A compliance audit verifies whether your business meets the specific regulatory, licensing and reporting obligations that apply to it — free zone authority rules, sector-specific regulation (like AML/CFT for regulated businesses), or licence conditions — separate from a general financial statement audit. We identify the exact requirements that apply to your entity type and sector, then test whether you actually meet them.

What is it?
An audit that verifies a business's compliance with specific regulatory, licensing or sector requirements, rather than examining financial statements as a whole.

Who needs it?
Regulated businesses (financial services, real estate, precious metals and other AML/CFT-designated sectors), companies with specific free zone licence conditions, and businesses wanting assurance ahead of a regulatory inspection.

Benefits
- Identifies regulatory gaps before a regulator does

- Clarity on exactly which requirements apply to your specific licence/sector

- Reduced risk of licence suspension or regulatory penalties

- Documented evidence of compliance efforts if ever challenged

1. Identify the specific regulatory and licensing requirements that apply

2. Review current policies, processes and documentation against those requirements

3. Test compliance in practice, not just on paper

4. Deliver a findings report with a remediation plan for any gaps

Cost Factor ~ Based on the regulatory framework(s) involved, business complexity, and depth of testing required.

Timeline ~ A focused compliance audit typically takes 2–4 weeks, depending on the number of regulatory areas covered.

FAQs
1. Which UAE businesses need an AML/CFT compliance audit?
Businesses in designated non-financial sectors — including real estate, precious metals and stones dealers, and certain other categories under UAE AML law — have specific AML/CFT compliance obligations subject to audit and regulatory inspection. We confirm whether your specific activity falls within a designated category.

2. What happens if a compliance audit finds gaps?
We deliver a prioritized remediation plan so you can address gaps before a regulator identifies them, since voluntary correction is generally viewed far more favorably than a gap found during an official inspection. Serious gaps are flagged immediately, not held until the final report.

3. How is a compliance audit different from a financial statement audit?
A financial statement audit examines whether your financials present fairly overall, while a compliance audit tests specific regulatory or licence requirements that may have nothing to do with the financial statements themselves. Some businesses need both, run as separate, differently-scoped engagements.