Activity guide / Professional & Business Services
Business Brokerage business setup in the UAE
Acting as an intermediary in the sale, purchase and valuation of existing businesses, connecting sellers with buyers and managing the deal process.
Plan this activityBy Two Pillars Advisory. Sources last checked 2026-10-27. Independent guidance, not authority advice.
Understanding business brokerage
A business broker intermediates the sale and purchase of existing businesses: preparing the opportunity, finding buyers, managing negotiations and earning a commission on completion. The inspected source describes activity 7490.02 covering intermediation in the sale, purchase and valuation of existing businesses, and draws the regulatory boundaries carefully. Real estate brokerage needs its own RERA licensing. Where a transaction involves shares or securities, the Securities and Commodities Authority oversees that element, and a standard brokerage scope does not cover securities dealing. Business valuation is generally permitted as part of the service, but formal valuation reports for legal or banking purposes may need a certified valuer. Brokers should also note the source's caution that trade names containing words like bank, financial or investment attract extra approvals.
Evidence scope: Meydan Free Zone, Dubai only. The inspected source describes activity 7490.02 with SCA and RERA boundaries. This is not evidence of mainland or other-zone availability. Two Pillars Advisory FZCO is an independent business formation consultancy, not the licence issuer or a provider of every specialist activity described.
At a glance
- What the activity covers: Acting as an intermediary in the sale, purchase and valuation of existing businesses, connecting sellers with buyers and managing the deal process.
- Activity type: Specialist services
- Likely jurisdiction context: Depends
- Possible external approvals: The inspected Meydan source describes activity 7490.02 and draws regulatory boundaries: real estate brokerage needs RERA licensing, securities transactions fall under the Securities and Commodities Authority, and formal valuation reports for banks may require a certified valuer.
What you offer matters.
What this activity covers
Acting as an intermediary in the sale, purchase and valuation of existing businesses, connecting sellers with buyers and managing the deal process.
A plain-English label, not an official activity name or code.
Boundaries & approvals to check
The inspected Meydan source describes activity 7490.02 and draws regulatory boundaries: real estate brokerage needs RERA licensing, securities transactions fall under the Securities and Commodities Authority, and formal valuation reports for banks may require a certified valuer.
Handling share-sale transactions without checking SCA requirements; the source states securities dealing is outside a standard brokerage scope.
Your independent consultant: Two Pillars Advisory
Two Pillars helps you define the business model, compare routes and prepare an application. We are an independent consultancy, not a licensing authority.
The licence issuer / regulator: the competent authority
The competent licensing authority decides the permitted activity scope and issues the licence. A sector regulator may separately assess and authorise regulated services. Neither decision is made by TPA.
Choose around your operations.
Some consultancy categories need qualification evidence. Government transaction services usually need authority-side registration of the company and its staff.
For business brokerage: The inspected Meydan source describes activity 7490.02 and draws regulatory boundaries: real estate brokerage needs RERA licensing, securities transactions fall under the Securities and Commodities Authority, and formal valuation reports for banks may require a certified valuer.
Confirm the local operating route
Describe where customers, staff, premises and goods will be located. Ask the mainland issuer and any proposed free zone to confirm the exact scope and any permissions for operating outside the zone.
Map delivery across borders
Describe where the service is delivered or goods move. Confirm entity scope, destination requirements and any UAE local operations separately; international customers do not establish free zone eligibility.
Check the sector perimeter first
Describe the actual service, product and client type to the competent regulator. A commercial registration alone does not establish authorisation to deliver regulated services.
| Decision point | Mainland | Free Zone | Sectoral approvals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who decides? | Competent emirate licensing authority | Proposed free zone licensing authority | Competent regulator, where applicable |
| Permitted operating scope | Requires case-by-case confirmation | Requires case-by-case confirmation | The inspected Meydan source describes activity 7490.02 and draws regulatory boundaries: real estate brokerage needs RERA licensing, securities transactions fall under the Securities and Commodities Authority, and formal valuation reports for banks may require a certified valuer. |
| Premises, people & documents | Confirm for the selected activity | Confirm for the selected activity and zone | Confirm against the regulated service or product |
| Fees & timing | Obtain a current itemised quotation | Obtain a current itemised quotation | Confirm if a separate application applies |
From scope to application.
- Define your deal focus: SME sales, franchise transfers or investor acquisitions.
- Confirm activity 7490.02 wording with the chosen issuer and list any valuation or consultancy scopes at the same stage.
- Write engagement agreements covering exclusivity, commission triggers and confidentiality.
- Set up a screening process for deals involving property or securities so licensed specialists take over where required.
Illustrative planning sequence; the authority may require a different application order or additional steps.
Common mistakes worth avoiding.
- Handling share-sale transactions without checking SCA requirements; the source states securities dealing is outside a standard brokerage scope.
- Issuing formal valuation reports for banks without certified-valuer status; the source flags this boundary explicitly.
Authority information, independently explained.
Published by Two Pillars Advisory. References last checked 2026-10-27; each source’s check date and jurisdiction are shown below. Review is limited to the cited activity scope, not an approval or universal licensing assessment. Confirm current requirements directly before applying.
No affiliation, partnership or endorsement by the authorities listed.
- Meydan Free Zone: Business Brokerage — inspected scope. Inspected body describes activity 7490.02 for intermediation in the sale, purchase and valuation of existing businesses; states real estate brokerage needs separate RERA licensing, share or securities transactions fall under Securities and Commodities Authority oversight, and formal valuation reports for legal or banking purposes may require a certified valuer. (Meydan Free Zone published scope, Dubai only, checked 2026-10-27)
- Invest in Dubai: Search business activities. Official Dubai activity search. Final activity wording and code must be confirmed here or with the licensing authority before filing. (Dubai, checked 2026-09-12)
- Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET): Business licensing. Official Dubai business licensing information, including licence types and permit requirements. (Dubai, checked 2026-09-12)
Before you take the next step.
Does business brokerage cover selling property?
No. The inspected source states real estate brokerage needs its own RERA licensing, even when a business being sold holds property assets.
What happens when a deal involves shares?
The source states the Securities and Commodities Authority oversees transactions involving shares or securities, and a standard brokerage scope does not cover securities dealing. Check with the SCA before working on share sales regularly.
Can I provide valuations?
Valuation as part of the brokerage service is generally permitted per the source, but formal reports for legal or banking purposes may require a certified valuer.