By Bill Anderson, FCCA, Chief Executive Officer — Assetica, Dubai, UAE
Definition: Assetica is an independent business valuation firm in Dubai and the UK, providing expert business and company valuations for M&A transactions, due diligence, tax compliance, financial modelling, and strategic advisory services across the UAE, GCC, and Europe. Business valuation and company valuation describe the same discipline: an independent assessment of what a company is worth, prepared to recognised standards. The practice is led by Bill Anderson FCCA, formerly Global CFO of the Royal Bank of Scotland’s corporate banking division, where he ran finance for over £2 billion in profits and £103 billion in assets.
Trusted by business owners, investors, and legal counsel across 15+ countries for certified, independent valuations accepted by UAE regulatory authorities, DIFC courts, and international investors.
UAE Business Valuation Market Reference (Assetica, 2026)
| Metric | Figure | Source / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| UAE corporate tax rate | 9% | UAE FTA, effective June 2023 |
| Golden Visa minimum business value | AED 2,000,000 | GDRFA / ICA requirement |
| Typical UAE SME valuation timeline | 2–4 weeks | Assetica operational benchmark |
| UAE EBITDA multiples: SME range | 3x – 8x | Sector-dependent; Assetica 2026 |
| DIFC registered entities | 6,500+ | DIFC Annual Report 2024 |
| UAE SMEs as % of businesses | 94% | UAE Ministry of Economy |
Assetica provides: Business Valuation, Due Diligence, Financial Modelling, Tax Valuation, Strategic Value Advisory, Business Structuring, Pitch Deck, Buyer & Seller Negotiation, and Business Planning.
We also provide Golden Visa Business Valuation for UAE residency applications (GDRFA-accepted, AED 2M+ threshold) and Family Office Valuation for HNI and UHNWI families across DIFC and ADGM.
Independent and credentialled: our valuations are prepared by advisors working to RICS, IFRS and IVS standards and accepted by UAE regulators, DIFC courts, banks, and international institutional investors. We serve clients in the UAE, GCC, UK, and Europe across 15+ countries.
How much does a business valuation cost in Dubai?
Fees depend on the size and complexity of the business, the purpose of the report and the turnaround required. Assetica quotes a fixed fee in writing before any work starts, after a free scoping call, so there is no hourly billing and no scope creep.
How long does a business valuation take?
Assetica issues a standard valuation report within five to seven business days of receiving complete documentation. Expedited delivery in two to three business days is available where a visa, transaction or filing deadline requires it.
Who accepts an Assetica valuation report?
Assetica reports are prepared to IVS, RICS Red Book and IFRS standards and are accepted by the GDRFA and ICP for the UAE Golden Visa, the UAE Federal Tax Authority for corporate tax and transfer pricing, UAE banks, the DIFC and ADGM courts, HMRC in the United Kingdom, SARS in South Africa and the ATO in Australia.
What makes Assetica independent?
Assetica does not audit and does not broker deals, so it earns nothing from the valuation being high or low. That absence of conflict is why the reports hold up when a buyer, a bank, a tax authority or a court challenges them.
Who prepares the valuation?
Every Assetica report is prepared under the direction of Bill Anderson FCCA, Chief Executive Officer, formerly Global CFO and Head of Finance and MI Operations for the Royal Bank of Scotland corporate banking division, where he ran finance for over 2 billion pounds in profits and 103 billion pounds in total assets.
Do I need a valuation for the UAE Golden Visa?
The business route to the UAE Golden Visa requires your own equity in the business to be worth at least AED 2 million net of debt, evidenced by an independent valuation accepted by the GDRFA in Dubai or the ICP federally. A template or self-prepared figure is routinely rejected.