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A DIFC company that is not a small private company has its accounts audited by a DIFC registered auditor and filed with the Registrar. Each rule below links to DIFC's own documents.
The zone · Who it suits · Start a company · Regulations · Audit · Corporate tax · Audit enquiry
The zone
DIFC is the Dubai International Financial Centre, a financial free zone set up in 2004. The Dubai International Financial Centre Authority runs it, and the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) regulates financial services in it.
It covers about 110 acres beside Sheikh Zayed Road, marked by the Gate building.
DIFC has its own civil and commercial laws. Federal civil and commercial laws do not apply in it, though UAE criminal law does. It operates under Dubai Law No. 5 of 2021.
Source: Dubai Law No. 5 of 2021; DIFC Courts, Legal framework; DIFC, Who we are
Who it suits
Source: DIFC, Establish a business
Start a company
Financial services firms are licensed by the DFSA, DIFC's independent regulator. Other firms register with the DIFC Registrar of Companies.
We help with the choice of jurisdiction and licence, holding structures and bank account onboarding. Tell us what the company will do and we will come back to you.
Thank you, it has reached the team.
Audit
| Who | The directors of every DIFC company have accounts prepared for each financial year (Companies Law, Article 124), under IFRS (Companies Regulations, Regulation 6.2.1). |
|---|---|
| Audit | The accounts must be examined and reported on by an auditor (Article 124(4)(b)). A small private company is exempt: annual turnover of USD 5 million or less, including subsidiaries, and 20 shareholders or fewer (Article 124(6)). Shareholders holding 10% can still require an audit (Article 124(7)). |
| Deadline | Within six months of the year end the accounts are prepared, audited and sent to the shareholders (Article 124(4)). The company files them with the Registrar within 30 days after that (Article 124(5)). DIFC's handbook gives seven months from the year end. |
| How to file | On the DIFC Client Portal, service File Annual Accounts, with the audited accounts signed by the appointed auditor (Corporate Actions Client Handbook, section 5.1.2). |
| If you do not file | DIFC's handbook states a fine of USD 1,000 for a missed filing. The Companies Law sets a maximum fine of USD 10,000 (Article 124(8) and Schedule 2). |
| Auditor | Must be registered with the DIFC Registrar of Companies (Companies Law, Article 127). The appointment is filed with the Registrar within 30 days (Companies Regulations, Regulation 6.4.1). |
| DFSA firms | Firms regulated by the DFSA report to the DFSA instead: auditor's reports within four months of the year end, from a DFSA registered auditor (DFSA Rulebook, GEN 8.4.1 and 8.6.2). |
DIFC publishes its list of auditors: DIFC Registered and Recognised Auditors
Source: DIFC Companies Law; DIFC Corporate Actions Client Handbook; DFSA Rulebook, GEN 8.6.2
Checked against the sources on 12 November 2026.
Corporate tax
A free zone company pays corporate tax at 0% on its qualifying income if it is a Qualifying Free Zone Person, and at 9% on its other taxable income (Corporate Tax Law, Article 3(2)). To qualify, it must keep adequate substance in the UAE, earn qualifying income, not elect to be taxed at the standard rates, and comply with the transfer pricing rules (Article 18(1)).
It must also keep its non-qualifying revenue within the de minimis limits and prepare audited financial statements (Ministerial Decision 229 of 2025, Article 5(1)). A company that fails any condition loses the 0% status for that tax period and the next four (Article 5(2)).
For tax periods starting on or after 1 January 2025, the audit applies to every Qualifying Free Zone Person, whatever its revenue (Ministerial Decision 84 of 2025, Article 2(1)(b)). More in our UAE corporate tax guide.
Source: Corporate Tax Law; Ministerial Decision 229 of 2025; Ministerial Decision 84 of 2025
Audit enquiry
Our audits are signed by Ministry of Economy registered auditors, registry entry LC4682-01. CALX International is on the DIFC list of registered auditors.
Send the company name and its financial year end. We will reply with what the audit needs.
Thank you, it has reached the team.
Other Dubai free zones: DMCC · JAFZA · IFZA · Dubai Silicon Oasis · Dubai Airport Freezone · Meydan Free Zone · Dubai South · DWTC Free Zone · Dubai Healthcare City · DDA zones · All Dubai free zones
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