Buying a beauty salon or spa in Dubai.
Salons trade frequently and cheaply, which attracts first-time buyers. The economics are deceptively simple: revenue is visible, costs are mostly staff and rent. What is not visible is how much of the client base belongs to individual therapists rather than to the business — and therapists leave.
Sector-specific due diligence
Client retention data by therapist, not in aggregate. Whether staff are on notice periods or free to leave the day the deal closes. DHA or DOH approvals for any medical or semi-medical treatments. Equipment ownership versus lease. Loyalty balances and prepaid packages — these are liabilities you inherit.
The trap in this sector
Prepaid packages sold aggressively in the months before sale. Cash today, obligation tomorrow — and the obligation transfers to you.
Timeline and cost
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Typical price range | AED 150,000 – 1,500,000 |
| Valuation basis | 1–2.5× annual profit |
| Search and initial review | 2–8 weeks |
| Due diligence | 3–6 weeks |
| Negotiation and documentation | 2–4 weeks |
| Licence transfer or reissue | 2–6 weeks |
| Total, realistic | 2–6 months |
What I do
- Establish what you are actually looking for, in economic terms rather than sector labels
- Source opportunities, including businesses whose owners have not formally listed
- Verify the counterparty before any substantive discussion
- Coordinate due diligence across corporate, financial, operational and compliance workstreams
- Establish early whether the licence transfers, and structure the deal around the answer
- Manage the transaction to completion: documentation, licence, banking, visas, handover
Retainer from AED 15,000/month
Credited against the success fee. Success fee 10% on transactions up to AED 2M (minimum AED 75,000), Double Lehman scale above. Legal, audit and government costs are separate.
Common questions
How much does a beauty salon or spa cost in Dubai?
Typically AED 150,000 – 1,500,000, valued at around 1–2.5× annual profit. The range is wide because the same revenue is worth very different amounts depending on how transferable it is — contracted, recurring income commands a materially higher multiple than income tied to the departing owner.
What should I check before buying a beauty salon or spa?
Client retention data by therapist, not in aggregate. Whether staff are on notice periods or free to leave the day the deal closes. DHA or DOH approvals for any medical or semi-medical treatments. Equipment ownership versus lease. Loyalty balances and prepaid packages — these are liabilities you inherit.
Does the trade licence transfer with the business?
Not always. Some free zones permit direct share transfer; others require the licence to be reissued or a new entity formed and assets migrated. The answer depends on the zone, the activity and sometimes the specific case — establish it before terms are agreed, not after.
What happens to the staff visas?
Employee residency is sponsored by the company, so a share transfer usually preserves it while a new-entity structure does not — in which case every visa is reissued at cost and on the immigration authority's timeline. For a business with staff this is a material line item sellers rarely raise.
How long does the purchase take?
Two to six months from serious interest to completion. Due diligence takes three to six weeks if the seller's records are in order, considerably longer if not. Licence transfer, banking and visa reassignment add four to eight weeks after commercial terms are agreed.
What is the most common trap in this sector?
Prepaid packages sold aggressively in the months before sale. Cash today, obligation tomorrow — and the obligation transfers to you.
Reviewed by Denis Chernikov, Private Client Advisor, nine years in the UAE private client sector.
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