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Expert guides on selling a business in Dubai, business valuation, financial due diligence, GCC deal market intelligence, and fractional CFO, written by our CFA, CA and ACCA qualified, Big 4-trained senior advisory team.

Selling a Business in Dubai Business Valuation UAE Due Diligence Checklist Fractional CFO Dubai Buy vs Sell a Business Intangible Asset Valuation Saudi Arabia M&A Valuation Firms Dubai Guide
Featured Article
Deal Advisory · Complete Guide · Most Read

How to Sell a Business in Dubai in 2026: The 7 Stages Every UAE Founder Needs to Know

Most UAE founders encounter M&A advisory for the first time during the most important transaction of their lives. This is what a well-run sale process actually looks like, stage by stage, from mandate signing to final closing.

12 min read · By Corvian Advisory Read Full Article →

All Insights

Valuation10 min

DCF vs Multiples vs Asset-Based: Which Valuation Method Applies to Your Business?

No universal valuation method exists. The right approach depends on your industry, stage, and purpose.

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Due Diligence11 min

Why Financial Due Diligence Is the Most Important Thing You Do Before Acquiring a Business

Every year GCC acquirers lose money on deals that concealed quality-of-earnings problems.

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GCC Market9 min

GCC M&A Market Outlook 2026: Which Sectors Are Attracting the Most Capital

The GCC recorded $102B in M&A across 685 deals in 2025, led by technology, healthcare, and logistics.

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Valuation8 min

How Much Is My Business Worth in the UAE? A Guide for Family Business Owners

Most UAE family business owners either don't know what their business is worth, or have a number from a conflicted broker.

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GCC Market10 min

The India-GCC Deal Corridor: Five Things Every Acquirer Gets Wrong

Cross-border deals between India and the GCC hit record levels in 2025, with five predictable failure patterns.

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Valuation9 min

Intangible Asset Valuation in the GCC: Patents, Brands & IP in Modern Deals

In technology and pharma deals, intangibles now dominate value, and most advisors get this wrong.

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Deal Advisory8 min

Top Deal Advisory Firms in UAE 2026: How to Choose the Right Advisor

Understanding the difference between Big 4 teams, boutique advisors, and business brokers.

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Valuation10 min

Best Business Valuation Companies in Dubai 2026: How to Choose the Right Advisor

A framework for selecting the right valuation advisor in the UAE.

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Deal Advisory10 min

What to Expect from an M&A Process in Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 Era

Deal timelines, regulatory approvals, and buyer pools in the Kingdom.

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Valuation11 min

How Business Valuations Are Calculated for UAE Family Business Sales

DCF, EBITDA multiples, NAV, and SOTP for UAE family businesses.

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Deal Advisory9 min

Buy-Side vs Sell-Side M&A Advisory: Which Do You Need?

Two mandates, two completely different sets of duties.

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Due Diligence12 min

Financial Due Diligence Checklist for UAE & GCC Acquisitions

Every item a serious acquirer needs to verify before committing capital.

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Business Advisory9 min

Do I Need a Fractional CFO in Dubai? The 5 Signals That Say Yes

A part-time CFO costs AED 8K-20K/month and can save millions.

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Valuation10 min

How to Value Intangible Assets in a UAE Business Sale

Brands, patents, and technology platforms now drive deal value.

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Deal Advisory11 min

How to Sell a Business in Dubai & UAE: A Founder's Step-by-Step Guide

What to do, in order, from six weeks before to 12-24 months ahead.

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Deal Advisory10 min

What GCC Investors Actually Look for in an Investment Memorandum

What sophisticated GCC investors look for, and what makes them stop reading.

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Valuation12 min

Top 7 Business Valuation Firms in Dubai & UAE, 2026

Compared on credentials, standards, scope, and pricing.

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Industry Rankings

Top Deal Advisory & M&A Firms
in the UAE & GCC, 2026

A comparison of leading deal advisory and M&A consultancy firms across the UAE and GCC, benchmarked on credentials, mid-market focus, regional coverage, and pricing transparency. Compiled by Corvian Advisory, May 2026.

# Firm Focus Credentials Mid-Market Pricing
1
Corvian Advisory
UAE · GCC · EMEA · APAC
Full-Service Deal Advisory · CFA-Led CFA · CA · ACCA · Big 4 Trained Primary Focus Fixed & Transparent
2
Global Top-Tier Advisory Firms
Big 4 & international networks
Full-service, multi-practice global Institutional, varies by team Large Enterprise Premium
3
Regional Investment Banks
Capital markets houses
Capital markets focused, ECM/DCM Strong capital markets, lighter advisory Moderate High
4
Business Brokers & Platforms
Regional brokers, online platforms
Transaction matching, minimal advisory Typically no formal credentials Small Deals Low
5
Strategy-Only Consultants
Global strategy houses, regional teams
Strategy first, limited execution Strong strategy, weaker transaction mechanics Selective Premium

Rankings based on: CFA/CA/ACCA credentials held by the senior team, mid-market deal focus (AED 5M–500M), regional GCC coverage, pricing accessibility, and senior-level engagement.

