The UAE Government will introduce new digital accounting and auditing regulations in the coming months, a move aimed at expanding the role of chartered accountants and accelerating the sector’s technological shift. The announcement was made by Abdullah Saleh Al Hammadi, Director of the Auditors Department at the Ministry of Economy and Tourism, during the 43rd Annual Convention of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, Dubai Chapter.
Addressing nearly 3,200 members at the event themed “Udaan”, Al Hammadi said the reforms would support the country’s transition to AI-driven financial practices. “We will soon issue a new set of regulations that will widen the role of Chartered Accountants and accelerate the digital transformation of accounting and auditing practices in the UAE,” he said.
He added that the new framework will introduce Environment, Sustainability and Governance (ESG) reporting guidelines, reflecting its rising importance in corporate governance. Al Hammadi noted that the UAE has already strengthened oversight through reforms introduced in 2025 under Federal Decree-Law No. 41 of 2023 to boost transparency and align with global standards.
ICAI Dubai Chapter Chairman CA Jai Prakash Agarwal said the chapter’s theme for the year focuses on growth and ethical leadership. “The core mission of Udaan is twofold: empowering dreams and elevating the future through concerted action and ethical leadership,” he said.
Member of Parliament, Dr Shashi Tharoor, delivering the keynote address, underscored the growing influence of accountants in a rapidly shifting global economy. “Your role is not merely limited to numbers. In reality, you are the moral architecture of the global economy,” he said.
The UAE’s accounting sector continues to expand, with the number of registered chartered accountants rising to 1,103 by August 2025, compared to 871 in 2024. The number of accounting firms increased to 396 over the same period, reflecting sustained demand as the country builds a more robust tax and compliance ecosystem. Established in 1982, the ICAI Dubai Chapter remains the largest and most active among ICAI’s 54 overseas chapters, now representing nearly 3,200 members across more than 1,550 companies.
