We help you to sell your Business in the UAE
End-to-end advisory for business owners ready to exit. We manage valuation, buyer search, negotiation, and the full transfer process on your behalf.
- ProcessConfidential
- CoverageMainland & Free Zone
- Timeline3-9 Months
- SupportEnd-to-End
What the Service Includes
We manage every stage of the sale from establishing the right asking price to completing the share transfer in the buyer's name.
Business Valuation
We assess your company using EBITDA multiples and other methods to establish a defensible asking price before any buyer conversation starts.
Business Preparation
We review compliance, corporate documents, and financial records to ensure the business is ready for buyer scrutiny and due diligence.
Confidential Buyer Search
We approach strategic buyers, investors, and individual acquirers while protecting your identity through blind profiles and NDAs.
Negotiation Management
We manage all offer stages from indicative offer and LOI to the binding agreement, negotiating on your behalf at every step.
Due Diligence Coordination
We prepare and manage the data room, respond to buyer queries, and identify issues before they become deal-breakers.
Share Transfer and Closing
We handle the full regulatory process including DED or free zone authority filings, notarisation, shareholder documents, and bank account updates.
How We Work With You
A structured, confidential process from the first meeting to a completed ownership transfer.
- 1
Initial Assessment
We review your company structure, financials, and goals to determine readiness for sale and establish a realistic valuation and timeline.
- 2
Business Preparation
We identify and resolve compliance, documentation, or financial gaps that could delay or devalue the sale before going to market.
- 3
Go to Market
We prepare a confidential information memorandum and approach qualified buyers under NDA — strategic, financial, and individual acquirers.
- 4
Offers and Negotiation
We manage the offer process, evaluate terms, and negotiate the Letter of Intent and Share Purchase Agreement on your behalf.
- 5
Due Diligence
We coordinate the buyer's financial, legal, and operational review and manage the data room to keep the process on schedule.
- 6
Regulatory Closing
We complete the share transfer with DED or the free zone authority, handle notarisation, and manage bank and contract updates through to completion.
- 7
Eligibility Check
We identify the right category for your profile
- 8
Eligibility Check
We identify the right category for your profile
Selling a business is not a transaction. It is the outcome of years of work. It deserves to be handled properly.
What we bring to every sale engagement.
We Protect Your Confidentiality
The market does not need to know your business is for sale. We manage all buyer outreach through blind profiles and NDAs before any disclosure.
We Know the UAE Process
DED share transfer, free zone authority filings, notarisation requirements — we manage every regulatory step across mainland and free zones.
We Negotiate on Your Side
Every term in the purchase agreement has implications. We review offers, flag risks, and negotiate to protect your price and post-sale exposure.
We Prepare the Business First
Going to market with clean books, valid licenses, and organised documents reduces buyer risk and increases the price you can achieve.
We Manage the Full Timeline
From valuation to updated trade license in the buyer's name, we coordinate every party — authority, notary, bank, landlord, and buyer advisors.
We Know Where UAE Sales Stall
Bank KYC delays, missing approvals, undisclosed liabilities — we identify and manage these risks before they become problems.
Selling a Business in the UAE: What Every Owner Should Know
The UAE-Specific Process
Selling a business in the UAE is not simply signing a purchase agreement. Legal transfer of ownership requires a formal share transfer process administered by the relevant authority. For mainland companies, this involves obtaining initial approval from the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), notarising the Share Transfer Agreement and amended Memorandum of Association before a UAE Notary Public, and registering the transfer to receive an updated trade license. The process typically takes two to four weeks once all documents are in order. Free zone transfers follow a different path — each free zone authority acts as its own registrar and many do not require a public notary. Timelines at the authority level are generally one to three weeks.
What Affects the Price of a UAE Business
Business value in the UAE is most commonly determined using earnings-based multiples. For stable, owner-managed businesses, typical EBITDA multiples range from two to four times for companies with high owner dependency, and four to six times for businesses with stronger systems and recurring revenue. Clean, audited financial records command a premium. Businesses that operate independently of their founder are valued significantly higher. Long-term contracts, a diversified customer base, and a strong compliance record all increase buyer confidence and reduce the discount buyers apply for risk.
What Takes the Most Time
The full process typically takes three to nine months from preparation to completed transfer. Preparation takes one to three months, finding a buyer takes two to six months, negotiations and due diligence take one to three months, and the regulatory closing takes two to six weeks. The most common causes of delay are incomplete financial records, missing regulatory approvals, slow KYC clearance for foreign buyers, and undisclosed liabilities discovered during due diligence. Each of these is manageable when identified early.
What Happens to Contracts and Bank Accounts
In a share deal, the company's contracts, bank accounts, and licenses remain in place. The bank will require full KYC on the new shareholders and may restrict account operations until the process is complete. Some banks request account closure and reopening under the new ownership. Key contracts including the office lease may require landlord consent for a change of control. These items should be mapped and managed before the deal closes to avoid operational disruption after signing.
Does credibility with UAE clients matter?
For many UAE-based banks and corporate clients, a Mainland company signals deeper local presence and long-term commitment. For international-focused founders, a well-structured Free Zone company is usually sufficient.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to sell a business in the UAE?
The full process typically takes three to nine months from the decision to sell to completed share transfer. Preparation takes one to three months, finding a buyer takes two to six months, negotiations and due diligence take one to three months, and the regulatory closing takes two to six weeks. The timeline depends on the quality of your financial records, ownership structure, and the buyer's KYC process.
Is there tax on selling a business in the UAE?
There is no personal capital gains tax for individual sellers in the UAE. For corporate sellers, gains from a share sale may be subject to UAE Corporate Tax at 9% on profits above AED 375,000, though participation exemption rules may apply. Share deals are generally outside the scope of VAT. The tax treatment depends on the specific structure and should be confirmed with a tax advisor before signing.
What happens to employees when the business is sold?
In a share deal, employment contracts remain in place and visas stay linked to the company. The buyer assumes responsibility for the workforce. The specific arrangements around pre-closing end-of-service liabilities are documented in the Share Purchase Agreement.
Can a non-UAE resident buy a UAE business?
Yes. Non-residents can acquire shares in UAE companies, though the process involves additional KYC requirements with the free zone or DED authority and the bank. Foreign corporate buyers add further complexity due to corporate resolution requirements and bank compliance processes. These requirements are manageable but add time to the closing timeline.
What documents do I need to prepare for the sale?
The core documents include three years of financial statements, the current trade license, Memorandum of Association and all amendments, shareholder resolutions, UBO filings, key commercial contracts, employee and visa records, VAT registration and returns, and any sector-specific permits. We help sellers build a structured data room before buyer due diligence begins.
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