Bookkeeping Services for UAE Businesses
Accurate and organized bookkeeping is the foundation of sound financial management for every business operating in the UAE. Since the introduction of VAT in January 2018 and Corporate Tax in June 2023, the Federal Tax Authority (FTA) requires all taxable entities to maintain detailed, accurate financial records that support their tax positions. Failure to keep proper records can result in penalties ranging from AED 10,000 to AED 20,000, making professional bookkeeping not just good practice but a regulatory necessity.
AURNE Private Advisory provides comprehensive bookkeeping and financial record maintenance services tailored to the UAE business environment. Our Dubai-based team of qualified accountants handles the complete cycle of financial record keeping: from daily transaction recording and ledger maintenance to bank reconciliation, accounts payable and receivable management, document retention, and audit trail maintenance. Whether you operate a startup in a free zone, a trading company on the mainland, or a professional services firm serving international clients, our bookkeeping services ensure your financial records are accurate, compliant, and always audit-ready.
We go beyond basic data entry. Our bookkeepers understand UAE tax regulations, free zone compliance requirements, and the specific record-keeping obligations under the VAT and Corporate Tax laws. Every transaction is recorded with the correct VAT treatment, categorized according to your chart of accounts, and linked to supporting documentation. The result is a set of financial records that not only supports your day-to-day decision-making but also stands up to scrutiny during FTA audits, statutory audits, and regulatory reviews.
Ready to get started with Bookkeeping?
Let's discuss your requirements and find the best solution for your business needs.
Why Professional Bookkeeping Matters in the UAE
The UAE regulatory landscape has evolved significantly in recent years. Professional bookkeeping is no longer optional for businesses that want to remain compliant and competitive.
FTA Compliance
Meet VAT and Corporate Tax record-keeping requirements mandated by the Federal Tax Authority. Avoid penalties for inadequate or inaccurate financial records.
Financial Visibility
Gain real-time insight into your cash position, profitability, and financial health. Make informed decisions backed by accurate, up-to-date financial data.
Time Savings
Free your management team to focus on business growth instead of chasing invoices, reconciling bank statements, and organizing financial documents.
Audit Readiness
Maintain records that are organized, complete, and ready for statutory audits, FTA inspections, and due diligence reviews at any time.
Tax Preparation
Well-organized records streamline VAT return filing, corporate tax return preparation, and transfer pricing documentation.
Growth Support
Scalable bookkeeping systems that grow with your business, from startup phase through expansion, without requiring a complete overhaul.
Want to explore the benefits?
Contact us for a consultation and discover how we can help your business.
Our Bookkeeping Services
We provide end-to-end bookkeeping services covering every aspect of financial record keeping for UAE businesses.
Transaction Recording
Systematic recording of all sales, purchases, expenses, receipts, and payments. Every transaction is categorized with the correct VAT treatment (standard rated at 5%, zero rated, exempt, or out of scope) and coded to your chart of accounts. We handle cash transactions, bank transfers, credit card payments, and inter-company settlements.
Ledger and Journal Maintenance
Comprehensive maintenance of your general ledger, accounts payable ledger, accounts receivable ledger, and specialized sub-ledgers. All entries follow proper double-entry bookkeeping principles with complete audit trails. We handle month-end adjustments, accruals, prepayments, and depreciation entries.
Bank Reconciliation
Regular reconciliation of all bank accounts, credit cards, and payment processor accounts. We match bank statements with accounting records, identify and resolve discrepancies, record bank fees and charges, and maintain accurate cash position reports. Multi-currency accounts are reconciled with proper exchange rate handling.
Accounts Payable and Receivable
Full AP/AR management including invoice processing, payment tracking, aging analysis, and collections follow-up. We monitor payment terms, flag overdue balances, reconcile supplier statements, and provide weekly cash flow projections based on upcoming payables and expected collections.
Payroll Support
Bookkeeping support for payroll processing including recording salary payments, end-of-service benefit accruals, WPS transaction entries, and leave balance tracking. We ensure payroll entries are properly reflected in your general ledger and reconciled with bank disbursements each month.
Inventory and Cost Tracking
For trading and manufacturing businesses, we maintain inventory records, track cost of goods sold, and reconcile physical stock with accounting records. We support weighted average, FIFO, and specific identification costing methods as appropriate for your business model.
In-House vs Outsourced Bookkeeping
Many UAE businesses face the question of whether to hire an in-house bookkeeper or outsource to a professional firm. Here is how the two options compare:
Criteria | In-House Bookkeeper | Outsourced (AURNE) |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | AED 8,000-15,000/month salary plus visa, insurance, gratuity, and office space | AED 1,500-6,000/month with no overhead costs, benefits, or visa obligations |
| Expertise | Limited to one individual's knowledge and experience | Access to a team of qualified accountants with diverse industry expertise and UAE regulatory knowledge |
| Scalability | Requires hiring additional staff as business grows | Scales seamlessly with your transaction volume, no recruitment needed |
| Technology | Company bears software licensing, training, and upgrade costs | We provide and manage the accounting technology stack at no additional cost |
| Compliance Risk | Risk of errors if staff lacks current UAE tax knowledge | Reduced risk through standardized processes and continuous regulatory training |
| Availability | Subject to leave, sick days, and resignation risk | Uninterrupted service with team coverage and no dependency on a single person |
Financial Record Maintenance
Beyond daily bookkeeping, proper financial record maintenance is essential for regulatory compliance, audit readiness, and business continuity. The UAE requires businesses to retain financial records for extended periods, and our record maintenance services ensure your documents are organized, secure, and accessible when needed.
