Corporate Governance and Internal Audit in the United Arab Emirates (UAE)

Abstract

During the recent financial crisis, several executives from well-known companies operating in the UAE were indicted for corruption, fraud, and misappropriating executive funds. Executives from Tamweel Properties & Investments, Nakheel Properties, and others were detained as part of ongoing investigations into corruption in the booming real property market. The National declared that there will be an intensified focus on the management practices of Gulf companies after corporate scandals hit many companies in the region. Adopting IFRS was one of the measures implemented in the UAE toward achieving this goal. The aim in this article is to conduct an empirical survey to shed light on the corporate governance issues as it relates to the IA function and practices within the UAE. There are no other studies performed on this growing region of the world concerning IA and corporate governance. In spite of the limitations, the study makes an interesting contribution to their understanding of the role of IA in corporate governance.