.avif)
.avif)
.avif)
Indicative 2026 fees for bookkeeping, VAT and corporate tax filing in Dubai, based on published price lists, and what pushes the price up or down.
What an accountant costs in Dubai: the short answer
For a small Dubai company with low volumes, published bookkeeping fees start at about AED 400 to AED 1,000 a month. With 100 to 300 transactions a month and quarterly VAT returns, published prices are about AED 1,500 to AED 3,000 a month. The corporate tax return is often charged separately at about AED 500 to AED 5,000 a year.
These are indicative ranges based on prices that UAE accounting and corporate service providers published openly, checked in October 2026. Your own quote will depend on your volume, your number of entities and the scope you need.
Indicative prices by service
The table below shows typical published prices for each service. These are not Cosmos's prices. They show where the market sits, so you can tell whether a quote is in the normal band.
Service | Indicative price (AED) | What usually decides where you sit in the range |
|---|---|---|
Bookkeeping, small low-volume company | 400 to 1,000 a month | Cheapest tiers often exclude VAT returns or cap revenue |
Bookkeeping with VAT returns, 100 to 300 transactions a month | 1,500 to 3,000 a month | Transaction count and number of bank accounts |
Higher volume, several entities or monthly management reporting | Quoted individually | Entities, intercompany work and reporting depth |
VAT registration | About 1,250 to 1,500 one-off | Provider's fee only: the FTA charges nothing |
VAT return (standalone) | From about 750 a quarter | Volume, and whether the books are already clean |
Corporate tax registration | About 1,000 one-off, or included in a package | Bundled or sold separately |
Corporate tax return | About 500 (Small Business Relief); about 1,000 to 5,000 (full return) | Turnover, free zone status, related parties |
Payroll | About 100 to 150 per employee a month | Headcount and WPS processing |
Catch-up bookkeeping (missed year) | About 2,500 to 8,000 | Volume and the state of the records |
Audit | Quoted by a licensed audit firm | Size, sector and complexity |
Some firms quote including 5% VAT and others exclude it, so check which basis each quote uses before comparing. A 5% gap on AED 2,500 a month is AED 1,500 a year, which can make the cheaper-looking quote the dearer one.
What pushes the fee up or down
Two companies with similar turnover can receive very different quotes. These are the usual reasons:
Transaction volume: Many monthly packages are priced by transactions a month, often in tiers at 100, 150, 200 and 300. Moving up a tier can add several hundred dirhams a month.
Number of entities: Each company is a separate taxable person with its own returns. A group of three costs more than one company. Our guide to filings for a multi-entity group covers what each entity needs.
VAT registration: Registering adds VAT returns and the review behind them. Registration is mandatory at AED 375,000 of taxable supplies and voluntary from AED 187,500.
Corporate tax profile: A Small Business Relief return is simpler than a full return. Free zone companies claiming the 0% rate need audited financial statements and an analysis of their income. Related-party disclosures also add work.
Payroll: Payroll is priced per employee, so a team of 20 costs roughly AED 2,000 to AED 3,000 a month on top of bookkeeping.
Audit support: Preparing schedules for an external auditor costs extra. The audit itself is carried out by a licensed audit firm. Check which UAE companies need an audit before you budget for one.
State of the books: Late or messy records mean catch-up work before any return can be filed.
Reporting you want: Annual accounts alone cost far less than monthly management accounts and cash-flow forecasts.
What the FTA charges, and what it does not
It is easy to assume part of an accountant's bill goes to the government. For registration, it does not. These are the positions published on tax.gov.ae, checked October 2026:
VAT registration with the FTA: free.
Corporate tax registration: free.
Where you apply: both run on EmaraTax. The FTA's stated processing time is 20 business days for a complete application.
The costs the FTA does impose are penalties. Late corporate tax registration carries a penalty of AED 10,000. This is waived if the first return is filed within 7 months of the end of the first tax period. A late corporate tax return costs AED 500 a month for months 1 to 12, then AED 1,000 a month. The return and payment are due within 9 months of the end of the tax period. See our breakdown of UAE corporate tax deadlines and late penalties for the detail.
Every taxable person must register and file, whatever its income. AED 375,000 is the 0% band, with 9% applying to taxable income above it. It is not a filing threshold.
Tax agents pay the FTA to register: AED 3,000 for an individual agent and AED 10,000 for a firm registering as a juridical-person tax agent. These are the agent's costs, not yours. Check tax.gov.ae for current fees.
What a low monthly fee often leaves out
An AED 450 package can look like a bargain until the first add-on invoice arrives. Before signing, ask whether each of these is included:
VAT returns
The corporate tax return and the Small Business Relief election
Year-end financial statements
Handling FTA queries and audits
Payroll and WPS processing
Software licences
Catch-up work for earlier periods
Audit support
Take a company paying AED 600 a month that is later billed AED 750 a quarter for VAT, AED 3,000 for the tax return and AED 1,200 a year for software. Its true annual cost is AED 14,400, not AED 7,200. A cheaper accountant is not automatically a false economy, but an unclear scope usually is. Compare scope first and price second.
Cosmos keeps the books and files UAE corporate tax and VAT returns through an FTA-registered tax agent, and also offers payroll and fractional CFO support. Cosmos is not an audit firm. Where an audit is needed, Cosmos prepares the books and schedules, and a licensed audit firm carries out the audit. If you are deciding between models, read our comparison of an outsourced or in-house accountant.
How to get a fixed quote you can compare
Quotes only become comparable when every firm prices the same brief. To get there:
Write down your profile: list your entities, monthly transaction count, VAT status, headcount and the reporting you need.
Ask for a fixed monthly fee: request a written list of everything that costs extra.
Ask who does the work: find out who prepares the books and who files with the FTA. Ask for the name and TAAN of the registered tax agent.
Verify the agent: check that agent on the FTA register at tax.gov.ae.
Compare like for like: put every quote on the same VAT basis and the same scope before you look at price.
If you are still doing the books yourself, it is worth reading about when DIY bookkeeping stops working first.
Cosmos keeps the books and files your UAE corporate tax and VAT returns through an FTA-registered tax agent, with payroll and fractional CFO support available as well. Book a call with Cosmos to get a fixed quote built around your own volumes and scope.
FAQ
How much does bookkeeping cost per month in Dubai? Published prices start at about AED 400 to AED 1,000 a month for a small, low-volume company. With VAT returns and 100 to 300 transactions a month, expect about AED 1,500 to AED 3,000.
How much does VAT registration cost in the UAE? The FTA charges nothing to register. A provider typically charges about AED 1,250 to AED 1,500 one-off to prepare and submit the application.
Does the FTA charge to register for corporate tax? No, corporate tax registration through EmaraTax is free. Registering late can cost AED 10,000, although this penalty is waived if the first return is filed within 7 months of the end of the first tax period.
How much does it cost to file a UAE corporate tax return? As an indicative guide, published prices are about AED 500 for a Small Business Relief return and about AED 1,000 to AED 5,000 for a full return. The price depends on your turnover and complexity.
Is a cheaper accountant a false economy? It can be, if the low fee excludes VAT returns, the tax return or year-end accounts. Total the add-ons over a full year before you judge the price.
Do I need an accountant if my company qualifies for Small Business Relief? The relief covers revenue up to AED 3m for tax periods ending on or before 31 December 2029, but you must still file a return and elect for it. You also need records kept for 7 years. A professional can keep the filing simple and the penalty risk low.
