Outsourced Bookkeeping & Payroll: What UAE SMEs Are Getting Wrong
Messy books rarely stay a back-office problem in the UAE anymore. Corporate tax filings, VAT returns, and – for many groups – audited financial statements are now tied directly to your accounting records. A late payroll run or an unreconciled ledger can turn into a compliance issue within a single filing cycle. Outsourced bookkeeping and […]
Internal Audit Checklist for UAE Companies: A Practical, Phase-by-Phase Guide
A useful internal audit checklist does two things: it tells you what to check, and it tells you when in the process to check it. Most checklists only do the first. Below is a working checklist organized around the four phases of an actual internal audit – Planning, Fieldwork, Reporting, and Follow-up – so you […]
The UAE Free Zone Regime Is Moving From Eligibility to Evidence
FTA Decision No. 6 of 2026 raises the compliance bar for distribution businesses in Designated Zones. The UAE’s Free Zone Corporate Tax regime has always depended on meeting specific qualifying conditions. For certain distribution businesses, those conditions are now becoming much more evidentiary. FTA Decision No. 6 of 2026, issued on 2 June 2026 and published on […]
FTA Audits Rose 46% in 2025, Lifting Tax Revenue by Over USD 1 Billion
The UAE’s Federal Tax Authority (FTA) increased the number of tax audits it conducted by 46% in 2025, according to the Authority’s newly published annual report. This stronger enforcement activity helped generate more than USD 1 billion in additional tax revenue during the year. The figures provide a clear sign that the UAE’s tax system is […]
FTA Decision No. 7 of 2026: How the UAE Tax Authority Now Disposes of Seized and Abandoned Goods
The Federal Tax Authority (FTA) can now sell perishable, leaking, or otherwise at-risk seized and abandoned goods at public auction under a clear, documented procedure. FTA Decision No. 7 of 2026 on Procedures for the Disposal of Seized and Abandoned Goods was issued on 11 June 2026, took effect on 30 July 2026, and its […]
FTA Reports 176,000 Market Inspection Visits in 2025, Up 89% Year on Year
The UAE Federal Tax Authority (FTA) has significantly increased its on-the-ground enforcement efforts. In 2025, the FTA carried out approximately 176,000 field inspection visits across local markets in all seven emirates. This represents an 89% increase from around 93,000 visits in 2024. The latest figures show the fourth consecutive year of strong growth in physical market […]
Why Poor Audit Documentation Triggers Regulatory & Banking Issues in the UAE
Why this matters now In the UAE, audits no longer end with the audit report. Banks, regulators, free zone authorities, and even counterparties increasingly rely on audit documentation quality-not just audited numbers-to assess risk, credibility, and compliance. Yet many businesses still treat audit working papers, supporting schedules, and management explanations as internal formalities. That assumption is now […]
Corporate Tax Audits in the UAE: What the FTA Is Scrutinising in 2025–26
Introduction: Why This Matters “Businesses rarely fear tax rates; they fear tax audits.” In the UAE, Corporate Tax is still new, but FTA audit activity is accelerating quickly. As the system matures, the Federal Tax Authority is shifting focus from registration and education to audits like verification, consistency, and enforcement. What makes audits particularly challenging is this: […]
FTA CTP007 Explained – A Practical Checklist for Audit & Tax Teams
As the UAE’s Corporate Tax regime matures, many tax groups are now facing a critical compliance hurdle – the FTA CTP007 Form, which requires the submission of aggregated financial statements (AFS) for the entire tax group. Yet, many businesses remain uncertain about what “aggregated” really means, how it differs from consolidated financial statements, and what level […]