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DAFZA Approved Auditors List

DAFZA Approved Auditors — Dubai Airport Free Zone

SKM International is a DAFZA approved auditor for companies in the Dubai Airport Free Zone. We prepare IFRS-compliant audited financial statements for DAFZA Free Zone Establishments (FZE) and Free Zone Companies (FZCO), and support submission to the Authority in time for your trade-licence renewal — delivered by a Big Four-experienced team that has audited UAE free-zone companies since 2006.

Reporting Standards
IFRS ISA
Big Four Experience
KPMG Dubai Deloitte Dubai EY Saudi
DAFZA is a global trade & logistics hub — we know trading, logistics, aviation-services and holding-company audits well.
Approved
On the DAFZA Auditors List
IFRS
Reporting Standard
2,500+
UAE Audits Delivered
2006
Serving the UAE Since
DAFZA Audit

DAFZA Approved Auditors for Dubai Airport Free Zone Companies

Every DAFZA company must have its annual financial statements audited — and DAFZA accepts reports only from firms on its approved auditors list. SKM International is on that list.

SKM International is a DAFZA approved auditor — on the Dubai Airport Free Zone Authority's approved list, and authorised to audit and sign off the accounts of DAFZA companies. Led by Managing Partner CA Sushil Malhotra (FCA, CIA-USA, CISI-UK), with Big Four experience at KPMG and Deloitte Dubai and EY Saudi Arabia.

Every company in the Dubai Airport Free Zone must have its annual accounts audited — and DAFZA accepts a report only from a firm on its approved list. Here is what that means for you, at a glance:

  • Who must audit: all DAFZA companies — FZE (single shareholder) and FZCO (multiple shareholders) alike.
  • Approved auditor only: a report from a non-approved firm is not accepted by the Authority. SKM is on the list.
  • Standard: financial statements prepared to IFRS, audited to International Standards on Auditing (ISA).
  • Deadline: generally within 90 days (3 months) of your financial year-end, and commonly required again at trade-licence renewal.
  • No exemptions by size: new and dormant companies are generally still expected to file.
  • We handle it end to end: trading, logistics and service firms, FZEs, FZCOs and branches — with the current deadline confirmed to you in writing.
DAFZA Audit Requirements

What DAFZA Requires From Registered Companies

The core audit obligations for Dubai Airport Free Zone companies. Get any one of these wrong and your trade-licence renewal can be held up.

Annual Audited Financials
Every DAFZA company — FZE and FZCO alike — must prepare and submit audited financial statements every year. There is no turnover threshold that exempts you; new and dormant companies are generally still expected to file.
IFRS-Compliant Statements
Financial statements must be prepared in line with IFRS and audited to International Standards on Auditing (ISA) — balance sheet, profit & loss, cash flow and notes to the accounts.
Approved Auditor Only
The audit must be carried out by a firm on the DAFZA approved auditors list. DAFZA will not accept a report from a firm that is not on the list — wasting both time and fees.
Directors' Approval & AML/CFT
The directors approve the accounts, and DAFZA companies must also meet UAE AML/CFT and beneficial-ownership obligations alongside the annual audit.
Submission & Licence Renewal
Audited statements are submitted to the DAFZA Authority and are commonly required at trade-licence renewal. Records must generally be retained for around six years.
Consequences of Late Filing
Failing to submit audited financials on time can lead to fines and delays or refusal of your trade-licence renewal, disrupting operations. The fix is simple: start early.
On the Official List

SKM International on the DAFZA Approved Auditors List

Always confirm a firm is approved before you engage it. Publicly circulating PDF lists are often years out of date — so verify against the current DAFZA source.

How to verify a DAFZA approved auditor

The DAFZA approved auditors list is maintained by the Dubai Airport Free Zone Authority. Only firms assessed and approved by DAFZA may audit and sign off a DAFZA company's accounts. You can confirm any firm's status directly with the Authority; SKM International is on the approved list, under the details below.

Listed NameSKM International — Chartered Accountants
StatusDAFZA Approved Auditor
ReportingIFRS · ISA

Choosing between dozens of names on the DAFZA list? Speak to us first — we'll confirm your audit scope and the current deadline, and quote a fair fixed fee based on your turnover and transaction volume, so you deal with one approved firm from engagement to submission.

Get a Fair, Fixed-Fee DAFZA Audit Quote

DAFZA audit fees depend on your turnover and transaction volume — so we quote a fair fixed fee upfront, with no surprises. Send your trade licence and last year's accounts and we'll come back with a clear price and timeline, usually the same business day. No obligation.

Call +971 55 278 9460 Mon–Fri 9–6:30 · Sat 9–3
What to Prepare

Documents Required for Your DAFZA Audit

Having these ready before fieldwork begins is the single biggest factor in a fast, query-free DAFZA audit. We'll send a tailored checklist when you engage us.

