--- title: Business Valuation for French Owners in the UAE | Assetica description: Independent business valuation for French owners moving to Dubai: the article 167 bis exit tax, deferral, the Golden Visa and business sale. url: https://assetica.net/france-business-valuation/ source: Assetica, independent business valuation firm, Dubai and the UK --- # Business Valuation for French Owners Relocating to the UAE By [Bill Anderson](https://assetica.net/team/bill-anderson/), FCCA, Chief Executive Officer — Assetica, Dubai, UAE **Definition:** French business owners moving to Dubai usually need an independent business valuation at three points: to set the market value of their shares for the article 167 bis exit tax, to support a UAE Golden Visa application on the business route, and to price the business when it is sold. Because the exit tax is charged without a sale, the valuation is the figure the tax is calculated on. ## France taxes the gain before you have sold anything There is no buyer and no agreed price on the day you leave, so the number has to come from a valuation. ### The article 167 bis exit tax The exit tax applies if you were French tax resident for at least six of the previous ten years and you hold shares worth more than EUR 800,000 in total, or at least 50% of a company. France treats you as having sold the shares the day before you leave. ### Deferral and cancellation Payment is usually deferred, automatically for some destinations and on request with a French tax representative for others. The deferred tax is cancelled if you still hold the shares after the holding period, which published guides give as two years, or five years for larger holdings. Confirm the route for the UAE with your French adviser. ### UAE Golden Visa (AED 2 million) The business route asks for an independent report showing your own equity is worth at least AED 2 million, about USD 545,000. The report has to isolate your shareholding, net of debt, and be written for the UAE authority. ### Selling the business Selling the shares during the holding period brings the deferred tax due, so the timing of a sale matters. Whenever you sell, the buyer and their funder need a price backed by normalised earnings. Sources: [French tax authority](https://www.impots.gouv.fr/) ## How it works - **Scoping call:** We confirm the purpose, the valuation date, your structure and who will rely on the report, then quote a fixed fee in writing. - **Secure document collection:** French financial statements, the share register, shareholder agreements, management accounts and bank statements, plus the UAE licence once it exists. - **Valuation and reconciliation:** We normalise earnings, apply the methods that fit the business and reconcile them into a supported conclusion. - **Signed report:** Formatted for its reader, whether that is your home tax adviser or the UAE authority. A standard single-company report typically takes five to seven business days from complete documents. ## One value that holds up on both sides of the move The risk is two reports that disagree: a value used for French tax that does not match the one in your Golden Visa file. We fix the valuation date, the method and the normalised earnings once, then format the result for each reader. France and the UAE have a tax treaty, which your adviser will apply to the facts. We provide the valuation. We do not give French tax advice. ## Related valuation services Read the full guide: [French exit tax when moving to Dubai](https://assetica.net/blog/france-exit-tax-dubai-business-valuation/). [Business valuation in Dubai](https://assetica.net/services/business-valuation/) · [Golden Visa business valuation](https://assetica.net/golden-visa-valuation/) · [Europe business valuation](https://assetica.net/europe-business-valuation/) ## Frequently Asked Questions Who pays the French exit tax? People who were French tax resident for at least six of the previous ten years and who hold shares worth more than EUR 800,000 in total, or at least 50% of a company, when they move their tax domicile out of France. Do I pay the French exit tax immediately when I move to Dubai? Usually not. Payment can be deferred, automatically for some destinations and on request for others. A deferral on request needs an application before you leave, a tax representative in France and possibly guarantees. Confirm which route applies to the UAE with your French adviser. Why do I need a valuation for the French exit tax? Because there is no sale. The tax is calculated on the market value of your shares on the day before you leave, so an independent valuation is the evidence for that figure. Is my French