IFZA — International Free Zone Authority
- Company setup from
12,900 AED
Registration in 5 days
Flexi-desks, offices
IFZA is a low-cost business setup solution in Dubai, perfect for startups and SMEs involved in trading, consulting, or services.…
Audit license in the UAE
An audit license in the UAE is an official permit that grants the right to provide independent financial statement audits, issue audit reports, and offer related consulting services. This license is issued only after registration in the official auditor registry maintained by the UAE Ministry of Economy (MoE). Without registration with the MoE, conducting audits is prohibited, even if a license has been obtained.
Types of audit licenses
Auditing (professional license “Auditing activity”) — allows only audit services and signing audit reports. It does not include bookkeeping. Registration with the UAE Ministry of Economy is mandatory.
Audit and Accounting (professional license “Audit and Accounting”) — covers both audit services (if approved by the MoE) and accounting services, including financial reporting and tax calculations.
5 key requirements for obtaining an audit license on the UAE mainland in 2025
- Auditor requirements:
- A bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or a related field.
- Passing mandatory exams in International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), International Standards on Auditing (ISAs), and UAE tax regulations.
- Auditor experience and qualifications:
- At least 3 years of audit experience.
- A valid practicing certificate from a recognized professional body.
- Audit firm requirements:
- A minimum of two partners, each with at least 5 years of audit experience.
- A functioning risk management system.
- Additional conditions:
- At least 1 year of professional experience in accounting, finance, or a related field.
- Shareholders must pass the required exams for membership in an auditing organization (personal auditing license required).
- Proof of current practice:
- A certificate from the current employer confirming active professional practice.
Three mandatory steps to legally provide auditing services
- Step 1. Obtain a license from the Economic Department of the emirate or from a free zone authority.
- Step 2. Appoint a chief auditor registered with the UAE Ministry of Economy.
- Step 3. Register the auditing firm in the official registry of audit organizations maintained by the Ministry of Economy.
Emirabiz experts guide you through the entire process of obtaining an auditing license in the UAE — from evaluating compliance with MoE requirements to submitting your application and registering in the official registry. We handle all documentation, liaise with government authorities, and ensure license issuance for both individuals and audit firms.
If you want to legally provide auditing services in the UAE, trust the licensing process to the professionals at Emirabiz.
IFZA company formation process
In the International Free Zone Authority, company incorporation and business license issuance take about 5-7 working days. The business setup can be completed remotely without personal presence.
Determine the business activities of your future company and the corresponding license type. This is a key aspect of business setup, as choosing the wrong activity and license can lead to errors during company registration, creating problems with opening a bank account or even making such opening impossible. Note that IFZA allows for up to 7 activities under a single license.
Specify the legal status of your business in IFZA. Available company formation types at IFZA include FZCO (Free Zone Company) or a branch of an already existing company registered within or outside the UAE. FZCO companies also operate as LLCs, however, the suffix attached to the names of companies registered in IFZA is FZCO.
Prepare and submit the necessary documents. IFZA requires a minimal documentation package.
- 3 company name options according to preference
- Passport (with at least 6 months validity)
- Visa & Emirates ID (If applicable)
- Residential address
- Phone number
- Confirmation of business activity
Registration can be completed remotely without your physical presence and typically takes 5-7 working days. Also, this step involves paying all the registration and processing fees.
Receive the license and registration documents for the company, including:
- Certificate of Incorporation
- Trade license
- Articles of Association
- Memorandum of Association
- Lease agreement
Receive the Establishment Card containing information about your company and visa quotes. The timeframe of Establishment Card issuance is typically 3-5 working days.
Apply for an entry permit. If you’re outside of the UAE during the processing of the entry permit, you will need to come to the country when the document is issued within 60 days to complete the medical test and biometrics for your visa. If you’re in the UAE when the entry permit is issued, a status change will be done from your previous UAE tourist/residency visa to the new one.
Undergo a medical checkup and submit documents for a residence visa. Different registration packages may provide for a varying number of visas available for owners and employees of the company. Note that at IFZA, visas can be processed without requiring health insurance.
Once your visa is issued, secure your Emirates ID card. The processing and issuance of a visa and Emirates ID usually take 5-7 working days after the visa approval.
Apply to a UAE bank to open a corporate bank account. IFZA is known as a reputable free zone highly recognized by banks, which will make the account opening process as smooth as possible. Once you receive your account details, you are free to start running your business.
With us you can navigate this process quickly and effortlessly. You don`t even have to arrive in Dubai—the registration procedure can be completed remotely. However, you will need to visit the UAE for medical checkups, visa formalities, and account opening.
IFZA license cost
IFZA license fees start from AED 12,900 for a license with no residency visa. This package includes the registration of 3 business activities which can either be a trading or service activity. Packages with visas start from AED 14,900. Low license fees and the absence of capital requirements make this free zone really cost-effective. For example, IFZA’s General Trading license is the cheapest in Dubai.
In addition, IFZA offers multi-year license discounts of up to 30% for 2-, 3-, and 5-year packages.
IFZA cheapest 1-year license package fees
| TYPE OF LICENSE | COST |
|---|---|
| Zero-visa Trading/Service & Consultancy license | 12,900 AED |
| 1-visa Trading/Service & Consultancy license | 14,900 AED |
| 2-visa Trading/Service & Consultancy license | 16,900 AED |
| 3-visa Trading/Service & Consultancy license | 18,900 AED |
| 4-visa Trading/Service & Consultancy license | 20,900 AED |
Other additional fees that may be applicable include:
- IFZA Establishment Card — 2,000 AED for the first year (2,200 AED is renewal price)
- IFZA visa fee — 3,750 AED + 1,000 AED extra for partner/investor visa
- Medical checkup (result in 1 day) — 250–300 AED
- Emirates ID — 270 AED for 2 years
IFZA license processing time
In practice, the IFZA setup timeline is fairly predictable. The license is typically issued within 2–5 business days, after which you can move to the residency steps. In Dubai, the medical fitness result usually comes back within about 24 hours under the regular service. Once the visa is issued, the Emirates ID card is normally ready in around 7–10 days.
Elena O.
We'll find the ideal free zone for your business
IFZA Free Zone Company Formation
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