Trade licence (current copy)
Memorandum of Association (MOA) & certificate of registration
Share certificate(s)
Lease / tenancy agreement for the audit period
Trial balance, profit & loss and balance sheet
Bank statements for all accounts, full period
Previous year's audit report (if any)
Passport copy of shareholder / manager
Why SKM

DAFZA Approved. Big Four Pedigree. On Time.

What separates SKM from a generic Dubai audit firm — the approval, the credentials, and the team behind every DAFZA engagement.

On the DAFZA List
SKM is on the DAFZA approved auditors list — authorised to audit and sign off the accounts of Dubai Airport Free Zone companies. No risk of a rejected report.
Big Four Background
Managing Partner CA Sushil Malhotra: FCA, CIA (USA), CISI (UK) — with multinational audit experience from KPMG, Ernst & Young and Deloitte.
DAFZA Sector Expertise
DAFZA is built on trade, logistics, aviation services and holding companies. We understand stock, intercompany balances and revenue recognition in exactly these structures.
Filed On Time
We track your DAFZA deadline, agree a timeline in writing, and get the audited statements ready in time for submission and licence renewal — every year.
Our Process

How a DAFZA Audit Works With SKM

Four phases, mapped to the DAFZA filing cycle. Clear deliverables at each step.

1
Engagement & Deadline Check
Free consultation. We confirm your financial year-end, check your current DAFZA submission and licence-renewal deadline, and issue a written engagement letter and fee before any work starts.
2
Records & Planning
We request your trade licence, ledgers, bank statements and supporting documents, then plan the audit around your DAFZA-specific risk areas — stock, intercompany and revenue.
3
Audit & IFRS Statements
Substantive testing and review to ISA standards. We prepare your IFRS-compliant financial statements ready for directors' approval.
4
Sign-Off & Portal Support
Signed audit report delivered, and we support submission to the DAFZA Authority so your accounts are accepted and your licence renewal proceeds without queries.

Approved Across Other UAE Free Zones Too

Companies in more than one zone? We are on the approved auditor panels for these Free Zones as well — one firm for all your UAE audit filings.

FAQs

DAFZA Audit — Common Questions

The questions DAFZA companies ask most before engaging an approved auditor. Need something specific? Speak to our team.

What is a DAFZA approved auditor?

A DAFZA approved auditor is an audit firm authorised by the Dubai Airport Free Zone Authority to audit the financial statements of companies registered in the free zone. Only firms on the DAFZA approved auditors list may examine and sign off a DAFZA company's annual accounts — a report from any other firm will not be accepted by the Authority. Approval requires a valid UAE audit licence, qualified partners and proven free-zone audit experience.

How does a firm get on the DAFZA approved auditors list?

An audit firm must apply to DAFZA and meet the Authority's criteria — including a valid UAE auditing licence, qualified and experienced partners, staff competence in IFRS, and the technical capability for reporting and e-submission. DAFZA assesses each application and publishes approved firms on its list. SKM International is on the DAFZA approved auditors list.

Is SKM International on the DAFZA Approved Auditors List?

Yes. SKM International is on the DAFZA approved auditors list, listed as "SKM International — Chartered Accountants." We are authorised to audit and sign off the financial statements of Dubai Airport Free Zone companies and to support submission to the Authority. You can confirm any firm's status directly with DAFZA.

What is the DAFZA audit deadline?

DAFZA companies are generally required to submit audited financial statements within 90 days (three months) of their financial year-end, and audited accounts are commonly required again at trade-licence renewal. Because the exact deadline can depend on your company and renewal cycle, always confirm it with the Authority. We recommend starting your audit 8–10 weeks before the deadline so there is time for directors' approval and submission.

Does a new or zero-turnover DAFZA company still need an audit?

In most cases, yes. DAFZA requires audited financial statements annually, and there is no turnover threshold that exempts a company — newly formed and dormant DAFZA entities are generally still expected to file. Send us your trade licence and we will confirm in writing what your company needs to do.

What happens if my DAFZA company misses the audit deadline?

Late submission can result in financial penalties and delays or refusal of your trade-licence renewal, which can disrupt your operations and banking. DAFZA will not accept an audit from a non-approved firm either — so using an approved auditor and filing on time both matter. This is why we manage the timeline and submission with you.

How do I verify an auditor is on the DAFZA approved list?

Contact the DAFZA Authority directly, or ask the firm to confirm its approval, before you engage anyone. Only firms on the DAFZA approved auditors list can sign off DAFZA company accounts, so it is worth checking first. SKM International is on the DAFZA approved list and is happy to confirm its status.

How much does a DAFZA audit cost?

DAFZA audit fees depend on the size and complexity of your company's financials — turnover, number of transactions, group structure and the state of your records all matter. We provide a fair, transparent fixed-fee proposal up front, with no surprises. Send us your trade licence and last year's accounts for a quote.

Need a DAFZA Approved Auditor? Let's Talk.

Mon–Fri 9:00AM–6:30PM  |  Sat 9:00AM–3:00PM  |  Office 102, Al Tawhidi Building, Al Mankhool, Dubai UAE