Valuation multiples · UAE
Business valuation multiples in the UAE, by sector (2026)
“What is my business worth?” starts with two numbers: a defensible earnings base and the multiple band buyers in your sector actually pay. Below are the SME bands we apply across eight sectors — shown as ranges, because anyone quoting you a single number before diligence is guessing.
SME multiple bands by sector
| Sector | Headline basis | Earnings band | Revenue cross-check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software / SaaS | Revenue (ARR) | 3–7× → 10.0× | 9–16× |
| IT & Computer Services | EBITDA | 5–8× | 0.8–1.6× |
| Healthcare Services & Clinics | EBITDA | 5–7× | 0.8–1.5× |
| Business & Professional Services | EBITDA / SDE | 5.5–8× / 2.5–4× | 0.7–1.4× |
| Consumer, E-commerce & Retail | EBITDA / SDE | 3–10× / 2–3.5× | 0.4–1.2× |
| Food & Beverage / Restaurants | EBITDA / SDE | 4–6× / 2–3× | 0.3–0.8× |
| Logistics, Transport & Distribution | EBITDA | 7–8× | 0.5–1.2× |
| Light Manufacturing & Industrials | EBITDA | 5–6× | 0.5–1× |
These are SME transaction bands from global deal data — open-source GCC/MENA SME comps are too thin to quote as a separate series, so treat the range as the starting grid, not a Gulf-specific promise. They are not public-market multiples: a quoted comparable carries a size and illiquidity discount of roughly 15–35% before it applies to a private SME. Size then moves you within the band — larger, cleaner businesses clear the top; smaller, owner-dependent ones price near the bottom.
How to read the table
The headline basis is the earnings number the multiple attaches to. EBITDA is the default for established companies. For small, owner-run businesses in services, retail and F&B, buyers price SDE — seller’s discretionary earnings, i.e. EBITDA plus the owner’s own compensation and discretionary costs — on a lower band. For software, revenue (ARR) leads, because scaling SaaS reinvests through profit.
Position inside the band is earned, not averaged. Size, growth, customer concentration, owner-dependence and the cleanliness of your numbers decide whether you price near the bottom, the middle or the top. The bands come from global SME transaction data with the size and illiquidity discount to public comparables (roughly 15–35%) already in mind — open-source GCC SME comps are too thin to quote as their own series.
Every figure on this page is an enterprise-value (EV) multiple. Your proceeds are equity value: EV bridged through net debt and working capital. The calculator below produces both, as a range, from your own inputs.
Go deeper in your sector
Each page covers the band, the earnings basis buyers will use, and the specific levers that move the multiple in that sector.
Frequently asked questions
What multiple do small businesses sell for in the UAE?
There is no single number — it is a band by sector. Across SME deals the typical range is roughly 3× to 9× adjusted EBITDA (drawn from global transaction data — reliable Gulf-only SME comparables are too thin to quote as a separate series), with software priced on revenue or ARR and small, owner-run firms on SDE. The table above shows the starting band for each of the eight sectors; size, growth, margins and how owner-dependent the business is then move you up or down within it.
Should my business be valued on EBITDA, SDE or revenue?
It depends on size and model. Established, professionally-run companies are valued on EV/EBITDA. Small, owner-operated businesses are valued on SDE (seller's discretionary earnings), which adds the owner's salary and perks back to profit. Software and high-growth recurring-revenue businesses are valued on revenue or ARR, because current profit understates them. Our valuation calculator selects the basis automatically from your figures.
Are these multiples specific to the UAE and GCC?
These are SME transaction bands drawn from global deal data, not a Gulf-only series — open, reliable GCC/MENA SME comparables are too thin to publish as one. Treat the bands as the starting grid; in a live review we calibrate for UAE-specific factors such as free-zone versus mainland structure, customer concentration, currency, and how transferable your licences and approvals are.
Why show a range instead of one number?
Because a multiple prices the whole enterprise, but what you bank is the equity — enterprise value minus debt and debt-like items, plus genuinely surplus cash, adjusted for working capital. Two businesses with the same enterprise value can hand their owners very different proceeds. An honest screen shows a range and the enterprise-to-equity bridge, not a single headline figure.
Is this a certified business valuation?
No. This is an indicative screening range to inform a decision, not a certified valuation report. If you need an accredited IVS/IFRS valuation for a bank, a court, a dispute or financial reporting, that is a separate engagement with a licensed valuer. Where we add value is on the deal itself — getting you ready and protecting price and terms when you go to market.
Get your range in five minutes
The free calculator applies these same bands to your numbers — the earnings basis chosen by company size, the position inside the band set by quality — and returns an enterprise-value range with the EV→equity bridge, not a single flattering point.
Before you anchor on a number
Indicative only. This figure is an automated, indicative estimate generated from the limited information you provided and from general market data for comparable companies. It is not a valuation, an appraisal, a fairness opinion, or financial, investment, legal, tax, or accounting advice, and it is not an offer or a solicitation to buy or sell any business or security. Every business is different; an indicative range produced from sector averages can differ materially from the price an actual buyer or investor would pay.
No reliance; subject to diligence. Fiducia Adamantina gives no representation or warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of this estimate and accepts no liability for any decision taken in reliance on it. Any real valuation depends on full financial and legal due diligence, the specific facts of your business, and prevailing market conditions at the time of a transaction. You should not act, or refrain from acting, on the basis of this output alone. For a defensible assessment, speak to us directly.