BCL Globiz · Abu Dhabi
Accounting services in Abu Dhabi for growing businesses
Bookkeeping, VAT, Corporate Tax, payroll and management accounts for mainland, ADGM and free zone businesses. `
- 1,000+ businesses served
- 35+ years of experience
- 300+ experts globally
94%
Client Renewal Rate
1000+
1000+ Active Clients
30+
Industries Served
94%
Client Renewal Rate
35+
Years of Experience
300+
Experts Globally
Why Abu Dhabi Businesses Choose BCL
Dedicated account manager
Abu Dhabi structure expertise
Mainland, ADGM and free zone experience under one roof.
Monthly fixed pricing
Tax-ready books
Mainland, ADGM or Free Zone: What Changes for
Your Books
| Structure | Licensing & regulator | VAT and Corporate Tax notes |
|---|---|---|
| Abu Dhabi mainland | Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) | Standard Federal VAT and Corporate Tax rules apply in full. Eligible for government and semi-government contracts. |
| ADGM Al Maryah Island | English common law, regulated by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) | Own annual accounts filing obligation with FSRA, on top of standard UAE VAT and Corporate Tax registration. |
| KEZAD formerly KIZAD | Industrial and logistics zone linked to Khalifa Port | Certain areas hold VAT Designated Zone status: goods moved within or between designated zones can sit outside the VAT net, but services and mainland sales are taxed as normal. |
| Masdar City Free Zone | Clean technology and sustainability free zone | Not a VAT Designated Zone. Standard VAT and Corporate Tax rules apply; many entities are early-stage with grant or investment income to track carefully. |
| twofour54 | Media Zone Authority | Not a VAT Designated Zone. Project-based media and production work needs costing that lines up with standard VAT and Corporate Tax reporting. |
Bookkeeping and Audit Obligations by Structure
| Structure | Bookkeeping & accounting records | Audit & filing requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Abu Dhabi mainland | Standard accounting records maintained for Corporate Tax and VAT purposes, retained in line with FTA record-keeping rules. | Audited financial statements are commonly requested to support Corporate Tax filings and, for some entities, licence renewal. |
| ADGM Al Maryah Island | Accounting records maintained to the standard expected by the FSRA, alongside standard UAE VAT and Corporate Tax bookkeeping. | Annual audited financial statements filed with the FSRA, in addition to VAT and Corporate Tax obligations. |
| KEZAD formerly KIZAD | Standard bookkeeping plus supporting documentation for goods movements within or between designated zones. | Audited financial statements are generally required to support Qualifying Free Zone Person status and the associated Corporate Tax treatment. |
| Masdar City Free Zone | Standard bookkeeping, with grant funding and investment income tracked separately from taxable business income. | Audited financial statements are generally required annually to maintain free zone licensing and Qualifying Free Zone Person status. |
| twofour54 | Project-based bookkeeping covering production costs, royalties and milestone billing. | Audited financial statements are generally required annually to maintain free zone licensing and Qualifying Free Zone Person status. |
Who Each Structure Is Typically Suited For
| Structure | Bookkeeping & accounting records | |
|---|---|---|
| Abu Dhabi mainland | Professional services, trading, contracting and businesses focused on local operations. | |
| ADGM | Financial services, holding companies, investment structures and professional services. | |
| KEZAD | Manufacturing, logistics and industrial businesses. | |
| Masdar City Free Zone | Clean-tech, sustainability and technology businesses. | |
| twofour54 | Media, entertainment and creative businesses. |
Who Each Structure Is Typically Suited For
Oil, gas & energy
Joint venture accounting, cost allocation and revenue recognition for long-cycle contracts.
Healthcare & clinics
Insurance claim reconciliation, patient billing accuracy and structured financial reporting for clinics and healthcare groups.
Government-linked entities & contractors
Milestone billing, retention accounting and audit-ready reporting for public sector and PPP work.
Real estate & construction
Project-wise cost tracking, work-in-progress accounting and service charge reconciliation.
Manufacturing & industrial (KEZAD)
Inventory valuation, production cost accounting and import documentation for designated zone movements.
Media & creative (twofour54)
Project costing, royalty tracking and production budget reconciliation.
Who This Is For
Accounting Services Across Abu Dhabi
Accounting Services by Business Structure
What’s included, whichever structure your Abu Dhabi entity sits under.
| Service | Mainland | ADGM | Free zone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bookkeeping | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| VAT accounting | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Corporate Tax | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Payroll / WPS | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Management accounts | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| ADGM accounts filing (FSRA) | Not required | ✓ | Not required |
Key UAE Tax and Record-Keeping Requirements
Where Bad Bookkeeping Becomes Expensive
Books fall behind
Returns are prepared on incomplete information
Supporting documentation is requested
Errors carry a cost
Accounting Services for Abu Dhabi Businesses
01
Bookkeeping & monthly accounting
02
VAT accounting & returns
03
Corporate Tax accounting
04
Management accounts & MIS
05
Payroll & WPS
06
Audit-ready accounting
07
Outsourced CFO
08
Accounting software & migration
The Abu Dhabi Accounting Compliance Checklist
Monthly
Records (VAT)
VAT
Payroll
Corporate Tax
On request
Records (CT)
ADGM entities
Recognised by Clients and the Industry
Good bookkeeping is boring by design. No surprises at return time, no scrambling when the FTA asks a question.
Fixed monthly pricing. No hidden charges.
Abu Dhabi Accounting Services: What People Ask
Yes. UAE Corporate Tax and VAT record-keeping obligations apply regardless of business size, and there is no SME exemption from the requirement to maintain proper accounting records. A chartered accountant or CA firm in Abu Dhabi helps ensure the books support your tax filings and hold up if the FTA asks for documentation.
Bookkeeping is the day-to-day recording of transactions, invoices and bank activity. Accounting builds on that data to produce management accounts, VAT and Corporate Tax filings, and financial statements. Most Abu Dhabi businesses need both working together, which is why BCL Globiz delivers them as one service rather than two separate engagements.
Yes. ADGM operates under English common law with its own regulator, the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA), and its own annual accounts filing obligations, on top of standard UAE VAT and Corporate Tax requirements. Mainland Abu Dhabi companies are licensed through ADDED and follow the same federal VAT and Corporate Tax framework without the additional ADGM filings.
Yes. Federal VAT law applies to free zone and mainland companies alike once registration thresholds are met. Certain KEZAD areas hold VAT Designated Zone status, which gives special treatment to movements of goods between designated zones, but this does not extend to services or to sales into mainland UAE. Masdar City and twofour54 are not designated zones, so standard VAT rules apply in full.
Pricing depends on transaction volume, entity structure and whether payroll, VAT filing and audit support are included. BCL Globiz agrees a fixed monthly fee upfront based on the business, with no hidden charges. See the accounting and tax compliance pricing page for current packages.






