific consequence depends on the entity's regulator and licence category. Keeping accounting records current throughout the year reduces the risk of last minute delays.
05Can any auditor sign off a DIFC company's accounts?
No. The DIFC requires audits to be carried out by a firm on its list of registered auditors, given the concentration of finance related businesses in the centre. Eligibility depends on the auditor holding the relevant DIFC registration, not on general UAE audit credentials alone. It is worth confirming this registration before appointing a firm.
06What documents does a DIFC auditor need from us?
Typically the general ledger, bank statements, sales and purchase invoices, payroll records, prior year financial statements and supporting schedules for assets, liabilities and revenue recognition. UAE companies must retain accounting records for at least five years, and DIFC entities should keep these organised throughout the year rather than assembling them at audit time.
Not here? Ask Vigor, and a specialist picks it up from there.
