How Much Do Accounting Services Cost in Dubai? 2027 Price Guide by Business Size
Ask five Dubai accounting firms for a quote and you will get five numbers that cannot be compared. One includes VAT returns, another excludes them. The headline monthly fee rarely tells you what you will pay over a year.
This guide breaks down 2027 accounting costs by business size, the add-on fees most quotes leave out, and the regulatory changes pushing scope upward. The ranges apply across the UAE, including Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and Free Zones such as DMCC, JAFZA, and IFZA.
How Much Do Accounting Services Cost in Dubai?
Outsourced accounting in Dubai typically can costs from AED 250 to AED 1,000 per month for micro businesses and startups, AED 500 to AED 2,000 for VAT-registered small businesses, AED 1,500 to AED 6,000 for growing SMEs, and AED 6,000 to AED 15,000 or more for large or multi-entity groups. Statutory audit, and payroll are usually billed on top.
Note that these are indicative market ranges from published UAE provider pricing in late 2026, before 5% VAT.
Why Accounting Costs Are Shifting in 2027
Accounting fees are now driven by what the law requires a business to maintain. Four developments reshape scope for 2027:
- E-invoicing goes live. Under Ministerial Decisions No. 243 and 244 of 2025, as amended in 2026, in-scope businesses with annual revenue of AED 50 million or more must implement e-invoicing through an Accredited Service Provider (ASP) from 1 January 2027. Businesses below that threshold must appoint an ASP by 31 March 2027 and go live on 1 July 2027.
- Small Business Relief is extended, not automatic. Ministerial Decision No. 131 of 2026 extends Small Business Relief to tax periods ending on or before 31 December 2029, with the AED 3 million revenue threshold unchanged. Eligible businesses must still register, keep records, and elect the relief in their return.
- Audit obligations are wider. Ministerial Decision No. 84 of 2025 requires audited financial statements for taxable persons outside a Tax Group with revenue above AED 50 million, for all Qualifying Free Zone Persons, and for all Tax Groups.
- Seven-year record retention. Article 56 of Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022 requires Corporate Tax records to be kept for seven years after the end of the relevant tax period. Failing to keep required records attracts an AED 10,000 penalty, rising to AED 20,000 for a repeat violation within 24 months.
Accounting Services Cost in Dubai by Business Size
Business Profile | Typical Scope | Monthly Fee (AED, excl. VAT) |
Micro / startup: below the AED 375,000 mandatory VAT threshold, under 50 transactions a month | Bookkeeping, bank reconciliation, annual Corporate Tax return support | 250 to 1,000 |
Small business: VAT-registered, revenue up to AED 3 million | Bookkeeping, quarterly VAT returns, monthly P&L, small payroll | 500 to 2,000 |
Growing SME: AED 3 million to AED 50 million, inventory or project costing | Full accounting, VAT, management reports, payroll and WPS, Corporate Tax computation | 1,500 to 6,000 |
Large / multi-entity: above AED 50 million, Tax Group, or multiple Free Zone and mainland entities | Consolidation, audit-ready statements, e-invoicing Phase 1 compliance, transfer pricing support | 6,000 to 15,000+ |
*** Indicative ranges compiled from published UAE accounting provider pricing, October 2026. Not regulatory figures.
These ranges assume current books. Backlogs, unreconciled accounts at banks such as Emirates NBD or FAB, or missing VAT workings mean a one-off cleanup fee first.
Fees That Usually Sit Outside the Monthly Retainer
Service | Indicative Fee (AED, excl. VAT) | Frequency |
VAT return preparation and filing | 350 to 2,000 | Per return |
Corporate Tax registration support | 250 to 1,000 | One-off (no FTA fee) |
Corporate Tax return, SME | 350 to 2,000 | Annual |
Statutory or QFZP audit | 2,500 to 25,000+ | Annual |
Payroll and WPS processing | 25 to 150 per employee | Monthly |
Accounting backlog cleanup | Scoped per engagement | One-off |
E-invoicing readiness review | Scoped per engagement | One-off |
*** Indicative market ranges. Audit fees are set by the auditing firm and vary with entity size and complexity.
WATCH THE EXCLUSIONS
An AED 500 monthly quote that excludes VAT returns, the Corporate Tax return, and year-end financial statements can cost more over 12 months than an AED 1,500 all-inclusive retainer. Always compare annualised totals, never headline monthly fees.
