Harvest of Five Years of Achievement (2021-2026) of the Emirates Association of Accountants and Auditors: Membership Growth by More Than 80%, Investigation and Discipline System Developed, IFAC Membership, Hosting International Conferences, and Documented Figures and Statistics.
A career full of achievements
past five years (2021-2026), the association has witnessed a qualitative leap at all levels: institutional, international, and service, achieving tangible achievements that reflect its position as a strategic partner in the development of the accounting and auditing profession in the UAE.
First: Institutional Growth – Figures Reflecting Confidence
1. Membership growth by more than 80%
During the period from 2022 to 2025, Association Cumulative growth in the number of members exceeded80%, bringing the total number of professional members to4,000 MemberUntil February 2026. This accelerated growth reflects growing confidence in the role of the association as a professional reference within the country.
2. Demand for the Emirati Fellowship
The number of enrollees in the UAE Fellowship Program reached 1,391 until February 2026, which is a clear indication of the appetite of practitioners for a disciplined career path with clear criteria, in accordance with the provisions of Ministerial Resolution No. (2-111) of 2022.
3. Professional Offices
The number of professional offices registered within the membership of the association reached 29 by mid-2025, which reflects a real partnership with audit and accounting offices in the country.
Second: Institutional Development – Building an Integrated System
1. Investigation and Discipline System
As part of the association’s commitment to the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) standards, the association was granted greater regulatory powers under Ministerial Resolution No. (111-2) of 2022, enabling it to establish a membership inquiry committee in April 2023.
In 2024, the association fully developed its Investigation and Discipline (I&D) system to comply with IFAC membership obligations, promoting transparency and accountability and protecting the profession and practitioners alike.
The Committee is responsible for considering complaints submitted against members, and has the power to impose disciplinary penalties up to a public warning or suspension or termination of membership, in accordance with clear and transparent procedures.
2. Adherence to International Standards
According to the IFAC profile (February 2025 update), the association is committed to implementing membership obligations (SMOs) in six key areas, while making significant progress in the areas of International Auditing Standards (ISA), Code of Ethics, and Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS).
3. Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Programs
The Society provides advanced training programs for its members, as the Ministry of Economy requires all licensed auditors to complete 30 training hours per year, of which 12 hours are provided by the Society specifically in the fields of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), International Auditing Standards (ISA), and local laws and taxes.
The association also planned to integrate the requirements of International Education Standard 8 (IES 8) into the CPD program to meet the needs of members who work as partners in audit firms.
Third: International Participation – Influential Presence
1. IFAC Membership
In 2024, the Association achieved Full Membership in IFAC, strengthening its global standing and influence in international professional consultations.
2. IFAC Connect MENA 2024 Hosting
In October 2024, IFAC in partnership with the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) and under the patronage of H.E. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy, hosted the IFAC Connect MENA event in Dubai.
The event brought together regional and global leaders representing the financial, accounting, securities regulators and audit authorities, with the aim of developing sustainability and assurance reporting and capacity building in the MENA region.
H.E. Saif Al Muhairi, Chairman of the Society, said: “The accounting profession represented by the Society in the UAE is pivotal to how corporate reporting evolves to include information related to sustainability, especially in its use of capital allocation and investment decisions.”
3. Cooperation with international organizations
The association has strategic partnerships with international professional organizations, including:
- The Accredited Institute of Public Finance and Accounting (CIPFA) to offer the IPSAS Diploma to members.
- The World Bank and other regional partners.
Fourth: National Partnerships – Enhancing Institutional Integration
The association works closely with national regulators, holding regular meetings with:
- Ministry of Economy (MoE)
- Central Bank
- Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA)
- Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA)
This continuous coordination aims to activate a unified quality assurance system at the state level by the planned date. A national quality assurance committee representing all stakeholders will also be established to streamline the requirements of audit control.
Harvest Five Years – Tangible Achievements
Five years of continuous work have yielded qualitative achievements at all levels:
| Scope | Highlights |
| Institutional Growth | Increased the number of members by more than 80% to reach 4,000 members, the number of fellows reached 1,391, and 29 professional offices joined |
| Institutional Development | Establishment of an integrated investigation and discipline system (2023-2024), adherence to the six IFAC standards, development of CPD programmes |
| International Engagements | IFAC Membership (2021), IFAC Connect MENA Hosting (2024), Partnerships with CIPFA, ACCA and the World Bank |
| National Integration | Permanent coordination with the Ministry of Economy and regulatory authorities to unify the quality audit system |
These achievements confirm that the Emirates Association of Accountants and Auditors is moving steadily towards achieving its vision: to be a leading professional reference nationally, a trusted international partner, and a true supporter of its members and practitioners in the country.
