FAQ
Common questions on accounting, tax, company formation, and fundraising in the UAE and Saudi Arabia — organized by topic. Can't find what you need? Ask a senior consultant directly.
Answered by FMCA's senior advisory teams.
Bookkeeping and outsourced accounting, fractional CFO advisory, IFRS financial statements, and payroll and WPS compliance — see the Accounting overview for the full breakdown.
Both — we support pre-revenue startups through established SMEs, scaling the engagement to what the business actually needs.
Yes — this is a common transition, including cleaning up historical books that have fallen behind before taking over ongoing bookkeeping.
Yes — monthly management accounts and MIS reporting are core to how we support growing businesses, not just annual statements.
Bookkeeping records the numbers; a fractional CFO uses them to guide strategy — pricing, hiring, financing, and growth decisions. Many clients use both together.
9% on taxable income above AED 375,000 annually; income at or below that threshold is taxed at 0%.
Registration is mandatory once taxable supplies exceed AED 375,000 in any rolling 12-month period, and voluntary from AED 187,500.
Yes — our tax practice is led by tax agents registered with the UAE Federal Tax Authority, with direct representation rights in FTA correspondence and audits.
Yes — corporate tax, Zakat, VAT, and ZATCA e-invoicing compliance in Saudi Arabia, alongside UAE tax work, as one connected service.
A voluntary disclosure to the FTA is generally far less costly than waiting for an audit to find the same errors — we can review past filings and manage the disclosure process.
It depends on where your customers are and whether you need government contracts — see our Mainland vs. Free Zone guide for the full decision framework.
Yes, in most sectors in both markets — the Saudi partner and UAE local sponsor requirements have both been largely removed for most activities.
UAE Free Zone formation can take days to a few weeks; Mainland and Saudi MISA licensing typically take longer, depending on activity and documentation readiness.
Yes — MISA licensing, RHQ setup, and ongoing compliance, coordinated with our UAE team for businesses operating in both markets.
Yes — Golden Visa and residency services are part of our post-formation compliance and PRO services offering.
Yes — we prepare formal business valuations for companies at every stage, from pre-revenue startups to established SMEs, using DCF, comparable multiples, and precedent transaction analysis together.
Yes — financial, legal, commercial, and data room preparation, so a due diligence process doesn't uncover avoidable surprises.
Our core role is getting a business genuinely investment-ready — audited financials, a credible model, a defensible valuation, and a proper data room — which is what determines whether investor conversations actually convert.
Before any fundraising round, M&A process, or major shareholder event — a professionally prepared valuation is a credibility signal in all three.
Engagements are senior-led from start to finish — the consultant or registered tax agent you speak to during scoping stays on the engagement, rather than handing off to a junior team.
Yes — clients across the UAE and Saudi Arabia, with offices in Dubai and Riyadh.
Book a free initial consultation from any page on this site — a senior consultant will respond directly within one business day.
Yes — a free, no-obligation 20-minute call to understand your situation and whether we're a good fit.
Fee structures are scoped to the engagement — we'll confirm the basis clearly before any work begins, with no surprise billing.
Tell us where things stand and a senior consultant will get back to you directly — not a call centre.