Guides on selling a business in Dubai and the UAE, covering timing, preparation, valuation, and negotiation insights from Assetica's senior advisors.
How long does it take to sell a business in the UAE?
From decision to completion, most UAE business sales take six to eighteen months. Preparation typically takes three to six months, and finding a buyer, negotiating, completing due diligence and finalising legal documentation takes a further three to twelve months depending on complexity.
What is my business actually worth to a buyer?
A buyer pays for sustainable, transferable earnings. That means normalised EBITDA, adjusted for owner remuneration and one-off items, multiplied by a sector multiple, then adjusted for net debt, working capital and any discounts for owner dependence or customer concentration.
Should I get a valuation before going to market?
Yes. An independent valuation prepared before a process sets the negotiation anchor, identifies the issues a buyer's due diligence will find, and gives you time to fix them rather than conceding on price during exclusivity.
Assetica is an independent business valuation firm in Dubai. We do not audit and we do not broker deals, so the number carries no conflict. Book a free scoping call or see the core business valuation service.