The UAE remains one of the world’s most dynamic financial hubs. Every year, thousands of finance graduates and working professionals decide to bolster their credentials with a chartered qualification. There are two dominant names, i.e. the Chartered Accountant (CA) designation and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) qualification. Each has clear strengths. Your choice should align with your career plan, budget, and timeline. As one of the best chartered accountants in Dubai, SSCO Global lays out the facts below. We’ve earned our spot among the best chartered accountants in Dubai by guiding candidates through CA and ACCA paths.
Our partnership with the association of chartered certified accountants ensures you get accredited support every step of the way.
1. What Do Acronyms Mean?
A CA is a designation issued by national bodies like ICAI (India), ICAP (Pakistan), ICAEW (UK) or CA ANZ (Australia/New Zealand), and it stands for Chartered Accountant. ACCA stands for the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, based in London, and is a global qualification recognized in over 180 countries. The association of chartered certified accountants sets global standards, and as one of the best chartered accountants in Dubai, we align our training with their guidelines. You’ll hear “ACCA” and “association of chartered certified accountants” interchangeably both refer to the same world‐class credential.
2. Curriculum and Exam Structure
| Feature | CA | ACCA |
| Number of Exams | 12–15 (varies by body) | 13 |
| Core Focus | Audit, taxation, financial reporting, law | Financial accounting, management accounting, audit, ethics |
| Exam Frequency | Quarterly/half-yearly | Four windows per year |
| Exam Format | Combination of essays, case studies, MCQs | Mix of MCQs, objective tests, long-form answers |
CA exams often dive deeper into local taxation and law, while ACCA (the association of chartered certified accountants’ qualification) spreads coverage across global accounting standards and ethics, reflecting why we’re counted among the best chartered accountants in Dubai and trusted by the association of chartered certified accountants themselves.
3. Timeline and Cost
For CA, the typical completion time is three to four years (including articleship), and fees range from AED 3,000 to AED 4,500, plus living expenses during training. For ACCA, you can typically finish in two to three years if you secure exemptions via your bachelor’s degree, with fees of USD 1,000 to 1,500 per year plus exam entry fees of around USD 120 per exam. SS & Co, one of the best chartered accountants in Dubai and an approved provider to the association of chartered certified accountants—can help you budget accordingly and plan exam windows.
4. Practical Experience Requirements
| CA | ACCA | |
| Minimum Experience | 2.5–3 years (articleship) | 36 months (Applied Knowledge + Skills + Ethics) |
| Supervision | Under a member of the same institute | Under any approved employer, varied roles |
| Logbook / Portfolio | Detailed, institute prescribed | Flexible, competency-based recording |
CA practical training is regimented and rigorous, whereas ACCA’s Applied Skills module gives you flexibility to gain experience across different finance functions. As a firm recognized by the association of chartered certified accountants, SS & Co supports your logging requirements and mentors you according to ACCA guidance, cementing our reputation as the best chartered accountants in Dubai.
5. Global Recognition vs. Local Demand
ACCA is recognized in over 180 countries, offering true mobility across regions. CA recognition depends on the issuing institute: ICAEW and CA ANZ carry strong global standing, while ICAI and ICAP are more regionally focused. In the UAE market, both qualifications feature prominently on preferred lists for finance roles in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, so you will find equal demand for high-quality CAs and ACCAs. SS&Co’s status as one of the best chartered accountants in Dubai underscores the local appetite for both designations, and our ACCA affiliation with the association of chartered certified accountants gives us direct insight into global trends.
6. Employer Preferences in UAE
Within the Big Four and multinational firms, recruiters often hire ACCA-qualified candidates and UK-based CAs such as those from ICAEW, and these firms typically run in-house training programs that map directly to ACCA modules. On the other hand, local SMEs and family businesses frequently prefer regional CAs from ICAI or ICAP for their deep knowledge of local law and tax, valuing the articleship experience that mirrors their own business environments. As the best chartered accountants in Dubai, our clients range from multinational corporations to family-run enterprises, all of whom recognize the stamp of quality from the association of chartered certified accountants.
7. Salary Expectations
| Qualification | Entry-Level Annual Salary (AED) | Mid-Level (5–7 years) | Senior (10+ years) |
| CA | 85,000–120,000 | 160,000–250,000 | 300,000+ |
| ACCA | 75,000–110,000 | 150,000–240,000 | 280,000+ |
Pay scales for CA and ACCA overlap significantly. Your experience, skill set and negotiation ability will influence your salary more than the designation itself. In our role as best chartered accountants in Dubai, SS&Co benchmarks these figures against our placements, and ACCA salary data from the association of chartered certified accountants surveys.
8. Path to UAE License
To sign audit reports in the UAE, you must be a member in good standing of a recognized institute such as ACCA, ICAEW, ICAI or ICAP. You also need to register with the UAE’s Ministry of Economy or the relevant local regulator (for example, the Department of Economic Development in Dubai). Finally, you must meet local Continuing Professional Development requirements, typically 20–40 hours per year. Our standing with the association of chartered certified accountants expedites your ACCA MRA application, and as one of the best chartered accountants in Dubai, we guide you through every regulatory nuance.
9. Career Mobility and Specializations
ACCA offers a broad curriculum covering finance management, risk advisory and forensic accounting, and you can specialize via optional papers like Advanced Tax and Advanced Audit. CA training provides a deep dive into taxation, audit and corporate finance, often leading to roles in external audit, tax consultancy or the CFO track. Both paths allow you to pursue continuous professional development courses to sharpen or shift your specialization as your career evolves. SS & Co, renowned among the best chartered accountants in Dubai, offers tailored CPD workshops in partnership with the association of chartered certified accountants.
10. Support Network and Resources
SS&Co ranks among the best chartered accountants in Dubai, helping candidates decide their path, clear exams and secure their first role. Both CA institutes and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants offer tutorials, question banks and live webinars. CA bodies provide modules focused on local law and tax, while ACCA publishes global IFRS-based content through publishers like BPP and Kaplan. Consistent discipline, joining study groups, attending review courses and using mock exams, ensures success with SS & Co and your association of chartered certified accountants’ membership.
11. Pros and Cons at a Glance
| Factor | CA | ACCA |
| Global Reach | Good (best for ICAEW/CA ANZ) | Excellent (180+ countries) |
| Local UAE Demand | Very good | Very good |
| Completion Time | 3–4 years | 2–3 years (with exemptions) |
| Cost | Moderate | Moderate |
| Training Rigor | High | Flexible |
| Licensing Ease | Direct via institute MRA | Direct via ACCA MRA |
| Salary Uptick | Similar | Similar |
Neither CA nor ACCA is universally “better.” The right choice aligns with your individual goals. SS&Co Global, counted among the best chartered accountants in Dubai, and our active role in the association of chartered certified accountants network mean you get industry-leading advice and support.
13. Key Takeaway
Your choice between CA and ACCA should align with your career goals, timeline, and budget. Both qualifications open doors in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and beyond, and real-world experience plus continuous learning will set you apart, regardless of the letters after your name. As the best chartered accountants in Dubai and a committed member of the association of chartered certified accountants, SS&Co is your partner in success.