accountant's valuation accepted for the UAE Golden Visa? Usually not on its own. The UAE authority handling the application decides what it accepts, and it expects an independent report that isolates your own shareholding, net of debt, and shows it is worth at least AED 2 million. We confirm the current requirements with you at scoping. How long does the valuation take? A standard report for a single company typically takes five to seven business days from complete documents. Group structures, several share classes or property holdings take longer, and we agree the timetable at the scoping call. ## Independent business valuation across the UAE, UK and Europe ### Valuation services - [Business valuation Dubai](https://assetica.net/services/business-valuation/) - [Golden Visa business valuation](https://assetica.net/golden-visa-valuation/) - [UAE corporate tax valuation](https://assetica.net/corporate-tax-valuation/) - [M&A and transaction valuation](https://assetica.net/ma-transaction-valuation/) - [Financial due diligence](https://assetica.net/financial-due-diligence/) - [Share valuation UAE](https://assetica.net/services/share-valuation/) - [Purchase price allocation (IFRS 3)](https://assetica.net/services/purchase-price-allocation/) - [Goodwill impairment testing (IAS 36)](https://assetica.net/services/goodwill-impairment-testing/) - [ESOP valuation (IFRS 2)](https://assetica.net/services/esop-valuation/) - [Intangible asset and brand valuation](https://assetica.net/services/intangible-asset-valuation/) - [IFRS fair value valuation](https://assetica.net/services/financial-reporting-valuation/) - [Succession planning valuation](https://assetica.net/succession-valuation-uae/) - [Family office valuation](https://assetica.net/family-office-valuation/) - [Feasibility study Dubai](https://assetica.net/feasibility-study-dubai/) - [VAT deregistration UAE](https://assetica.net/vat-deregistration-uae/) - [All advisory services](https://assetica.net/services/) ### Where we work - [Abu Dhabi](https://assetica.net/abu-dhabi-business-valuation/) - [Sharjah](https://assetica.net/sharjah-business-valuation/) - [Ras Al Khaimah](https://assetica.net/ras-al-khaimah-business-valuation/) - [DIFC](https://assetica.net/difc-business-valuation/) - [ADGM](https://assetica.net/adgm-business-valuation/) - [United Kingdom](https://assetica.net/uk-business-valuation/) - [Europe](https://assetica.net/europe-business-valuation/) - [South Africa](https://assetica.net/south-africa-business-valuation/) - [Australia](https://assetica.net/australia-business-valuation/) - [Ireland](https://assetica.net/ireland-business-valuation/) - [Netherlands](https://assetica.net/netherlands-business-valuation/) - [Spain](https://assetica.net/spain-business-valuation/) - [New Zealand](https://assetica.net/new-zealand-business-valuation/) ### Resources - [How much is my business worth?](https://assetica.net/how-much-is-my-business-worth-dubai/) - [Free business valuation calculator](https://assetica.net/business-valuation-calculator/) - [Startup and technology valuation](https://assetica.net/startup-technology-valuation/) - [UAE valuation facts and figures](https://assetica.net/uae-business-valuation-facts/) - [Valuation insights and guides](https://assetica.net/blog/) - [Latest insights](https://assetica.net/insights/) - [Industries we value](https://assetica.net/industries/) - [For lawyers and accountants](https://assetica.net/for-advisors/) ### About Assetica - [Business valuation Dubai and UAE](https://assetica.net/) - [About Assetica](https://assetica.net/about/) - [Bill Anderson, FCCA, CEO](https://assetica.net/team/bill-anderson/) - [Contact us](https://assetica.net/contact/) ### Browse by topic - [Business valuation articles](https://assetica.net/blog/category/business-valuation/) - [Selling a business](https://assetica.net/blog/category/business-sale/) - [Strategic value advisory](https://assetica.net/blog/category/strategic-advisory/) - [Financial reporting valuation](https://assetica.net/blog/category/financial-valuation/) - [Valuation risk management](https://assetica.net/blog/category/risk-management/) - [Pitch decks and fundraising](https://assetica.net/blog/category/pitch-deck/) - [Cross-border relocation](https://assetica.net/blog/category/cross-border/) - [Golden Visa valuation](https://assetica.net/blog/category/golden-visa/) - [UK valuation](https://assetica.net/blog/category/uk-valuation/) - [UK tax](https://assetica.net/blog/category/uk-tax/) Assetica, Office 304, Icon Tower, Barsha Heights (Tecom), Dubai, UAE. Telephone and WhatsApp [+971 52 979 8302](tel:+971529798302). Email [info@assetica.net](mailto:info@assetica.net).