The top bookkeeping services in the UAE are Skrooge.ai, BCL Globiz, KBA Accounting, KGRN Chartered Accountants, ebs Chartered Accountants, Sol. online, The Accountant LLC, and TaxBox. The best option for small businesses is Skrooge.ai, as their AED 499 monthly fee covers bookkeeping, VAT and Corporate Tax filing, and payroll processed by AI and reviewed by an accountant. Sol .online offers the most affordable app-based entry point (AED 125/month), and The Accountant LLC is for owners who wish to remain on Xero.
A full-time bookkeeper is not a requirement for a small business inthe UAE. They want a system that will capture all transactions, reconnect to the bank each month, and ensure the business is up and running for VAT and Corporate Tax each month. This is cheaper with online bookkeeping: documents are uploaded, or one links to one’s bank account, and a remote team does the rest, with all the bookkeeping done in cloud software that can be opened at any time.
How Online Bookkeeping Works
- Connect your data. Bank feeds, payment gateways, email inboxes,s and invoice tools are linked to the bookkeeping platform.
- Transactions are categorized. VAT is suggested by software or A ,I and a bookkeeper verifies.
- Monthly reconciliation. Bank and credit card statements are matched to the ledger to ensure that any mistakes are identified at an early stage.
- Reports. A profit and loss statement, balance sheet, and cash flow report are sent to you monthly or quarterly.
- Tax filing. VAT returns are submitted on EmaraTax quarterly,y and the Corporate Tax return is a yearly return.
Best Online Bookkeeping Services Compared
| Provider | Entry price | Platform | Tax filing | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skrooge.ai | AED 499/month | Zoho Books + Skrooge App | VAT and CT included | All-in-one small business bookkeeping |
| BCL Globiz | AED 400/month (promo) | Zoho, QuickBooks, Xero | Extra per return | Unlimited transactions |
| KBA Accounting | On request | Not stated | Yes | Fixed fee with advisory |
| KGRN | On request | Cloud accounting | Yes | Bookkeeping plus approved audit |
| ebs | AED 999/month | Zoho Books and Payroll | Yes | Zoho users |
| Sol. online | AED 125/month | Own web and mobile app | In higher plans | Very small businesses |
| The Accountant LLC | Fixed fee on request | Xero | Yes | Xero users |
| TaxBox | AED 790/month | Zoho Books (billed separately) | VAT and CT included | Up to 50 transactions a month |
The 8 Options in Detail
1. Skrooge.ai: AI bookkeeping reviewed by accountants
Skrooge.ai is an AI-powered accounting firm founded in 2025, with offices in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and an FTA-registered Tax Agency (TAN 30023311). Its bookkeeping services for small businesses start from AED 499 per month. The Skrooge App collects invoices and statements from email and bank feeds, tags every transaction for VAT and Corporate Tax, and checks invoices automatically. An accountant validates entries, and a tax manager reviews reports before filing. The fee includes Zoho Books, monthly IFRS reports, VAT and Corporate Tax returns, payroll and gratuity calculation, and a four-business-hour reply time.
Best for: small businesses that want bookkeeping and tax filing handled online for one price.
2. BCL Globiz: unlimited transactions at a low price
BCL Globiz publishes packages from AED 400 to AED 1,200 per month (promotional) with no transaction cap. The VAT returns are AED 750 per quarter. It can run Zoho Books, QuickBooks, or Xero.
Best for: startups with many small transactions.
3. KBA Accounting: fixed fee with MIS reports
KBA Accounting on Sheikh Zayed Road provides bookkeeping, MIS Reports, VAT, Corporate Tax, and Payroll services on a fixed-fee basis.
Best for: small trading and hospitality businesses that want management reports.
4. KGRN Chartered Accountants: cloud bookkeeping with audit
KGRN was established in 2007 and is an FTA-registered tax agent and an approved auditor at ADGM, DIFC, DMCC, DAFZ and RERA, with offices in five locations in the UAE. It provides outsourcing of VAT, Corporate Tax, payroll, and cloud accounting.
