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.
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.