The leading firms for payroll outsourcing in the UAE that also handle accounting are Skrooge, BCL Globiz, and CDA, followed by HLB HAMT, Farahat & Co, KGRN, Shuraa Tax, A&A Associate, ebs, and NR Doshi & Partners.
This comparison was made with UAE SMEs in mind. Such businesses typically have 1-200 employees, must process salaries through the Wage Protection System (WPS) and need a balance between payroll accuracy and consistency with accounting records.
The payroll solutions provided by the firms in this article vary. Most enable businesses to meet compliance requirements, while some also provide self-service portals, Zoho Payroll setup, or even biometric attendance tracking. For finance teams at companies in Dubai and across the UAE, the list compares managed payroll services on WPS support, gratuity, published prices and how payroll processing connects to the books.
Last updated: 27 October 2026
Why use one firm for accounting and payroll
Processing payroll involves making various calculations and preparing records. This aspect of payroll overlaps with accounting and bookkeeping. Payroll also requires familiarity with labour laws and government reporting requirements, which accounting firms are often equipped to handle.
Additionally, payroll records, such as salary costs, gratuity accruals, and WPS transfers, must match your books. Any discrepancies can snowball into inaccuracies in VAT and Corporate Tax returns. On the other hand, ensuring accurate records improves the quality of management reporting and ultimately supports strategic planning.
The UAE does not levy personal income tax on salaries, so most employers have no payroll taxes to withhold. Regulatory compliance still covers WPS salary transfers, end-of-service gratuity and, for UAE nationals, pension contributions.
Because the two functions overlap and records must remain consistent, using one provider can simplify coordination. Fewer hand-offs can also improve operational efficiency by reducing delays and reconciliation work.
Overall, payroll outsourcing in the UAE converts fixed payroll expenses into variable costs and reduces the need to hire and train in-house staff. By delegating routine calculations and recordkeeping, outsourcing also frees internal resources which can be focused on core business activities.
What payroll management services in the UAE should include
Payroll outsourcing partners should perform the following duties to help UAE businesses manage payroll efficiently:
- Monthly salary calculation
Gross salary calculations must account for bonuses and incentives. - WPS compliance
Under the Wage Protection System (WPS), employers must process salary payments through approved banks or exchange houses like GCC Exchange and prepare salary files. - End-of-service gratuity
Businesses need to track each employee’s end-of-service gratuity entitlement based on their years of service. - Leave balances
Tracking leave balances throughout the employee lifecycle helps support accurate payments, compliance with UAE labour laws, and effective team management. - Payslips
Employers must provide payslips that itemise basic salary, variable pay, allowances, and deductions. - Accounting entries
Payroll entries should comply with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and the relevant tax laws to support VAT and Corporate Tax return preparation.
How we chose these firms
For this article, we have considered firms that provide accounting services and payroll with in-house teams. Firms that subcontract one of the two functions are vulnerable to errors arising out of improper hand-offs. We also prioritised WPS and gratuity compliance, experience, pricing transparency, and suitability for SMEs.
Each firm’s prices and offerings are as of October 2026.
Accounting and payroll firms in the UAE compared (October 2026)
| Firm | Best for | WPS file | Gratuity calc | Payroll price | Accounting from |
| Skrooge | Payroll and bookkeeping in one fee | Yes (AED 59/employee) | Yes | Included in package | AED 499/month |
| BCL Globiz | Fixed price per headcount band | Yes (SIF) | Yes | From AED 500/month (up to 5 staff) | AED 400/month |
| CDA | Published prices for accounting, payroll and audit | WPS assistance, free registration | End-of-service settlement | From AED 501/month (up to 5 staff) | AED 1,001/month |
| HLB HAMT | GCC-wide payroll | Yes | Yes, incl. DIFC/ADGM | On request | On request |
| Farahat & Co | Payroll checked by auditors | Yes (SIF) | Yes | On request | On request |
| KGRN | Leave and attendance tracking | Yes | Yes | On request | On request |
| Shuraa Tax | Tax-led support for startups | Yes | Yes | On request | On request |
| A&A Associate | Company setup and hiring | Yes | Final settlement worksheet | On request | AED 999/month |
| ebs | Zoho Payroll users | – | – | On request | On request |
| N.R. Doshi & Partners | HR + payroll for established firms | – | Yes | On request | On request |
The 10 best payroll outsourcing firms in the UAE
Here are the best 10 firms for accounting and payroll in the UAE for SMEs.
1. Skrooge.ai: Payroll and bookkeeping in one fee
Skrooge is an AI-powered accounting firm founded in 2025. Its offices are in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Skrooge offers payroll services as part of its accounting and tax package, which also includes VAT and Corporate Tax filing, monthly financial statements, a dedicated accounting team, and access to Zoho Books. This package starts at AED 499 per month. The price increases with transaction volume.