Document Retention Policies
We develop and implement comprehensive document retention policies based on UAE regulatory requirements. VAT records must be retained for 5 years, corporate tax records for 7 years, and corporate documents often indefinitely. Our policies define retention periods for each document type, establish disposal schedules, and ensure compliance with all applicable laws.
Digital Records Management
We implement digital record-keeping systems with document scanning, OCR indexing, and cloud-based storage. Digital records are searchable, backed up automatically, and accessible from anywhere. This approach reduces physical storage costs, improves retrieval speed, and ensures records are protected against loss or damage.
Audit Trail Maintenance
We maintain complete audit trails for all financial transactions, including timestamps, user activity logs, and change histories. Every entry is traceable from the source document through to the financial statements. This is critical for FTA audits, statutory audits, and fraud prevention.
Secure Storage Solutions
Both physical and digital records are protected through role-based access controls, encryption, secure cloud hosting, and regular backups. We implement disaster recovery plans to ensure business continuity, and our storage solutions comply with UAE data protection regulations and international security standards.
UAE Compliance and Record-Keeping Requirements
UAE businesses face specific record-keeping obligations under multiple regulatory frameworks. Non-compliance can result in significant penalties. Our bookkeeping services ensure full compliance across all requirements.
VAT Record Keeping (FTA)
All VAT-registered businesses must maintain records of supplies and imports, tax invoices, credit notes, debit notes, and customs documentation. Records must be retained for a minimum of 5 years from the end of the tax period. The FTA may request these records during audits or investigations.
Corporate Tax Documentation
Under Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022, businesses must maintain financial records supporting their corporate tax return. This includes income and expense records, asset registers, shareholder documentation, and transfer pricing documentation (for related-party transactions exceeding AED 40 million). Records must be retained for 7 years.
ESR and UBO Records
Businesses conducting relevant activities must maintain Economic Substance Regulation (ESR) records for 6 years, demonstrating adequate substance in the UAE. Ultimate Beneficial Owner (UBO) records must be current and available for inspection. Penalties for ESR non-compliance range from AED 20,000 to AED 400,000.
Free Zone Authority Requirements
Most Dubai free zones (DMCC, DIFC, JAFZA, IFZA, and others) require registered companies to maintain proper accounting records and, in many cases, submit audited financial statements annually. Our bookkeeping services ensure your records meet the specific requirements of your licensing authority.
Bookkeeping Cost Guide
Our bookkeeping pricing is based on your monthly transaction volume and complexity. Below are indicative ranges for common business sizes in the UAE.
Startup
0-50 transactions/month
AED 1,500 - 3,000/month
- Monthly transaction recording
- Bank reconciliation (1-2 accounts)
- Monthly trial balance
- VAT-coded entries
- Digital record storage
Ideal for new free zone companies, consultants, and solopreneurs.
SME
50-200 transactions/month
AED 3,000 - 6,000/month
- Weekly transaction recording
- Bank reconciliation (multiple accounts)
- AP/AR management
- Monthly P&L and balance sheet
- Payroll entry support
- Multi-currency support
Most popular tier for UAE trading, services, and professional firms.
Enterprise
200+ transactions/month
AED 6,000 - 15,000/month
- Daily transaction processing
- Full AP/AR with aging analysis
- Inventory and cost tracking
- Intercompany reconciliation
- Management reporting dashboards
- Dedicated account manager
For established businesses, group companies, and high-volume operations.
Note: All costs mentioned are approximate and indicative only. They are subject to change without notice. Actual costs may vary based on specific requirements, transaction complexity, and scope of services. Please contact us for a tailored quote.
Client Scenarios
Here are real-world examples of how our bookkeeping services have helped UAE businesses establish and maintain their financial records.
E-Commerce Startup Scaling Up
Situation: An IFZA-registered e-commerce business grew from 20 to 500 monthly transactions within 8 months. Their spreadsheet-based bookkeeping could not keep pace with the volume, and VAT returns were becoming increasingly difficult to prepare accurately.
Approach: We migrated their records to Xero, set up automated bank feeds with their Emirates NBD accounts, configured VAT codes for standard and zero-rated sales, and established weekly processing cycles.
Outcome: VAT return preparation time reduced from 3 days to 4 hours. The business now has real-time visibility into profitability by product category and maintains audit-ready records.
Multi-Currency Trading Company
Situation: A DMCC-registered trading company dealing in commodities had transactions in USD, EUR, GBP, and AED. Their previous bookkeeper was not correctly recording foreign exchange gains and losses, leading to inaccurate financial statements and problems with their annual audit.
Approach: We reconstructed 18 months of multi-currency transactions, established proper FX gain/loss accounting procedures, set up inventory tracking using weighted average costing, and implemented supplier statement reconciliation processes.
Outcome: The company passed its statutory audit without qualifications for the first time. Monthly financial reports now accurately reflect currency positions, and the trading margin analysis helped identify underperforming product lines.
Professional Firm Going Digital
Situation: A Dubai mainland professional services firm with 15 staff had been managing finances on Excel spreadsheets for 4 years. With the introduction of Corporate Tax, they needed proper accounting records and could not produce the financial statements required for tax filing.
Approach: We migrated all historical data to QuickBooks Online, digitized 4 years of paper invoices and receipts, set up a structured chart of accounts aligned with Corporate Tax categories, and trained the office manager on document submission workflows.
Outcome: The firm's first Corporate Tax return was filed accurately and on time. Ongoing monthly bookkeeping now takes a fraction of the time previously spent on manual spreadsheet updates, and the partners have clear visibility into the firm's financial performance.