Starting an accounting firm in Dubai involves a professional-services activity licence through DET, with additional professional-body registration considerations if the firm plans to offer statutory audit services rather than bookkeeping and tax-advisory work alone.
Licensing and professional considerations
General accounting, bookkeeping and tax-advisory services can typically be licensed as a professional-consultancy activity through DET. If the firm plans to conduct statutory audits specifically, additional registration and qualified auditor credentials recognised by the relevant UAE audit oversight body are required beyond the base accounting licence.
Mainland or free zone in Dubai
An accounting firm serving clients across the UAE does not need a mainland licence specifically for that reason — a free zone licence permits serving clients anywhere in the UAE just as a mainland licence would, so the choice generally comes down to cost and package fit.
Costs and timeline
Base licensing costs for a bookkeeping/tax-advisory practice are comparable to other professional-consultancy activities; a firm planning statutory audit services should budget for the additional professional registration process. Model your base case with this site's Business Setup Cost Calculator.