The firm calculates payroll and gratuity and records leave accruals and end-of-service entries in your books. You can engage them to prepare WPS files for AED 59 per employee per month.
Skrooge’s services are suitable for mainland as well as free zone businesses with anywhere from 1 to more than 200 employees.
At present, Skrooge doesn’t offer support for visas, medical insurance, or PRO work.
2. BCL Globiz: Fixed price per headcount band
BCL Globiz Accounting & Consulting is part of BCL Group, which was founded more than 35 years ago, and its office is in Dubai. The firm is a greytHR and Zoho partner. Its payroll package includes WPS SIF file generation, gratuity calculations, payslip generation, leave encashment, an employee self-service portal, and HR reports, such as visa expiry alerts. This package costs AED 500 per month for up to 5 employees and AED 1,000 per month for 6-10 employees. They haven’t published pricing for larger teams.
They also offer accounting and bookkeeping services. As part of a promotion, they are including VAT filing services in the lowest tier and offering accounting packages at discounted rates.
3. Charles & Darwish Associates (CDA): Published prices for accounting, payroll and audit
Charles & Darwish Associates (CDA) is an accounting and auditing firm with offices in Dubai. Its payroll services cover calculations for end-of-service settlements, gross salary, and employee-related expenses. These services also include WPS assistance, salary transfer letter issuance, and payslip generation. You can continue using your existing payroll software or switch to a solution selected by CDA.
The payroll services are offered as an add-on to the accounting package.
The accounting package costs AED 1,001 per month for up to 50 transactions. At this tier, the payroll add-on costs AED 501 per month and covers up to 5 employees. The next tier covers up to 200 transactions and costs AED 2,001 per month. For this tier, the payroll add-on costs AED 901 per month and covers up to 10 employees. Higher tiers and their respective add-ons are priced similarly.
Worth knowing: CDA prices accounting and payroll as separate tiers, so a growing team may need to move up both.
4. HLB HAMT: GCC-wide payroll
HLB HAMT is a part of HLB International and has been in the UAE since 1999. Its office is in Dubai. The firm states it is an FTA-approved tax agent and has a team of over 400 professionals. It offers accounting and bookkeeping, virtual CFO services, VAT and Corporate Tax compliance support, transfer pricing reporting assistance, and audit services.
HLB HAMT’s payroll services include WPS-compliant salary transfers, pension fund management for UAE nationals, DIFC/ADGM end-of-service benefit computation, and a self-service portal for payslips. The firm offers payroll services in 6 GCC countries. This makes them worth considering for businesses spread across the Middle East and Gulf region.
HLB HAMT is a good fit for teams of 2-20,000 employees.
5. Farahat & Co: Payroll checked by auditors
Farahat & Co was founded in 1985 and has offices in Dubai, Sharjah, and Abu Dhabi. The firm’s services include accounting, bookkeeping, and VAT and Corporate Tax compliance support, including help with disputes. Farahat & Co’s payroll services cover work permits, SIF file preparation for WPS, bank transfer orders, gratuity calculations, leave tracking, payslip validation, and compliance support for WPS and MOHRE processes.
The firm is a member of LEA Global, an FTA-registered tax agent, and a DIFC-approved auditor.
6. KGRN Chartered Accountants: Leave and attendance tracking
KGRN Chartered Accountants was founded in 2007 and has offices in Dubai, Abu Dhabi (including ADGM), Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah. The firm employs more than 100 professionals, is part of Integra International, and is a DMCC-approved auditor.
KGRN Chartered Accountants’ payroll services include WPS setup and maintenance, gratuity accruals and final settlements, and payslips by email. The firm also manages leave, including air ticket entitlements, tracks attendance through biometric systems, and gives employees a self-service portal, which makes it close to integrated HR and payroll support.
7. Shuraa Tax: Tax-led support for startups
Shuraa Tax has been providing accounting and tax support since 2018. Its team of over 35 members operates out of Dubai. Shuraa Tax identifies itself as an FTA-registered tax agent. As for payroll, their support extends to preparing and submitting WPS salary files, gratuity calculations, payslips, and leave balances.
8. A&A Associate: Company setup and hiring
A&A Associate was founded in 2016 and has an office in Dubai. It suits founders who need company formation, accounting and payroll from one provider. Their accounting package starts at AED 999 per month for up to 10 transactions. A&A Associate’s payroll services include support for WPS employee file and payslip preparation, tracking leave accruals and approvals, preparing full-and-final settlement worksheets, and reminders for passport and residency expiry.
9. ebs Chartered Accountants: Zoho Payroll users
ebs Chartered Accountants’ experience exceeds 15 years. They have their headquarters in the UAE and also have offices in the UK and Pakistan. They are an Advanced Zoho Books Partner and an approved auditor in DMCC, DIFC and JAFZA. Their payroll offerings include payslip generation, time tracking, self-service apps and Zoho Payroll setup.
