Reliable financial information is essential for every successful business. Owners need accurate figures to make decisions, shareholders need confidence in reported results, banks and investors require dependable information, and regulators expect companies to meet applicable reporting obligations. Audit and assurance services help provide that confidence through an independent and structured examination of financial information, systems, controls, and business processes.
Ahmad Alagbari Chartered Accountants provides independent external audit and assurance services for businesses across Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, and ADGM. The firm’s published service information includes statutory audits for companies of different sizes and internal audits focused on operational and financial controls.
Our approach goes beyond preparing a report. We aim to understand how your business operates, identify areas that require attention, verify the reliability of financial information, and provide practical observations that support stronger financial management.
Whether you are a startup, SME, free zone company, real estate business, corporation, or established enterprise, Ahmad Alagbari Chartered Accountants can help you approach your audit with greater confidence and organisation.
What Are Audit and Assurance Services?
An audit is an independent examination of a company’s financial statements and related records. The auditor gathers evidence, evaluates accounting treatments, reviews selected controls and transactions, and forms an opinion based on the applicable reporting framework and engagement requirements.
Assurance is a broader term. It refers to professional services that improve the confidence users can place in information, processes, systems, or reports. Depending on the assignment, assurance may involve financial statement audits, internal control reviews, compliance assessments, agreed-upon procedures, or other forms of independent evaluation.
The purpose of an audit is not simply to check whether figures add up. A well-planned audit considers the reliability of records, supporting evidence, accounting policies, significant estimates, risks, controls, and disclosures. It also helps management understand where processes can be improved.
Why Is Audit Important for Your Business?
An audit can provide valuable benefits for organisations of all sizes. While some audits are required by law, a company may also choose an independent audit to strengthen governance, support financing, reassure shareholders, or improve internal decision-making.
Professional audit and assurance services can help your business:
- Meet applicable statutory, licensing, contractual, or regulatory requirements.
- Provide independent information to shareholders and management.
- Support applications for bank finance or investment.
- Strengthen accounting policies and internal controls.
- Identify errors, inconsistencies, and weaknesses in documentation.
- Improve financial reporting and business transparency.
- Support tax planning and regulatory compliance.
- Reduce financial and operational risk.
- Improve accountability across departments.
- Prepare for expansion, restructuring, acquisition, or sale.
An audit does not replace management responsibility. Company directors and management remain responsible for maintaining accounting records, preparing financial statements, establishing controls, and making business decisions. The auditor independently examines the information provided and reports according to the engagement scope.
Our Audit and Assurance Services
Statutory Audit
A statutory audit is conducted to meet an applicable legal, licensing, shareholder, or regulatory requirement. The audit generally includes an examination of financial statements, accounting records, transactions, balances, disclosures, and relevant supporting evidence.
Our team works with management to understand the company’s activities, financial systems, reporting framework, and key risk areas. We then plan and perform procedures appropriate to the engagement before issuing the required report.
The exact requirement for an audit can vary depending on the legal structure, jurisdiction, free zone, industry, licence, financial year, and applicable regulations. We recommend confirming the requirements specific to your company before setting a reporting timetable.
External Audit
An external audit provides an independent assessment by a professional firm that is separate from the company’s management. It can improve confidence among shareholders, lenders, business partners, regulators, and other users of financial information.
Our external audit process is designed to be structured and practical. We communicate the information needed, focus on material and risk-sensitive areas, discuss queries with management, and provide an independent report after completing the required work.
Internal Audit
Internal audit examines the effectiveness of business controls, policies, procedures, governance, and risk management. It can identify weaknesses before they create serious financial or operational consequences.
Internal audit assignments may cover procurement, sales, inventory, payroll, cash management, accounts receivable, accounts payable, information systems, compliance, human resources, and other processes. We provide observations and recommendations that management can use to strengthen operations.
RERA Audit
Real estate businesses may have specialised audit and financial reporting requirements. Our team provides RERA audit support for relevant property and real estate entities, helping them prepare accurate records and reports for applicable regulatory purposes.
A real estate audit may involve reviewing project-related information, financial transactions, supporting documents, client funds, income, expenses, and reporting records. The exact scope depends on the entity, project, authority, and engagement requirements.
Free Zone Audit
Many UAE free zones require companies to submit audited financial statements or appoint an auditor from an approved panel. Requirements and deadlines may differ between free zones and may change over time.
We assist free zone companies with audit planning, financial statement review, documentation, communication, and reporting. Before appointment, we help clarify the relevant jurisdictional requirements and the information needed to complete the engagement.
Assurance and Control Reviews
Some organisations require an independent review of a specific process, balance, control, or report rather than a full statutory audit. Assurance procedures can be tailored to a defined business question or risk area.
Examples may include reviewing revenue controls, inventory records, expense approvals, payroll procedures, customer balances, compliance processes, or selected transactions. The deliverables and level of assurance depend on the agreed scope.
Our Audit Process
A clear process helps minimise disruption and supports timely completion. Each engagement is tailored to the client, but the main stages generally include the following.
- Initial Consultation
We learn about your business activities, legal structure, reporting period, accounting system, locations, subsidiaries, industry, previous audit experience, and applicable deadlines. This discussion helps determine the appropriate engagement scope.
- Planning and Risk Assessment
We identify significant financial statement areas, operational risks, complex transactions, control weaknesses, related-party matters, estimates, and other issues that may require attention. Planning helps allocate resources effectively.
- Information Request
We provide a list of documents and schedules needed for the engagement. These may include the trial balance, general ledger, bank statements, reconciliations, invoices, contracts, payroll records, fixed asset schedules, inventory information, tax records, and prior financial statements.
