Without a structured corporate expense system, most new businesses default to personal cards, cash reimbursements, and spreadsheets. This creates fragmented records, limits financial visibility, and generates reconciliation headaches at month-end, exactly when you are trying to focus on growing your business. 

From a compliance standpoint, disorganised expense records are also a risk. Under the UAE's Corporate Tax Law, businesses must maintain accurate financial records that substantiate their reported expenses. Dubai South Business Hub has partnered with Alaan, a UAE-based fintech, to give licence holders access to smart corporate cards and a digital expense management platform. This partnership sits within the banking and taxation support resources available through Beyond Hub. 

About Alaan 

Alaan is a UAE-based financial technology company providing smart corporate cards and a centralised platform for managing business expenses. Its solution is designed for modern businesses that need real-time spend visibility, automated categorisation, and configurable controls, without the delays associated with traditional corporate credit cards. The platform integrates with accounting systems and scales alongside organisational growth. 

What Alaan Offers DSBH Founders 

Smart Corporate Cards with Configurable Controls 

Alaan issues corporate cards with individual spending limits, merchant category restrictions, and per-transaction approval workflows. Cards can be issued digitally, enabling fast deployment to team members without the delays of traditional bank card issuance. 

Example: A general trading company with three employees can issue each team member a card with category-specific limits, one for logistics spend and one for marketing, while the founder monitors all transactions in real time from the central dashboard. 

Real-Time Tracking and Automated Categorisation 

Every Alaan transaction is captured in real time. Employees can attach receipts directly through the mobile app at the point of purchase, eliminating the month-end reconciliation cycle. This produces accounting-ready data that integrates with standard bookkeeping tools. 

Compliance-Ready Financial Reporting 

Alaan generates structured expense reports directly usable for VAT input tax claims, corporate tax expense substantiation, and management reporting. For businesses also using DSBH's banking and taxation support resources, Alaan's exportable data formats reduce the time needed to prepare compliant financial statements. 

Eligibility and Access 

All active DWC-LLC licence holders are eligible for Alaan's corporate card and expense management platform. For integrated financial support including VAT registration and corporate tax advisory, access the banking and taxation support resources within Beyond Hub. Plan your full setup investment with the Business Setup Cost Calculator. 

Getting Started with Alaan 

Free Zone licence holders can apply for Alaan corporate cards, configure spending controls, and explore accounting integrations at alaan.com. The application process is designed for UAE-registered entities and does not require an established credit history. 

Start your business with the right ecosystem

Explore company setup opportunities at Dubai South Business Hub where licensing, banking, payments, and more come together in one founder-first ecosystem. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

Is Alaan available to newly registered companies without a credit history? 

Yes. Alaan's corporate card is designed for UAE-registered businesses including newly incorporated entities, and does not rely exclusively on traditional credit scoring. DSBH licence holders can apply as soon as their company is active. 

How does Alaan support UAE Corporate Tax compliance? 

Alaan automatically documents each transaction at the point of spending, captures receipts, and categorises expenses, creating an audit-ready record without manual reconciliation. For Free Zone companies assessing the Qualifying Free Zone Person regime, clean structured financial records are essential to preserve the relevant tax treatment. 

Can Alaan integrate with accounting software? 

Yes. Alaan exports data in formats compatible with widely used UAE accounting tools, reducing data entry for in-house finance staff or external accountants and significantly cutting the time needed to prepare VAT returns and corporate tax filings.