FAA says approved applicants may receive confidentiality and protection from workplace retaliation.
Dubai: Employees who uncover financial or administrative misconduct within organisations overseen by Dubai’s Financial Audit Authority can seek employment protection when reporting wrongdoing. Approved applicants may receive safeguards including confidentiality, protection against workplace discrimination and intervention in certain disciplinary proceedings.
Majed Al Ansari, Executive Director of the Operations, Compliance and Performance Audit Sector at Dubai’s Financial Audit Authority, told in an exclusive interview that employees of entities under the Authority’s audit may apply for workplace protection, provided they meet the required eligibility criteria.
Reports can be filed through the FAA’s Nazaha platform, a secure and confidential channel for reporting financial or administrative violations involving entities under the Authority’s oversight.
Majed Al Ansari, Executive Director of the Operations, Compliance and Performance Audit Sector at the Financial Audit Authority, said the Authority encourages anyone with information about suspected violations to report them through Nazaha. He added that protecting whistleblowers from workplace retaliation is a key pillar of the programme.
What protection can employees receive?
Once an application is approved, the FAA may introduce several measures to safeguard employees who report suspected violations.
These protections may include keeping the whistleblower’s identity and employment details confidential, asking the audited organisation to refrain from taking action against the employee, and ensuring they are not subjected to discrimination or unfair treatment as a result of their report while it is under review.
Where appropriate, the Authority may also seek the withdrawal of administrative or disciplinary measures taken against an employee because they reported a violation.
Al Ansari said employees can be assured that their reports will be handled with the highest level of confidentiality and that eligible whistleblowers will receive employment protection in line with the Financial Audit Authority’s legislation. Applications from employees of entities under the Authority’s audit are assessed individually according to the programme’s approved procedures.
The Authority said the whistleblower protection framework is part of its broader mandate to provide secure reporting channels, investigate financial and administrative violations and help safeguard public funds.
Which organisations are covered by FAA oversight?
The FAA oversees a wide range of government and public-sector entities, including government departments, public agencies and institutions, special development zones and free zones.
Its jurisdiction also includes companies owned by the Government of Dubai or its government entities, as well as companies in which the Government of Dubai or its entities hold at least 25% of the share capital.
The FAA’s oversight includes checking whether public funds are collected and spent in line with applicable laws, regulations and approved budgets.
The Authority also assesses internal controls designed to prevent fraud, corruption, waste, abuse and the misuse of public resources. It examines whether public resources are being managed economically, efficiently and effectively.
Al Ansari said the FAA also monitors potential warning signs such as conflicts of interest, procurement irregularities, bribery and favouritism, while verifying that financial reports are accurate and supported by appropriate documentation.
What happens when an audit identifies a problem?
The FAA’s role does not end once an audit finding is identified. The Authority examines the underlying causes of the issue and follows up on the corrective measures taken to address it.
“We do not simply identify problems and move on — we also work to prevent them from recurring. Every audit looks beyond the immediate finding to identify the root causes and any weaknesses in governance, processes or internal controls that may have contributed to the issue,” Al Ansari said.
The Authority provides practical, risk-based recommendations tailored to each entity and follows up to determine whether corrective measures have addressed the underlying causes of the audit findings.
Audit findings are shared with the organisations concerned, along with recommendations aimed at strengthening governance and internal controls. The FAA then monitors the implementation of corrective actions to ensure identified issues are properly addressed.
Oversight and Dubai’s investment environment
Al Ansari said the FAA’s work is also an important part of Dubai’s broader governance framework, helping strengthen confidence among residents, businesses and investors.
“Public trust depends on an integrated governance system in which every government entity plays a role. Dubai has put in place clear laws, regulations and oversight mechanisms to promote transparency, accountability and high standards of public service,” he said.
The FAA provides independent assurance that laws, regulations, policies and procedures are being effectively implemented, while working with entities to address areas where improvements are needed.
“This ongoing approach to oversight helps strengthen public confidence and gives businesses and investors greater assurance that Dubai operates within a strong governance framework, with transparency, accountability and the rule of law embedded in public administration,” he said.
He added that this ultimately contributes to a stable, efficient and trusted environment, reinforcing Dubai’s reputation as a leading global destination to live, work and invest.
