Log in
Home / Audit / Dubai free zones / IFZA
IFZA companies file financial statements at every licence renewal. They must be audited unless turnover is AED 3 million or less and the company has nine employees or fewer. Each rule below links to IFZA's own documents.
The zone · Who it suits · Start a company · Regulations · Audit · Corporate tax · Audit enquiry
The zone
IFZA is the International Free Zone Authority. Its terms define IFZA Dubai as an area within Dubai Silicon Oasis, and its companies are licensed under the free zone rules of the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones.
Its headquarters and IFZA Business Park are in Dubai Silicon Oasis.
IFZA licenses FZCO companies and branches, and offers commercial and professional licences. Several activities can be combined under one licence.
Source: IFZA Terms and Conditions, edition November 2023; IFZA, About
Who it suits
Source: IFZA, About; IFZA, Business set-up
Start a company
IFZA incorporates FZCO companies and registers branches, working through a network of professional partners and government authorities.
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 | Every IFZA licensee, FZCO or branch, submits financial statements with each licence renewal from 30 September 2025 (IFZA FAQs, August 2025, FAQs 1 and 2). |
|---|---|
| Audited or simplified | Audited statements are required unless the company meets both tests: turnover of AED 3 million or less in the completed financial year, and nine employees or fewer at any point in it. A company that meets both files IFZA's Simplified Financial Statement, on IFZA's own template (FAQs 6, 9 and 10). |
| Deadline | With the licence renewal, covering the most recent completed financial year. IFZA allows three months after the year end to prepare the documents (IFZA renewal guide, 2025). |
| How to file | Through the electronic form IFZA shares during renewal, signed electronically by the manager, a director or a shareholder (FAQs 12 and 13). |
| Accounting basis | Cash basis for turnover of AED 3 million or less, IFRS for SMEs up to AED 50 million, and full IFRS above that (FAQ 5). |
| Auditor | Any registered UAE auditor (FAQ 11). IFZA does not require an auditor from a list of its own. |
| Audit made for tax | Audited accounts already prepared for the FTA for the same year can be submitted for the renewal (FAQ 14). |
Source: IFZA FAQs, August 2025; IFZA renewal guide, 2025
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.
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 · DIFC · JAFZA · Dubai Silicon Oasis · Dubai Airport Freezone · Meydan Free Zone · Dubai South · DWTC Free Zone · Dubai Healthcare City · DDA zones · All Dubai free zones
Newsletter
Latest in UAE business, tax and technology, once a month.
Thank you, you are on the list.
Office 1316, Aspin Commercial Tower
Sheikh Zayed Road, P.O. Box 10415, Dubai
Open in Google Maps →