Mergers & Acquisitions
Advisory in Dubai
Buy-side and sell-side M&A advisory for UAE businesses: finding buyers or targets, financial due diligence, valuation, deal structuring and negotiation, through to closing the deal.
Advice for the Biggest Decisions in Your Business
Buying a business, selling one, or bringing in a partner are among the biggest financial decisions an owner makes. We provide both buy side and sell side strategic advisory services, working closely with the client to understand their aspirations and growth requirement and developing their strategy accordingly.
Our network lets us search for potential buyers or sellers openly or confidentially, and our audit, tax and accounting teams cover the financial detail every deal depends on.
Our M&A Services in Dubai
We prepare your business for sale, build the information pack, find and approach potential buyers, openly or confidentially, and support you to closing.
We identify suitable targets, assess them against your growth strategy and support the approach, offer and negotiation.
We test the target’s earnings, cash flow, debts and tax position, so you know what you are buying and price it correctly. Due diligence →
An independent view of what the business is worth, to set the asking price or test an offer. Valuation →
We help you choose between a share and an asset deal, plan the tax and approvals, and negotiate the terms.
Our expertise covers all stages of a transaction, through closing and into the accounting, audit and tax changes after the deal. Accounting →
When Owners Bring Us In
- Planning to sell the business in the next one to three years
- Buying a competitor, supplier or distributor
- Bringing in a new partner or buying out a shareholder
- Family succession or a founder exit
- Merging two businesses or restructuring a group before a sale
Tax and Approvals on a UAE Deal
The way a deal is structured decides how much tax is paid and how long it takes to close. We check these points early, so they do not hold up the deal.
| Area | What to check |
|---|---|
| Corporate Tax | Transfers within a qualifying group, or a business restructuring, may qualify for relief if the conditions are met |
| VAT | Selling a business as a going concern can fall outside VAT if the conditions are met |
| Tax history | In a share deal the buyer inherits past VAT and Corporate Tax risks, so due diligence must cover them |
| Free zone approvals | Share transfers need the free zone authority’s approval and an updated licence |
| Audited accounts | Buyers, investors and banks usually ask for recent audited financial statements |
Our M&A Procedure
Target Identification
We will assist the owners and/or the Company to identify potential buyers or sellers and how these potential counterparties should be approached, openly or confidentially.
Information Gathering
We will assist you to prepare your information package that tells the potential counterparties who you are and what you are looking for, on a confidential or a public basis.
Due Diligence
We will support you and your business in performing the necessary due diligence on the potential buyer or seller, as the case may be.
Deal Structuring & Negotiations
We will support you and your business in performing any deal structuring or relevant negotiations, as the case may be.
Closing the Deal
Our expertise covers all stages of a transaction and we will support you in deal closing, as the case may be.
What Does M&A Advisory Cost?
Every deal is different. Our fee depends mainly on:
- The size and complexity of the deal
- Buy-side or sell-side mandate
- Scope: due diligence or valuation only, or full advisory to closing
- Number of companies and countries involved
- The timeline
Talk to us in confidence and we will propose a fee for your deal, with no obligation.
Mergers & Acquisitions: Common Questions
What does an M&A advisor do?
An M&A advisor guides a buyer or seller through a deal: finding the other party, preparing information, valuation, due diligence, structuring, negotiation and closing, so the owner can keep running the business.
What is the difference between buy-side and sell-side advisory?
Sell-side advisory helps an owner sell, by preparing the business and finding buyers. Buy-side advisory helps a buyer find and assess targets and agree a fair price. We provide both.
What is financial due diligence?
A detailed review of a business’s earnings, cash flow, debts and tax position before a deal, so the buyer knows what it is buying. See our due diligence services.
How long does it take to sell a business in the UAE?
Usually several months. It depends on how well the business is prepared, finding the right buyer, due diligence and approvals. Clean, audited accounts make it faster.
Is VAT or Corporate Tax charged on the sale of a business?
It depends on the structure. A sale as a going concern can fall outside VAT, and some group transfers and restructurings can qualify for Corporate Tax relief, if the conditions are met. We review this before the deal is agreed. See Corporate Tax.
Is the process confidential?
Yes. Buyers and sellers can be approached confidentially, and information is shared only under a non-disclosure agreement.
Can you also help us raise funding?
Yes. See our corporate finance services for debt and equity fundraising.
Planning to buy
or sell a business?
Talk to our corporate finance team in confidence. Professional, confidential and obligation-free.
🔒 Confidential · No obligation · UAE licensed firm