Choosing a Business Valuation Firm in Dubai: 9 Checks Before You Sign
By Bill Anderson, FCCA, Chief Executive Officer, Assetica — 2026-09-04
Nine checks to run before you appoint a business valuation firm in Dubai: independence, standards, who signs, acceptance, fees, turnaround and cover.
Is the firm independent of the outcome?
Independence is the first and most important test. A firm that audits, brokers or finances the business, or earns a fee tied to the value, has a stake in the result and its report is open to challenge on that ground alone. Independence should be stated in the engagement letter and the report.
Which standard will the report follow?
The report should name IVS, the RICS Red Book or IFRS 13 on its cover, and the firm should explain why that standard fits the purpose. A firm that says only "international standards" cannot be relied upon.
Who signs the report?
A valuation is an opinion with a named, credentialled author who may need to give evidence in a DIFC or ADGM court, answer a bank or produce working papers for the FTA. Ask who signs, what their qualification is and whether they remain available after delivery.
Has their work been accepted by the body that will read yours?
The GDRFA and ICP, the FTA, banks and the DIFC and ADGM courts each have their own expectations. Ask whether a report of theirs was accepted by that specific body in the past twelve months and what format it required.
Is the fee fixed and written down?
A defensible valuation is quoted as a fixed fee for a defined scope in an engagement letter. Percentage-of-value fees compromise independence and open-ended hourly estimates invite scope drift.
What is the turnaround, and what starts the clock?
A published turnaround, typically five to seven business days from complete documents or two to three days expedited, should be held to. A report promised in 24 hours for any purpose cannot include the analysis a defensible valuation requires.
Will they show you a sample report?
A redacted sample should show a stated basis of value, a valuation date, methods and reasons, earnings adjustments, a reconciliation of results and testable assumptions. A number with boilerplate and no visible working will not survive a challenge.
Do they carry professional indemnity insurance?
Professional indemnity cover is what stands behind the signature if a negligent valuation causes loss. Ask for the certificate, the insurer and the limit, and confirm the policy covers business valuation specifically.
Have they valued businesses in your sector?
Sector experience shows in the multiples and adjustments a firm applies. UAE ranges run from three to five times EBITDA for trading and F&B to eight to fifteen times for technology and SaaS, and a firm that quotes one multiple for every business has not done sector work.
What to ask on the first call
Nine questions covering independence, standard, signatory, acceptance history, fee, turnaround, sample report, insurance and sector multiples, asked identically of every firm so the quotes can be compared fairly.
Comparing the quotes on your desk
Discard any firm that fails independence, standard or signatory. Among the rest, weigh acceptance history and sector experience above price, because a rejected report costs more than the difference between quotes. Assetica answers all nine questions in writing before engagement.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I choose a business valuation firm in Dubai?
Run nine checks before signing: independence from your auditor and any transaction adviser, a named standard such as IVS or the RICS Red Book, a credentialled signatory, acceptance history with the body that will read the report, a fixed written fee, a published turnaround, a sample report, professional indemnity cover and experience in your sector. The first three decide whether the report can be relied on at all.
Should my auditor prepare my business valuation?
No. Auditing standards restrict the non-audit services an auditor may provide to the same client, and a valuation prepared by the audit firm is open to challenge on independence grounds alone. Banks, courts and the FTA ask who else the valuer acts for, and an independent firm with no other role in the business gives a cleaner answer.
Which valuation standard should a Dubai report follow?
It depends on the purpose. IVS governs the valuation process and report content for most business valuations. The RICS Red Book adds procedural and conduct requirements and is often expected where property or plant forms part of the assets. IFRS 13 defines fair value for financial reporting, including purchase price allocation and impairment testing. The report should name its standard on the cover.
How long does a business valuation take in Dubai?
Assetica delivers a standard business valuation in five to seven business days from receipt of complete documents, with an expedited service of two to three business days where a deadline requires it. The clock starts when the firm has everything it needs, so request the document list before signing and assemble it in advance.
Will a valuation report be accepted by the GDRFA, the FTA or a DIFC court?
Only if it is prepared for that reader. The GDRFA and ICP require specific content and certification for Golden Visa applications, the FTA tests related-party valuations against arm's length principles, and DIFC and ADGM courts admit expert evidence under their own rules. Ask the firm whether a report of theirs was accepted by that body in the past twelve months.
Speak to Assetica about Business Valuation
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. Read more about business valuation, or book a free scoping call. Standard reports are issued in five to seven business days.