Internal Audit & Risk
Internal Audit & Risk Assessment Services in the UAE
Independent assurance your board can act on.
Outsourced and co-sourced internal audit, enterprise risk assessment and internal controls for UAE businesses — quiet, systematic and defensible, reported in language owners and boards actually use.
Scope
What we deliver
Outsourced internal audit
A complete internal audit function, run for you: an annual plan built on your actual risks, structured fieldwork, and periodic reporting to the owner, board or audit committee.
Co-sourced & specialist support
Working alongside your in-house team where specialist depth is needed — inventory, procurement, revenue, IT and related-party transactions.
Enterprise risk assessment
A working risk register, heat map and clear risk appetite — ranked by impact and likelihood, owned by named people, not a document left in a drawer.
Internal controls design & testing
Delegation-of-authority matrices, segregation of duties, approval, payment and receiving controls — designed, then tested at transaction level where failures are most likely.
Fraud risk & investigations
Proactive reviews where fraud and leakage are most likely — and discreet, disciplined investigations when something surfaces.
Compliance & policy reviews
Policies, SOPs and codes of conduct — written to be used, and reviewed so they stay used.
Board & audit committee reporting
Findings rated by risk, in plain language — with practical recommendations that can actually be executed.
Remediation & follow-up
A follow-up system that actually closes findings — not just files them. Every finding has an owner, a date and a status.
Our approach
Quiet, systematic, defensible
Plan
An annual audit plan aligned to your real risks — not a generic checklist.
Test
Transaction-level fieldwork where it matters most.
Report
Findings rated by risk, in plain language, with executable recommendations.
Close
Remediation tracked to closure — findings closed, not filed.
Who it is for
When a UAE business needs internal audit
Statutory audit confirms the accounts. Internal audit asks a different question: are the controls that protect the money actually working? These are the situations that usually bring an owner to us.
Family groups and owner-managed companies
Several entities, shared staff, related-party balances and an owner who can no longer see every transaction.
Multi-branch retail and F&B
Cash, stock and discounts handled far from head office — where small leaks repeat every day.
Contractors and manufacturers
Procurement, subcontractor claims, stores and wastage — the areas where cost disappears without a single wrong invoice.
Before a bank facility, investor or sale
Lenders and buyers ask for evidence of control. An internal audit report and a closed action log answer the question before it is asked.
After something has gone wrong
A theft, a supplier kickback or an unexplained stock loss. We establish the facts discreetly and close the gap that allowed it.
Boards and audit committees
Independent reporting for directors who need assurance that does not come from management itself.
Where we look first
The areas we audit most in UAE businesses
| Area | Typical findings |
|---|---|
| Procurement and payables | Single-source purchases, quotes obtained after the order, duplicate payments, supplier bank details changed without verification. |
| Inventory and stores | Uncounted stock, write-offs without approval, issues to production not recorded, slow-moving stock carried at full value. |
| Revenue, cash and discounts | Voids and refunds without supervisor approval, unrecorded cash sales, credit given beyond approved limits. |
| Payroll and HR | Employees on payroll after exit, overtime without authorisation, gratuity under-accrued. |
| Related parties and owners' accounts | Undocumented inter-company loans and charges — now also a corporate tax exposure. |
| Systems and access | Shared ERP passwords, no segregation between who creates a supplier and who pays it, no audit trail review. |
Choosing a model
Outsourced, co-sourced or in-house internal audit
| Outsourced | Co-sourced | In-house | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Groups without an audit team | Teams needing specialist depth | Large groups with constant audit activity |
| Independence | High — reports to the owner or board | High on the areas we lead | Depends on reporting line |
| Cost shape | Fixed annual plan, paid per quarter | Per assignment | Fixed salaries and overhead all year |
| Skills | Audit, finance, tax and operations in one team | Added where your team lacks them | Limited to the people hired |
| Start-up time | Weeks | Days | Months |
A first-year outsourced plan normally covers a risk assessment in the first quarter, two or three process audits through the year, one surprise review such as a cash or stock count, and a follow-up of every open finding before year end.
Common questions
Questions owners ask
Is internal audit mandatory in the UAE?
What is the difference between internal audit and external audit?
How much does outsourced internal audit cost?
Will the audit disrupt our staff?
What happens if you find fraud?
Do you provide internal audit in Sharjah and Dubai?
Can you audit a business that has never had written procedures?
Who does the work
Every engagement is led personally by our principal advisor — a CISA-certified, MBA-qualified finance and audit professional with 15+ years inside UAE retail, F&B, manufacturing and construction groups. The person who diagnoses your business is the one who fixes it.
About →Related services
Often engaged together
SOPs, Policies & Governance
Authority matrices, policies and SOPs written to be used — not filed.
Explore →Cost Control & Reduction
Line-by-line cost reviews, supplier renegotiation and expense controls that hold.
Explore →Accounting & Bookkeeping
Monthly close, reconciliations, payroll and WPS — FTA-ready records on one fixed monthly fee.
Explore →Ready for assurance that stands up to scrutiny?
A confidential conversation about your risk landscape — no fee, no obligation.