- Fieldwork and Testing
Our auditors examine selected transactions, balances, controls, reconciliations, supporting records, and disclosures. The procedures performed depend on the risk assessment, materiality, engagement type, and applicable reporting requirements.
- Management Queries
During the audit, we may ask for explanations, supporting documents, confirmations, or adjustments. Prompt responses help resolve issues efficiently and reduce delays in finalising the report.
- Review and Reporting
After completing the audit procedures, we review the results, evaluate identified matters, discuss significant observations with management, and issue the appropriate report. Where relevant, we may also provide recommendations for improving controls and reporting processes.
How to Prepare for an Audit
Good preparation can make an audit faster, clearer, and more efficient. Businesses should maintain their records throughout the year rather than waiting until the reporting deadline.
Before the audit begins, management should consider the following:
- Update the accounting records and general ledger.
- Reconcile all bank accounts and cash balances.
- Review receivables and payables for unusual or overdue items.
- Prepare fixed asset and depreciation schedules.
- Organise invoices, contracts, receipts, and payment evidence.
- Maintain inventory records and count documentation where relevant.
- Prepare payroll, employee benefit, and end-of-service information.
- Document loans, related-party transactions, and shareholder balances.
- Keep copies of VAT, corporate tax, and other relevant filings.
- Review provisions, accruals, prepaid expenses, and outstanding liabilities.
- Prepare explanations for major changes from the previous year.
- Provide access to relevant staff and systems.
A well-organised document pack enables auditors to focus on analysis and professional judgment instead of spending unnecessary time locating basic information.
Why Choose Ahmad Alagbari Chartered Accountants?
An audit firm should provide more than a standard checklist. It should understand your business, communicate clearly, protect confidential information, and explain findings in a way that management can use.
Ahmad Alagbari Chartered Accountants provides:
- Independent external audit and assurance services.
- Statutory audit support for eligible businesses.
- Internal audit and control review expertise.
- Audit services for companies across key UAE locations.
- Support for free zone and real estate audit requirements.
- Accounting, tax, corporate finance, and advisory knowledge.
- Practical communication throughout the engagement.
- A structured approach to planning, fieldwork, and reporting.
The firm’s wider services include accounting, corporate finance, RERA audit, governance, risk, and compliance support, enabling clients to obtain connected financial and business guidance when appropriate. [web:32][web:43]
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between audit and assurance?
An audit is a specific type of assurance engagement involving an independent examination of financial statements and related evidence. Assurance is a broader category that may include audits, control reviews, compliance assessments, and other assignments designed to increase confidence in information or processes.
Does every company in the UAE need an audit?
Audit requirements depend on factors such as the company’s legal structure, jurisdiction, free zone, industry, licence, contractual obligations, and applicable regulations. Some entities may have statutory or authority-specific requirements, while others may obtain an audit for banking, investment, governance, or internal management purposes. Businesses should confirm their obligations with a qualified professional and the relevant authority.
What is included in a statutory audit?
A statutory audit commonly includes examination of financial statements, accounting records, selected transactions, account balances, supporting documents, disclosures, and relevant internal controls. The precise procedures depend on the company, risk assessment, reporting framework, and engagement requirements.
What documents are required for an audit?
Common documents include the trial balance, general ledger, financial statements, bank statements, bank reconciliations, invoices, receipts, contracts, payroll records, fixed asset schedules, inventory reports, receivables, payables, loan agreements, tax filings, and related-party information. The auditor provides a more specific request list for each engagement.
How long does an audit take?
The timeline varies according to the company’s size, transaction volume, number of locations, complexity, accounting system, quality of records, and management response time. A company with complete and well-organised records can usually support a more efficient audit than one with unreconciled balances or missing documentation.
Can you audit a free zone company?
Yes. Ahmad Alagbari Chartered Accountants provides audit support for eligible free zone companies, subject to the current requirements and approval rules of the relevant free zone authority. The applicable panel, deadline, format, and filing process should be confirmed before appointment.
Do you provide internal audit services?
Yes. Internal audit services can assess operational and financial controls, governance, risk management, compliance, and business processes. The scope can be designed around specific concerns or a broader review of the organisation.
Can audit findings help improve our business?
Yes. An audit may identify weaknesses in documentation, reconciliations, approvals, segregation of duties, reporting, or internal controls. When communicated constructively, these observations can help management improve processes and reduce risk.
Can you assist with accounting and tax before the audit?
Ahmad Alagbari Chartered Accountants also provides accounting, VAT, corporate tax, and financial advisory services. Any related service must be considered carefully in light of professional independence and applicable requirements. The scope and responsibilities are discussed separately for each engagement.
How can we appoint Ahmad Alagbari Chartered Accountants?
Contact the firm with your company name, business activity, legal structure, jurisdiction, financial year-end, previous audit information, and required deadline. The team can review your circumstances, clarify the audit scope, explain the process, and prepare a suitable engagement proposal. The firm’s published contact details include +971 4 228 7774 and info@aaa-cas.com. [web:36]
Conclusion
Audit and assurance services provide more than compliance documentation. They help businesses improve confidence in financial reporting, strengthen internal controls, identify risk, support stakeholder relationships, and make better-informed decisions.
Ahmad Alagbari Chartered Accountants delivers independent audit, statutory audit, internal audit, RERA audit, free zone audit, and assurance services for businesses in Dubai and across the UAE. With a structured process, practical communication, and broader accounting and advisory expertise, the firm can support your organisation before, during, and after the audit.
Contact Ahmad Alagbari Chartered Accountants today to discuss your audit and assurance requirements.