Abu Dhabi: UAE Finance Ministry Briefs Federal Entities on 2026 Final Accounts

Federal entities in the United Arab Emirates were walked through the rules for closing their 2026 books at the Financial Data Forum 2026, hosted by the country’s Ministry of Finance in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, according to a ministry statement.

The 2026 financial year closes on December 31. The ministry presented the forum as a step towards more accurate and dependable government financial data, along with faster and more efficient preparation of the annual statements.

IPSAS rollout reviewed

One session was devoted to the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS). It looked back at IPSAS 41–43, which came into use in 2025, weighing the difficulties met so far and what entities have learned. Speakers then set out what applying IPSAS 45–49 will demand over the course of 2026.

The UAE Accountability Authority (UAEAA) joined the discussions, presenting the auditor’s perspective and the obstacles it sees in putting the new standards into practice. Attendees also went through Financial Circular No. 10 of 2026, focusing on the main changes it brings, the templates to be used for statements and the rules for filing them.

Official stresses data quality

Mariam Mohammed Al Amiri, Assistant Undersecretary for the Government Financial Management Sector at the Ministry of Finance, called the event an important platform for building a common approach with federal entities on accounting policies and on what the final account file must contain.

“Accurate, high-quality financial data is fundamental to efficient government financial management,” Al Amiri said.

She told participants that the ministry now relies on artificial intelligence along with modern digital systems, which have automated several procedures, made validating and processing data easier and shortened the time needed to finalise reports. This work, she said, serves the aims of the Zero Bureaucracy Programme by cutting needless steps and requirements for federal entities.

Graduates from three universities

Representatives of federal entities sat alongside accounting and finance graduates from United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) and Zayed University (ZU). The ministry said bringing the young graduates in was meant to tie what universities teach more closely to the day-to-day demands of public-sector finance.

The ministry added that it keeps tracking changes to IPSAS and revising its accounting policies, manuals and procedures accordingly, while offering federal entities courses, workshops, guidance and technical support so they are ready to close the 2026 final account.