M&A

UAE Market Entry & Expansion

Entering the UAE by establishment, acquisition or joint venture — with capital arranged alongside.

UAE Market Entry & ExpansionImage · UAE Market Entry & Expansion
Overview

Companies moving to or expanding into the UAE face a maze of entity, free-zone and mainland choices — and the strategic question of whether to build, buy or partner. Matchpoint advises international companies on UAE market entry: entity and licensing strategy (with counsel), acquisitions of local platforms, joint-venture partner search and structuring, and the financing to fund the move — including UAE corporate tax considerations that now shape every structure.

As part of our M&A practice, Matchpoint Partners has originated and led $2+ billion of transactions across four continents — and every M&A mandate is led by a partner, from first call to close.

How Matchpoint helps

Our role on uae market entry & expansion mandates

  • Build, buy or partner: entry-strategy analysis
  • Acquisition and JV partner search and execution
  • Entity, free-zone and licensing strategy with counsel
  • Entry financing and UAE corporate-tax-aware structuring
Track record

Select transactions

Representative M&A mandates led by Matchpoint partners.

Real Estate · US
$450m

Sell-side M&A of a distressed US trophy landmark hotel.

Sell-side · United States
Tech Services · EU
$30m

M&A and growth for a Temenos core-banking services firm.

M&A & Growth · Europe
F&B · Cross-border
$20m

Chinese-controlled Italian gelato brand JV / cross-border merger.

JV / M&A · US · CN · UK · IT
Mining · US
$30m

M&A and equity raise for a gold & precious-metals mining firm.

M&A + Equity · United States
Innovation & insight

Our proprietary research

Original, data-driven research from our team, relevant to this area.

Questions, answered

UAE Market Entry & Expansion — frequently asked questions

Acquiring a licensed local platform buys time, relationships and revenue; greenfield buys control — we model both against your timeline and capital.

It depends on activity, substance requirements and tax position; DIFC and ADGM suit financial firms while sector zones suit trading and industrial operators.

Matchpoint runs full sell-side mandates: we value the business, build the information memorandum, identify and approach buyers, manage diligence and negotiate to close — confidentially and senior-led throughout.

An MBO is led by existing management, an MBI by an incoming external team, and an LBO uses significant debt to fund the acquisition. We structure all three and arrange the acquisition finance.

We bridge a target's stand-alone enterprise value to the consideration paid, isolating hard, soft and financial synergies net of costs — so clients see exactly where value is created.

Matchpoint works primarily on a success fee, with a modest retainer to cover execution. Fees are agreed in writing up front and scaled to the size and complexity of the transaction — with no hidden costs.

Most sell-side and buy-side M&A processes run 4–9 months from mandate to completion, depending on diligence, regulatory approvals and negotiation.

A short, confidential scoping call and NDA; we structure the requirement and prepare materials, then run a competitive process across our 5,000+ investor and lender relationships, and negotiate to close — with a partner leading at every step.

Matchpoint Partners is based in the UAE and runs cross-border mandates across the UAE, KSA, India and the UK, with active deal activity in wider Europe, Singapore and the United States.

Matchpoint has originated and led $2+ billion of transactions, with equity tickets typically USD 5m–300m, debt USD 10m–500m+, real estate finance USD 20m–500m+, and fund placements for funds of USD 50m–1bn+.

Use the enquiry form, email ck.adya@matchpoint-partners.com, or call/WhatsApp +971 52 345 1119. Every mandate is led by a partner from the very first conversation.

Yes. Matchpoint runs discreet, confidential processes and discloses client identities only under a signed non-disclosure agreement (NDA).

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