How to Compare goAML Consultancy Quotes: Fees, Deliverables and Exclusions

If your UAE business needs to register on goAML, you may consider hiring a consultant to help with the process. Before accepting a quotation, however, it is important to understand exactly what you are paying for.

The goAML registration consultant fees in the UAE are professional service charges. They should be distinguished from the official registration process, which the UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism states is free.

A consultant may charge for reviewing your documents, explaining the registration stages, assisting with application preparation, checking information for inconsistencies, and helping you understand how to respond if a correction is requested. Other services, such as AML policy development, risk assessments, staff training and ongoing compliance support, may be priced separately.

Two quotations with different prices may therefore cover very different amounts of work.

This guide provides a practical way to compare consultancy quotations, identify exclusions and ask the right questions before making a decision.

1. Understand the Difference Between Registration Charges and Consultancy Fees

The first step is to separate official registration from private professional services.

According to the Ministry of Economy and Tourism's official goAML registration instructions, registration on the goAML platform is free.

A consultancy may still charge for the time, expertise and administrative assistance it provides.

For example, a quotation might cover:

• • Reviewing the business's activities and potential registration requirements.
  • Preparing a document checklist.
  • Checking the consistency of company and authorised-person details.
  • Guiding the business through the SACM and goAML registration stages.
  • Helping organise supporting documents.
  • Providing assistance if an application requires correction, where included in the agreed scope.

These are examples of possible professional services, not a standard package that every consultant must provide.

What if a quotation includes a government registration fee?

Ask the consultant to identify the exact charge, the authority receiving it and the official basis for the payment.

Do not automatically assume that every amount labelled a registration fee is a government charge. Request an itemised quotation separating professional fees from any genuine third-party or official expenses.

If an extra payment is described as mandatory, verify it independently with the relevant authority before paying.

2. Check What Document Review Actually Includes

A quotation may say “document verification included” without explaining what the consultant will check.

This can create confusion. Collecting documents is not necessarily the same as reviewing them for consistency and completeness.

Before accepting the quote, ask whether the document-review service includes the following:

• • Checking whether the requested documents have been provided.
  • Reviewing the trade licence details against the information supplied for the application.
  • Checking names and other relevant details for inconsistencies.
  • Confirming that the nominated person's information is complete.
  • Identifying missing or unclear documents before submission.
  • Explaining which issues the business must resolve itself.

Ask the consultant to specify the documents covered by the review and whether a written list of missing items or corrections will be provided.

A useful deliverable: a document checklist showing which items have been received, which have been reviewed and which require action.

This makes the service easier to evaluate than a vague promise to “handle all documents.”

3. Confirm Whether Submission Assistance Is Included

Some consultants may offer document preparation only, while others may guide the client through the registration stages.

These services are not necessarily equivalent.

Ask the provider to explain the precise level of assistance included in the quoted fee.

Also clarify who is responsible for completing authentication steps and approving or submitting information.

The business should retain appropriate control over its accounts, passwords, authentication methods and authorised users. Avoid arrangements that require unnecessary sharing of passwords or one-time verification codes.

A consultant can provide guidance, but the relevant authority determines whether an application is accepted or approved.

4. Ask What Happens if the Application Needs Corrections

Correction support is one of the most important items to clarify before accepting a quotation.

An application may require further information, clarification or correction. The amount of additional work depends on the reason for the issue and the original agreement.

Ask the consultant these questions:

• • Does the fee include assistance with the first correction request?
  • Are additional correction rounds included?
  • Will the consultant review the reason for the correction and explain the required action?
  • Is checking revised documents included?
  • Will the consultant help organise a resubmission, where appropriate?
  • Are authority-related delays or new requirements covered by the original fee?
  • What happens if the problem results from incomplete or inaccurate information supplied by the client?

Request a written explanation of what counts as a correction round and what triggers an additional charge.

For example, one provider may include a defined amount of correction assistance, while another may charge for every additional review. Neither arrangement should be assumed without reading the quotation.

Important: No consultant should guarantee approval. The consultant can help improve the completeness and consistency of the application, but cannot control the authority's decision.

5. Separate Registration Support from Ongoing AML Compliance

A low quotation may cover registration assistance only. It may not include the wider AML/CFT work your business needs.

Registration and ongoing compliance are separate areas of work. Depending on the business's activities and applicable regulatory requirements, additional services may include:

• • AML/CFT policies and procedures.
  • Business-wide or enterprise-wide risk assessment.
  • Customer due diligence and KYC procedures.
  • Beneficial ownership checks.
  • Sanctions and politically exposed person screening procedures.
  • Transaction-monitoring processes.
  • Internal suspicious activity escalation procedures.
  • Staff training.
  • Recordkeeping procedures.
  • MLRO or compliance support.
  • Periodic reviews and inspection preparation.

Do not assume these services are included simply because the package is described as “complete AML support.”

Ask for a separate price and scope for each service you may require. This helps you compare providers fairly and avoid paying for services you do not need—or mistakenly assuming essential work has already been covered.

