TLDRs;
- Osome launches AI accounting services in Dubai, marking entry into the UAE market.
- The startup targets Dubai’s 1M+ SMEs amid rising regulatory and e-invoicing demands.
- Legal details on Osome’s UAE licensing remain undisclosed, raising regulatory questions.
- Osome joins GITEX 2025 to build fintech and VC partnerships across the Middle East.
AI-driven business management platform Osome has officially launched operations in Dubai, marking its first foray into the United Arab Emirates (UAE) market.
The Singapore-founded startup, already active in Singapore, Hong Kong, and the United Kingdom, is now setting its sights on one of the Middle East’s fastest-growing business hubs.
Osome’s entry into the UAE signals a strategic move to tap into a market of over one million small and medium enterprises (SMEs), a critical engine of Dubai’s non-oil economy. With increasing regulatory and financial compliance demands, many of these businesses are seeking automated tools to simplify accounting, tax filing, and company governance.
Targeting Dubai’s SME Growth Wave
Founded in 2017, Osome provides AI-powered accounting, tax, and compliance services designed to help startups and entrepreneurs manage finances with minimal manual input. Its software automates bookkeeping, generates real-time insights, and ensures adherence to local tax laws.
Dubai’s SME scene has seen rapid digital transformation, fueled by pro-business regulations, foreign ownership incentives, and a growing influx of tech talent. By offering automation in areas that traditionally require extensive manual effort, Osome positions itself as a tool for founders who want to reduce overheads and refocus on growth.
The UAE’s move toward mandatory e-invoicing, beginning in 2026, further boosts demand for AI-driven accounting solutions. Under this model, businesses will need to issue electronic invoices through government-accredited providers, pushing local firms to upgrade their financial systems. Osome’s technology—integrated with cloud-based reporting and AI compliance monitoring, could help UAE SMEs prepare for these coming changes.
Legal and Licensing Questions Remain
While the expansion is being welcomed by entrepreneurs, questions remain about Osome’s regulatory setup in the UAE. The company has yet to disclose whether it is licensed on the mainland or operates within a free zone, such as Dubai Internet City or DIFC (Dubai International Financial Centre), each governed by separate regulatory authorities.
In the UAE, license classification determines what services a company can legally provide. A Professional Trade License allows 100% foreign ownership for service providers, while a Commercial License applies to trading goods and products. As of now, Osome has not published details of its Federal Tax Authority (FTA) registration or accreditation as a tax agent, leaving its scope of tax representation uncertain.
Nevertheless, its entry comes as other global fintech firms explore UAE’s evolving startup ecosystem, where regulatory clarity often develops in stages following market entry. Osome’s Terms and Conditions mention “Osome UAE” as a group entity, suggesting that the local operation is part of a broader global structure.
Building Partnerships Through GITEX 2025
To strengthen its footprint, Osome will participate in Expand North Star @ GITEX 2025, one of the region’s largest startup exhibitions connecting entrepreneurs with investors and technology partners.
The company aims to form alliances with fintech platforms, venture capital firms, and accelerators, mirroring the partnership-driven strategy that fueled its growth in Asia and the UK.
With its proven model and more than 30,000 businesses served globally, Osome is betting on Dubai’s rising demand for digital accounting solutions to replicate its success. The startup’s next phase will likely depend on how quickly it can secure local compliance credentials and embed itself within the UAE’s digital finance ecosystem.