Best for: free zone small businesses that also need an audit.
5. ebs Chartered Accountants: Zoho-based bookkeeping
ebs is an FTA-registered Tax Agent in Business Bay and an Advanced Partner of Zoho. Its starter package for outsourced bookkeeping, backlog accounting, VAT, and Corporate Tax costs AED 999/month.
Best for: small businesses already on Zoho.
6. Sol .online: app-first bookkeeping
Sol .online is based in DIFC FinTech Hive and offers bookkeeping via its own web and mobile app. Costs begin at AED 125 per month (sol.simple), sol .online + is AED 99,0 and Premium costs AED 3,900. There are no transaction limits on the fees.
Best for: freelancers and micro businesses that prefer a mobile app.
7. The Accountant LLC: Xero specialists
The Accountant LLC is a Xero Certified Advisor on Sheikh Zayed Road with more than eight years in the UAE. It offers monthly Xero bookkeeping, VAT, Corporate Tax, and payroll on a fixed monthly fee, with a dedicated accountant.
Best for: free zone startups that want Xero.
8. TaxBox: bookkeeping bundled with tax
AED 790 per month is the cost of an SME Starter plan from Lynchpin Group, which includes VAT and Corporate Tax registration and filing up to 50 transactions per month. Zoho Books is an added charge.
Best for: small businesses with low, predictable volumes.
Not sure what a bookkeeping engagement should cover? This guide explains how to choose bookkeeping services in Dubai.
Online vs In-House Bookkeeping
An in-house bookkeeper in the UAE is paid a salary in addition to a visa, medical insurance, and end-of-service benefits. The outsourced online bookkeeping services typically range in price from AED 400 to AED 1500 for a small business, provide access to experienced bookkeepers, and stay up to date with VAT and Corporate Tax updates. When there are daily transactions to be attended to, it may make sense to hire in-house.
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Rules Small Businesses Must Follow
- VAT registration will be voluntary from AED 187,500 and will be at a rate of 5% if taxable supplies exceed AED 375,000 per year.
- All companies are required to register for Corporate Tax and submit a return every 9 months following the tax period, even if there is no tax due.
- The relief for small businesses is for resident businesses with revenues of not more than AED 3 million for tax periods ending on or before 31 December 2029.
- Records shall be retained for 7 years.
How to Choose an Online Bookkeeping Service
- Ensure the service is compatible with your bank, payment processor, and payroll service.
- Ensure that the books are reviewed by a qualified accountant, not the software.
- Inquire if the tax filing for VAT and Corporate Tax is included.
- Ensure that you can move your data to another provider.
FAQs
What is the cheapest online bookkeeping service in the UAE?
Sol. Online is the cheapest, priced at AED 125/month. Skrooge.ai and BCL Globiz range in pricing from AED 499/month and AED 400/month, respectively, and offer even more services.
Is online bookkeeping accepted by the FTA?
Yes. The FTA is not interested in the location of records, only that they are accurate and kept. Records should be kept in the cloud for a minimum of 7 years and should be available upon request.
Do I need bookkeeping if my business is below the VAT threshold?
Yes. You don’t have to register for VAT, but you should still have accurate books, as corporate tax registration and returns are applicable to all companies.
Which accounting software do online bookkeepers in the UAE use?
The most widely used are Zoho Books, Xero, and QuickBooks,s while Tally, Wafe,q and Odoo are also used. Skrooge.ai and ebs can primarily be used in Zoho Books; The Accountant LLC on Xero; and Sol. online within its own app. Make sure all the tools you use in your business are compatible with the provider’s platform, thus avoiding any extra manual effort needed when bank feeds and invoices sync.
How long does it take to switch to an online bookkeeping service?
Typical onboarding time is 2-6 weeks. The provider gathers company paperwork, establishes a chart of accounts, links bank feeds, and recovers any missing months before the first month-end close. If the books are overdue, then B.A. will likely be an additional cost.
