Acquiring a company in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, Doha, or anywhere across the GCC is one of the most consequential capital decisions you will make. The wrong target, an inflated price, or undisclosed liabilities can destroy value before the deal even closes. Corvian Advisory runs your complete buy-side mandate – from acquisition strategy through to signed completion – as your independent, Senior-led advisor across UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, and cross-border corridors. Every step is led personally by our senior team. No junior hand-offs, ever.
Global research consistently shows that over 70% of acquisitions destroy shareholder value. Across the GCC this failure rate is compounded by structural problems absent from mature Western deal markets: management accounts are frequently unaudited, EBITDA is routinely inflated through owner add-backs, and UAE Corporate Tax, Saudi Zakat, EOSB, free zone structures, and GOSI implications are poorly understood by most first-time acquirers in the region.
A buy-side advisor changes the information asymmetry. We work exclusively for you – the acquirer – with no conflict of interest and no relationship with the seller. Our success is measured by the quality of the acquisition you make, not by deal volume.
"The most expensive acquisition mistake in the UAE is not the price you pay – it is discovering after closing what the financial statements chose not to tell you."
Corvian Advisory's buy-side mandate covers the full acquisition lifecycle: strategy definition, proprietary target search, financial and commercial due diligence, independent valuation, term negotiation, structure, and post-close integration planning.
We work exclusively for the buyer, never paid by the seller. Our success fee ties to deal completion – so we find the right target, not any target.
We independently verify revenue quality, EBITDA adjustments, working capital, and off-balance-sheet liabilities – a QoE report that tells you what you are actually buying.
Independent DCF, comparable transactions, and EV/EBITDA models grounded in real GCC deal data give you the fair value range and negotiating floor.
Acquisition structures differ across mainland, free zone, DIFC, and ADGM. We assess the optimal structure for tax efficiency, ownership, and EOSB treatment.
Most high-quality UAE mid-market businesses are never publicly listed. Our GCC network surfaces off-market targets only the right advisor finds.
A rigorous, six-stage process that takes you from acquisition strategy to deal close – with the same senior advisor leading every stage.
Define acquisition rationale, criteria, size range, sectors, and deal structure preferences.
Proprietary search across on-market and off-market targets using sector intelligence and GCC network relationships.
Financial and strategic screening. Preliminary valuations. Shortlist of 3–5 priority targets.
Full financial and commercial diligence. Quality of Earnings. Working capital normalisation. UAE CT review.
Independent multi-methodology valuation. Offer price recommendation. Negotiation strategy and term sheet prep.
Regulatory filing coordination. SPA commercial review. 100-day integration roadmap.
Every buy-side mandate with Corvian covers the complete acquisition lifecycle. You deal with one senior advisor throughout.
We stress-test your acquisition rationale before searching for a single target.
Confidential outreach to off-market targets whose owners may be open to the right conversation.
Ground-up analysis of what the business actually earns, what it owes, and what surprises await.
Fully independent valuation using multiple methodologies calibrated to UAE and GCC deal data.
Earn-outs, escrow, working capital adjustments, and rep & warranties affect real economic outcome more than the headline price.
Most value destruction in M&A happens in the 12 months after closing. We build your 100-day roadmap before you sign.
Start with a standalone FDD or valuation on a target you've already found. No mandate retainer required.
Across the GCC mid-market, most genuinely attractive businesses are never publicly listed for sale. Family-owned businesses, profitable SMEs, and founder-owned companies in healthcare, logistics, education, and technology rarely appear on broker platforms – yet represent the most compelling acquisition opportunities.
Our proprietary target search reaches these businesses directly through sector relationships, DIFC/ADGM and Chamber of Commerce networks, and confidential outreach on your behalf. We typically identify 20–40 targets, screen to a shortlist of 5–8, and arrange management meetings with 2–3 priority targets.
Indicative mid-market transaction multiples based on closed deal data. Actual multiples vary by growth profile, revenue quality, and deal structure.
| Sector | EV/EBITDA | Revenue Multiple | Key Value Drivers | 2026 Activity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Technology & SaaS | 10x–18x | 2.5x–6.0x | ARR, NRR, churn, product moat | ▲ Very high demand |
| Healthcare & Medical | 8x–14x | 1.5x–3.0x | Specialist mix, licence type | ▲ High demand |
| Financial Services | 8x–15x | 2.0x–4.5x | AUM/GWP, regulatory licence | ▲ Active |
| Education & Training | 7x–12x | 1.2x–2.5x | Enrolment growth, KHDA rating | ▲ Active |
| Logistics & Supply Chain | 6x–10x | 0.5x–1.5x | Contract length, asset mix | ▶ Stable |
| Real Estate Services | 5x–9x | 1.0x–2.5x | Transaction volume, brand | ▲ Strong 2026 |
| F&B & Hospitality | 4x–8x | 0.4x–1.2x | Brand, location, franchise rights | ▶ Selective |
| Industrial & Manufacturing | 4x–7x | 0.4x–0.9x | Order backlog, asset condition | ▶ Stable |
Source: Corvian Advisory GCC deal intelligence, 2025–2026. Mid-market transactions AED 5M–500M EV. Get an independent valuation →
Seller's EBITDA presented at AED 6.2M. Our FDD identified AED 1.8M in non-recurring add-backs and a working capital shortfall, reducing normalised EBITDA to AED 4.4M.
Screened 14 businesses, shortlisted 3. Diligence revealed 34% revenue concentration in a single expiring contract, not disclosed by the seller.
Identified an off-market target through our sector network and led full diligence including customer contract and asset verification.
Corvian Advisory advises both inbound and outbound acquirers across five active deal corridors, with direct transaction experience on both sides.
The largest inbound M&A corridor into the UAE across technology, healthcare, logistics.
Using UAE as a GCC and MENA entry point in financial services and manufacturing.
Singapore holding structures and Japanese corporates acquiring UAE distribution businesses.
North America is the #1 source of inbound M&A capital into the GCC at 49% of deal value.
"Corvian's financial diligence identified issues the seller's accounts completely obscured. We saved more on the deal than we paid in advisory fees."
"The FDD identified AED 8M in EBITDA adjustments. Our investment committee used the QoE report directly to renegotiate. Institutional-grade work."
"Corvian's valuation showed we were about to overpay by 30%. We closed at a price the model supported, knowing exactly what we were buying."
Every buy-side mandate is led by our senior team – CFA, CA and ACCA qualified.
Global gold standard for financial analysis and valuation.
Deep expertise for FDD and EBITDA normalisation.
ACCA-qualified financial reporting and structured risk identification.
Institutional rigour at a fraction of Big 4 cost.
The questions acquirers ask us most before engaging for a UAE buy-side mandate.
A buy-side advisor works exclusively for you. We define criteria, find the target, verify financials, value it accurately, and negotiate. Without one, you rely entirely on the seller's narrative.
We run a proprietary search, off-market outreach, network introductions, and screening of on-market flow. We typically identify 20–40 targets and shortlist 5–8.
Revenue quality, EBITDA normalisation, working capital peg, net debt and EOSB, UAE CT and VAT, related-party transactions, and cash flow sustainability.
Typically 3–9 months: search 4–8 weeks, screening 2–3 weeks, diligence 4–8 weeks, negotiation 2–4 weeks, SPA 4–8 weeks, approvals 2–6 weeks.
Monthly retainer (AED 10,000–25,000/month) plus a success fee (1–2.5% of enterprise value). Standalone FDD from AED 20,000–80,000.
Yes, India, UK, Europe, Singapore, Japan, and US corridors into the GCC, and GCC acquirers buying internationally.