Since corporate tax came into effect in the UAE in June 2023, keeping accurate books stopped being optional. Every taxable business now needs records that hold up if the Federal Tax Authority asks to see them not just at year-end, but on an ongoing basis. Add VAT filing on top of that, and most businesses in Dubai reach a point where managing accounts in-house, on a spreadsheet, or with someone doing it part-time on the side, isn't enough.

Probiz provides accounting and bookkeeping services for businesses across Dubai and the wider UAE, from our office in Al Barsha. We handle day-to-day bookkeeping, VAT filing, corporate tax compliance, payroll, and financial reporting set up to match how the FTA actually expects your records to look, not just how they looked before tax came into the picture.

What's Included in Our Accounting and Bookkeeping Service

• Daily, weekly, or monthly bookkeeping recording income, expenses, and bank transactions as they happen, not in a backlog at year-end
• Bank reconciliation, so your books match what's actually in the account
• VAT return preparation and filing, including input and output tax tracking
• Corporate tax computation and return filing within the FTA's nine-month deadline
• Payroll processing, including WPS-compliant salary runs
• Monthly or quarterly management reports profit and loss, balance sheet, cash flow
• Accounts receivable and payable tracking
• Audit-ready financial statements, prepared in line with IFRS
• Backlog accounting, for businesses whose books have fallen behind and need to be brought current before a filing deadline or audit

Why Proper Bookkeeping Matters More Now Than It Used To

For years, plenty of UAE businesses got by without formal bookkeeping. There was no income tax, so there was little reason for the government to ask questions about your books. That changed with corporate tax. Businesses now have to maintain records that let the FTA verify how their taxable income was calculated which means every invoice, expense, and adjustment needs to be traceable and supportable.

The retention periods matter too. VAT records need to be kept for at least five years from the end of the relevant tax period. Corporate tax and general accounting records need to be kept for at least seven years. Records tied to capital assets go up to ten years, and anything related to real estate needs to be retained for fifteen years. If your bookkeeping isn't structured properly from the start, reconstructing years of records later usually right when the FTA is asking for them is a far more expensive and stressful exercise than doing it right the first time.

Who Needs to Register for VAT and Corporate Tax

VAT registration is mandatory once your taxable turnover crosses AED 375,000 in a 12-month period, and optional from AED 187,500. Corporate tax applies to taxable income above AED 375,000, at a rate of 9% on the amount above that threshold income below it is taxed at 0%. Free zone companies with Qualifying Free Zone Person status may still benefit from a 0% rate on qualifying income, but that status comes with its own conditions, including a mandatory audit regardless of revenue size. If you're not sure which bracket your business falls into, that's usually the first thing we sort out before setting up your bookkeeping structure.

Industries We Work With

We provide accounting and bookkeeping services for retail businesses, trading companies, real estate firms, consultancies, e-commerce sellers, restaurants, and free zone companies across Dubai. Each of these comes with slightly different reporting needs a trading company's VAT position looks different from a real estate firm's, and free zone companies have compliance requirements that mainland businesses don't. We adjust the bookkeeping setup to match the business, not the other way around.

Accounting and Bookkeeping Services in Al Barsha

Our office is based in Al Barsha, and we work directly with businesses operating in and around the area — from small retail outlets to mid-sized trading companies. Being based locally means we can meet in person when needed, whether that's to walk through your first corporate tax filing, review your VAT position before a deadline, or go through backlog records that need cleaning up. For businesses elsewhere in Dubai or the UAE, we handle everything remotely just as easily.

How We Set Up Your Bookkeeping

1. Initial review — we look at your current records, licensing, and revenue to confirm your VAT and corporate tax obligations.
2. System setup — we set up or migrate your bookkeeping into a structured system, whether that's software you already use or one we recommend.
3. Ongoing entries — transactions are recorded on a regular schedule, not batched up months later.
4. Filing and reporting — VAT returns, corporate tax returns, and management reports are prepared and filed on time.
5. Year-round support — we're available for questions, audits, or FTA correspondence as they come up, not just at filing deadlines.

FAQs

How much does an accounting and bookkeeping service cost in Dubai?

It depends on transaction volume, whether VAT and corporate tax filing are included, and how often you need reporting. We provide a quote after a short review of your business, rather than a flat rate that doesn't reflect what you actually need.

Do small businesses in the UAE need to keep formal accounting records?

Yes. Any business earning taxable income above AED 375,000 falls under corporate tax and has to maintain records that support its tax filings. Even businesses below that threshold benefit from proper bookkeeping, since it's what determines whether you're below the threshold in the first place.

How long do I need to keep my accounting records in the UAE?

VAT records for at least five years, general accounting and corporate tax records for at least seven years, capital asset records for ten years, and real estate-related documentation for fifteen years.

What happens if my bookkeeping is behind by a year or more?

We handle backlog accounting reconstructing your records from bank statements, invoices, and whatever documentation is available, so your books are current and your filings are accurate, even if they're catching up on missed periods.

Do you handle both VAT and corporate tax filing?

Yes. We manage VAT registration and return filing, as well as corporate tax computation and filing within the FTA's nine-month deadline from the end of your financial year.

Can you help if I'm setting up a new company and need bookkeeping from day one?

Yes. We set up your accounting system alongside your company formation, so you're not starting to think about bookkeeping only once a filing deadline is already close.

Do you provide accounting services outside Al Barsha?

Yes. Our office is in Al Barsha, but we work with businesses across Dubai and the wider UAE, in person or remotely.