Reviewed by Bill Anderson, FCCA, Chief Executive Officer of Assetica
Business Valuation for Dutch Owners Relocating to the UAE
By Bill Anderson, FCCA, Chief Executive Officer — Assetica, Dubai, UAE
Definition: Dutch business owners moving to Dubai usually need an independent business valuation at three points: to set the market value of their shares for the protective assessment raised on emigration, to support a UAE Golden Visa application on the business route, and to price the business when it is sold. The assessment is raised without a sale, so the valuation is the figure it is calculated on.
The Netherlands raises the tax bill when you leave
The bill is kept on file, and whether you pay it depends on what you do with the company afterwards.
The protective assessment
If you hold at least 5% of the shares, voting rights or profit rights in a company, you have a substantial interest. When you emigrate you are treated as having sold it at market value, and the tax authority issues a protective assessment on the gain in box 2.
Deferral, security and collection
For a move outside the EU or EEA, including the UAE, deferral of payment is given on request and you have to provide security. Selling the shares or receiving dividends from the company makes some or all of the tax due.
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
A sale ends the deferral, so the tax and the sale price need planning together. The buyer and their funder need a price backed by normalised earnings.
Sources: Dutch tax authority
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: Dutch financial statements, the shareholders' 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 Dutch 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. The valuation on departure also sets how much security you may be asked to give. We provide the valuation. We do not give Dutch tax advice.
Related valuation services
Read the full guide: Leaving the Netherlands for Dubai: the protective tax assessment. Business valuation in Dubai · Golden Visa business valuation · Europe business valuation
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Netherlands have an exit tax?
Yes, for people with a substantial interest. If you hold at least 5% of a company and emigrate, you are treated as having sold the shares at market value, and the tax authority issues a protective assessment on the gain.
Do I pay the Dutch protective assessment when I move to Dubai?
Not usually on departure. For a move outside the EU or EEA, deferral of payment is given on request and you have to provide security. The tax becomes due if you later sell the shares or receive dividends.
Why do I need a valuation when I leave the Netherlands?
Because the assessment is raised without a sale. It is calculated on the market value of your shares on the day you emigrate, so an independent valuation is the evidence for that figure.
Is my Dutch 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.