It is also important not to purchase a broad package without first establishing which requirements apply to your business.

6. Review Common Exclusions Before Signing

Exclusions define what the consultant is not agreeing to do. They can affect the total cost just as much as the listed deliverables.

Review the quotation for these possible exclusions:

Additional correction rounds: The original fee may cover only a specified number of review or correction cycles.

Missing or replacement documents: Obtaining updated documents or resolving client-side discrepancies may be outside the scope.

AML policy preparation: A registration-only package may not include a tailored policy or procedure manual.

Risk assessments: Business-wide risk assessments may be priced separately.

Staff training: Training sessions, learning materials and attendance records may incur extra charges.

Ongoing support: Future regulatory queries, periodic reviews and continued compliance assistance may require a separate agreement.

Third-party expenses: Any claimed external costs should be identified clearly, with the reason and amount explained.

Urgent work: Expedited services may attract additional fees if offered.

These are examples of possible exclusions, not universal industry terms. Check the actual quotation rather than assuming any item is included or excluded.

7. Use This Worksheet to Compare Consultancy Quotes

Before selecting a provider, compare the quotations using the same checklist. This prevents you from comparing a basic registration service with a much broader compliance package.

For each item, record Included, Excluded, Optional or Not clarified.

Do not treat “Not clarified” as “Included.” Ask the provider to confirm the scope in writing before accepting the quotation.

Once the comparison is complete, look at the total cost of the services you actually need rather than simply choosing the lowest headline price.

8. Questions to Ask Before Accepting a goAML Consultancy Quote

Use these questions during your initial consultation or when requesting a revised quotation.

1. 1. Is the quoted amount entirely a professional service fee, or does it include any official or third-party charges?
   2. What specific tasks will you complete for this fee?
   3. Which documents will you review, and what checks will you perform?
   4. Does the service cover the relevant SACM and goAML registration stages?
   5. Who is responsible for the final submission and authentication steps?
   6. Is assistance with correction requests included? If so, how much?
   7. What happens if the application is returned for further information?
   8. Are AML policies, risk assessments and training included or priced separately?
   9. Does the agreement include any ongoing compliance support?
   10. What additional charges could arise after work begins?
   11. What records or deliverables will I receive when the engagement ends?
   12. How will my company's confidential documents and login credentials be protected?

Ask for the answers in the proposal, quotation or service agreement. Verbal assurances are harder to verify when a disagreement arises.

9. Warning Signs in a Consultancy Quotation

Be cautious if a quotation contains any of the following:

• • A vague description such as “full registration” without listing the tasks included.
  • An unexplained government or mandatory registration charge.
  • No written policy on correction requests or additional fees.
  • A promise of guaranteed approval.
  • No clear explanation of whether AML compliance services are included.
  • A requirement to share passwords or authentication codes unnecessarily.
  • No description of the documents or records you will receive.
  • Unclear payment terms, cancellation terms or responsibilities.

A professional quotation should make it possible to understand the service before paying for it. If the provider cannot explain the scope in simple terms, ask for clarification before proceeding.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is goAML registration free in the UAE?

The UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism states that registration on the goAML platform is free. Consultants may separately charge for professional assistance, document review, application guidance or additional AML compliance services.

How much do goAML registration consultants charge in the UAE?

There is no single standard consultancy fee that applies to every business. Pricing depends on the services included, the complexity of the case, the number of correction rounds and whether the engagement covers registration only or broader compliance work. Request written, itemised quotations rather than relying on a general price estimate.

Why pay a consultant if registration is free?

A business may pay for professional time and assistance, such as document checks, guidance through registration stages, identifying inconsistencies and explaining how to respond to correction requests. Whether this support is worth the fee depends on the business's needs and the quality of the agreed service.

Does a goAML registration quote include an AML policy?

Not automatically. AML policies and procedures may be separate deliverables. Check whether the quotation explicitly includes policy preparation, customisation, review and any future updates.

Should correction support be included in the quoted price?

That depends on the provider's agreement. Ask whether correction assistance is included, how many rounds are covered and what circumstances trigger extra charges.

Can a consultant guarantee goAML registration approval?

No. A consultant can assist with preparing an accurate and complete application, but the relevant authority decides the outcome. Treat guaranteed-approval claims as a warning sign.

What should I receive after paying a goAML consultant?

The deliverables depend on the agreement. They may include a reviewed document checklist, copies of prepared materials, submission records where applicable, and guidance on checking the application status. Confirm the exact deliverables in writing before starting.

Conclusion

Comparing goAML consultancy quotations is not simply about finding the lowest fee. It is about understanding which tasks the consultant will perform, what evidence or deliverables you will receive, and which services may cost extra.

Start by separating the free official registration process from the consultant's professional fee. Then compare document review, registration guidance, submission assistance, correction support and any ongoing compliance services.

Finally, request a written scope of work, clear exclusions and transparent payment terms before accepting a quotation.

A well-defined agreement makes it easier to budget accurately, assess the value of the service and avoid misunderstandings during the registration process.