What Pushes Your Accounting Fee Up
- Transaction volume: The biggest driver. A trader processing 400 supplier invoices a month needs far more time than a consultancy issuing 15.
- VAT complexity: Zero-rated exports, Designated Zone supplies, reverse charge on imports, and partial exemption all add review time.
- Inventory and costing: F&B, retail, and contracting businesses need stock valuation, COGS tracking, and project or WIP costing.
- Payroll headcount: WPS submissions and end-of-service gratuity provisioning scale with every employee added.
- Multiple accounts and currencies: Each extra bank account, card processor such as Network International, or foreign-currency ledger adds reconciliation work.
- Free Zone status: A Qualifying Free Zone Person must maintain audited statements and separate qualifying from non-qualifying income.
Outsourced vs. In-House Accounting: The Real Cost
Recruiter-advertised salaries for a senior accountant in Dubai commonly sit between AED 6,000 and AED 15,000 per month in 2026. Add visa and medical insurance costs, an end-of-service gratuity accrual under UAE Labour Law, software licences, and leave cover, and a single in-house hire can exceed AED 120,000 a year before any tax advisory or audit support.
Below AED 50 million in revenue, an outsourced firm typically covers bookkeeping, VAT, Corporate Tax, and payroll for a fraction of that, with a team rather than a single point of failure. Larger groups often pair an in-house finance lead with an external firm for tax and audit work.
Not sure which tier your business falls into?
PROFITZ ADVISORY offers a free scoping call and a fixed, all-inclusive quote with every exclusion listed upfront.
How to Compare Accounting Quotes in Dubai
- Is VAT return preparation and filing included, and for how many returns a year?
- Is the Corporate Tax return included, along with the year-end financial statements it relies on?
- What is the monthly transaction cap, and what is the overage rate?
- Who prepares the audit schedules if an audit is required?
- Is the quoted fee before or after 5% VAT?
- Who is your named accountant, and what is the monthly reporting deadline?
Get a Fixed Accounting Quote from PROFITZ ADVISORY
PROFITZ ADVISORY is a UAE-based accounting, bookkeeping, VAT, and Corporate Tax advisory firm serving SMEs, Free Zone operators, and growing groups across all seven emirates. We scope around your transaction volume, VAT profile, and Corporate Tax position, then quote one fixed fee with every inclusion and exclusion in writing.
Related services: Accounting and Bookkeeping Services | VAT Services | Corporate Tax Services | Payroll and HR | Audit and Assurance
Know your annual accounting cost before you sign.
Book a free scoping call with PROFITZ ADVISORY today.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How much does bookkeeping cost for a small business in Dubai?
Basic bookkeeping for a low-volume small business typically costs AED 500 to AED 1,500 per month. With VAT returns, payroll, and management reporting, most pay AED 1,500 to AED 3,000.
2. Is VAT charged on accounting fees in the UAE?
Yes. Accounting services supplied by a VAT-registered firm in the UAE are standard-rated at 5%. Confirm whether quotes are before or after VAT.
3. Do I still need an accountant if I qualify for Small Business Relief?
Yes. The relief must be elected in the Corporate Tax return, and the business must remain registered, file returns, and keep records that support its revenue figure. The relief removes the tax, not the compliance work.
4. Are accounting fees deductible for UAE Corporate Tax?
Generally, yes. Expenditure incurred wholly and exclusively for the business is deductible under the Corporate Tax Law, which includes professional accounting, tax, and audit fees.
5. Does e-invoicing increase accounting costs?
It can. The ASP charges its own platform fees. Separately, your accounting firm may charge for readiness work: cleaning customer and supplier master data, correcting VAT codes, and aligning your accounting software with the required data fields.
Regulatory references
Ministerial Decisions No. 243 and 244 of 2025 on the Electronic Invoicing System, as amended in 2026 · Ministerial Decision No. 131 of 2026 (Small Business Relief extension) · Ministerial Decision No. 84 of 2025 on Audited Financial Statements · Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022, Article 56 · Cabinet Decision No. 75 of 2023 on administrative penalties for Corporate Tax.