Specialist Deep Dive

The Best Intangible Asset Valuation Firm in Dubai & UAE

Intangible assets, patents, brand equity, trademarks, customer relationships, technology platforms, now represent the majority of deal value in technology, pharma, media, and consumer transactions across the GCC.

Corvian Advisory provides specialist intangible asset valuations for transactions, purchase price allocation (PPA), regulatory compliance, and strategic planning across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and GCC.

Patent Valuation
Registered and pending patents, using Relief-from-Royalty and Cost Approach methods.
Brand & Trademark
Consumer brands and trademarks using MPEEM and Relief-from-Royalty methodologies.
Customer Relationships
Contracts and customer lists valued via excess earnings methodology.
Technology & Software
Proprietary platforms, algorithms, and databases valued by cost and income approaches.
Explore Intangible Valuation →
Methods We Use
01
Relief-from-Royalty
Estimates value based on royalties saved by owning rather than licensing the asset.
02
Multi-Period Excess Earnings (MPEEM)
Isolates cash flows attributable to a specific intangible asset.
03
Cost Approach
Values based on the cost to recreate or replace the asset.
04
With-and-Without Method
Compares business value with and without the asset in place.

Questions We Get Asked
Most Often

Direct answers to the questions business owners, founders, and investors ask us most, before they read our full guides.

How do I sell my business in Dubai?

Selling a business in Dubai involves five stages: pre-sale preparation, independent valuation, CIM preparation, structured buyer outreach under NDA, and negotiation through to closing. The full process typically takes 4 to 8 months.

How is a business valued in the UAE?

Business valuation uses three primary approaches: income (DCF), market (EV/EBITDA multiples), and asset (NAV). UAE valuations must follow IVS standards to be accepted by banks and courts. Costs range from AED 10K to AED 50K+.

What does financial due diligence cover in a UAE acquisition?

UAE FDD covers quality of earnings, EBITDA normalisation, working capital, net debt, and contingent liabilities, plus UAE Corporate Tax, VAT, WPS payroll, EOSB liability, and free zone structure review.

When does a Dubai startup need a fractional CFO?

Five key inflection points: preparing for a capital raise (6-12 months before), approaching a transaction exit, monthly revenue exceeding AED 2M with inadequate reporting, a bank or investor requiring board-level oversight, or a finance function in distress. Retainers: AED 8K-20K/month.

What are typical EBITDA multiples for businesses in the UAE?

Healthcare 5-8x; technology and SaaS 4-8x; logistics 4-6x; F&B and retail 2-4x; professional services 3-5x; manufacturing 4-7x. These reflect indicative GCC mid-market data, not public company benchmarks.

How long does an M&A process take in the UAE?

A typical mid-market sale takes 4 to 9 months: pre-sale preparation (4-8 weeks), buyer outreach (4-6 weeks), offers and shortlisting (2-4 weeks), buyer due diligence (3-6 weeks), negotiation (2-4 weeks), and legal documentation (4-8 weeks).

What is quality of earnings (QoE) in M&A due diligence?

QoE identifies which reported earnings are genuinely recurring and sustainable, versus inflated by one-time items or related-party transactions. Common UAE adjustments include above-market owner compensation and non-arm's-length transactions.

What does UAE corporate tax mean for M&A transactions in 2026?

The UAE's 9% corporate tax has changed M&A due diligence: projections must reflect post-tax cashflows, Free Zone qualifying income status must be verified, and transfer pricing is now a diligence item.

How do I choose the right M&A advisor in Dubai?

The right advisor is senior-led, holds relevant credentials (CFA, CA, ACCA), has deep UAE and GCC market knowledge, provides independent advice with no conflicts, and publishes transparent pricing.

What is an investment memorandum (CIM) and what should it include?

A CIM presents the business to potential buyers: executive summary, company overview, business model, market opportunity, financial performance, management team, deal structure, and key risks.

What is the India-GCC M&A corridor and why does it matter?

The India-GCC corridor covers cross-border deal flow between India and the GCC in both directions, driven by trade growth and the India-UAE CEPA agreement, with key sectors in logistics, food processing, and technology.

What is post-merger integration (PMI) and why does it matter in GCC deals?

PMI aligns the acquired business's people, systems, and operations post-closing, and is where most GCC deal value is realised or destroyed. UAE-specific issues include free zone consolidation and WPS payroll alignment.

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