10. NR Doshi & Partners: HR + payroll for established firms
NR Doshi & Partners was founded in 1985, and as of now, they have offices in Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, and certain free zones. They are an FTA-approved tax agency and a member of DFK International.
Apart from providing accounting, business advisory and auditing services, they assist businesses with payroll accounting and processing, payslip generation, gratuity and leave encashment, and visa expiry tracking.
How much does payroll outsourcing cost in the UAE?
The cost of outsourced payroll services depends on team size and transaction volume. Skrooge includes payroll support in its accounting and tax package, which starts from AED 499 per month. The firm offers WPS file preparation for AED 59 per employee. BCL Globiz Accounting & Consulting’s payroll package starts at AED 500 per month. CDA’s payroll add-on starts at AED 501 per month; however, their prices can increase because of transaction volume as well as team size. Most of the other firms do not disclose prices online but will provide a quote upon request.
When comparing payroll services in Dubai, ask each provider to quote salary processing, WPS files and gratuity calculations separately. This makes it easier to compare fees against your total employee compensation costs.
Since firms tie prices to transaction volumes and team sizes, you must try to forecast how the cost will change as the business grows.
How to choose a payroll provider in the UAE
Assess payroll providers against your business’s regulatory requirements, the way they will support your financial operations, and the following parameters:
- Check who prepares and sends the WPS salary file
Ask whether the provider generates the Salary Information File (SIF) and whether it can also coordinate its submission through your bank or an authorised exchange house. - Ask how gratuity is calculated and accrued
If your business is registered in a jurisdiction with unique rules for end-of-service benefits, inquire about gratuity calculation methods. - Confirm payroll is posted to your accounts monthly
In the first month of service, check if salaries, allowances, leave accruals, gratuity, and WPS transfers appear accurately in the ledger and whether the monthly payroll reports are consistent with the financial statements. - Compare price per employee against flat fees
Prepare a simple spreadsheet model to compare actual prices as per team size, transaction volume, and required services. Use this model to forecast how the cost of payroll management services can rise with business growth. - Ask about data security and access rights
Confirm where employee data is stored, who can access payroll systems, how reports are shared, and how access is removed when an employee leaves or when the service is terminated. Ask what controls and audit trails are available to support risk mitigation and internal audits. - Check the notice period and handover terms
Seek clarity regarding the notice period and the treatment of sensitive information like employee data and historical salary files when the contract ends. Clear handover terms help the HR team maintain continuity of payroll management if the company changes the provider.
FAQ
What is payroll outsourcing in the UAE?
Payroll outsourcing in the UAE means using an external provider to calculate salaries, prepare WPS salary files, issue payslips, and maintain related payroll records. The provider may also track leave balances, calculate end-of-service gratuity and post payroll entries to the books.
How much does payroll outsourcing cost in the UAE?
Skrooge offers payroll solutions as part of its accounting package, which starts from AED 499 per month. BCL Globiz’s payroll package starts from AED 500 for up to 5 employees.
What does payroll management include?
Payroll management can include monthly salary calculation and processing, payslip generation, tracking leave balances, gratuity calculations and WPS salary file preparation.
What is the WPS for salaries in the UAE, and who prepares the salary file?
The Wage Protection System (WPS) is an electronic system used for salary transfers through approved financial institutions. A payroll provider may calculate salaries and prepare the Salary Information File (SIF), while the employer’s bank or an authorised exchange house processes the transfer. When it comes to WPS, UAE businesses should check if the federal law applies in their jurisdiction or if they need to comply with different statutory requirements set by the relevant free zone authority.
Is WPS mandatory for free zone companies?
Not always. Meydan Free Zone states that its companies are not automatically required to pay salaries through WPS, while other free zones may require it for employees on free zone visas. Check the current rules with your free zone authority before choosing a salary processing solution.
Should I use one firm for accounting and payroll?
Using one firm for accounting and payroll can reduce errors and delays, and lead to consistent recordkeeping.
What are the top accounting firms in the UAE for payroll?
In our view, Skrooge, BCL Globiz, and CDA are the top accounting firms for payroll management services in the UAE.
Final thoughts
Skrooge suits SMEs that want payroll calculations and bookkeeping in one affordable monthly package. If stable pricing matters to your business, BCL Globiz is worth considering. CDA suits businesses that want published prices and the option to keep their existing payroll software or switch to the solution used by CDA’s team.
Putting the rankings aside, the correct choice for your business will depend on your team size, reporting needs, and place of registration. Confirm that the provider understands the local regulations that apply to your specific jurisdiction before making a purchase, especially if you operate in a free zone.
Also, when the provider sends a service agreement, read the notice period and handover terms carefully before signing.