Small Business for Sale in Dubai: What to Buy by Budget
Short answer: A small business for sale in Dubai can cost from AED 25,000 for a licence-only company to over AED 1,000,000 for a supermarket, clinic or large restaurant. On BusinessFinder.me, where owners list a small business for sale in Dubai directly to buyers, most salons and cafeterias ask between AED 100,000 and AED 500,000. At any budget, check the trade licence, Ejari lease, staff visas and real trading figures before you pay.
Below, we group real small businesses for sale in Dubai by budget. All prices were checked on the live site on 20 October 2026.
What counts as a small business for sale in Dubai?
Typically a running business with a few staff and one unit, such as a cafeteria, grocery, salon, laundry or small service company. You usually buy the fit-out, equipment, stock, licence and goodwill, and take over the lease. BusinessFinder.me is a UAE marketplace where owners list running businesses and trade licences with an asking price in AED, and buyers contact them directly.
How much does a small business cost in Dubai?
On 20 October 2026, the businesses for sale category on BusinessFinder.me showed 411 listings. We counted 410 with a Dubai location. Their median asking price was AED 350,000, and 263 of them asked AED 500,000 or less.
What can you buy at each budget?
Counts cover 410 Dubai listings; types come from listing titles.
| Budget (asking price) | Dubai listings | What typically appears | Example listing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to AED 100,000 | 38 | Trade licences, service set-ups, flower shops, small salons | Mobile car wash, Al Quoz, AED 75,000 |
| AED 100,001 to 250,000 | 129 | Salons, cafeterias, restaurants, garages, cloud kitchens, groceries | Butchery, Al Jaddaf, AED 150,000 |
| AED 250,001 to 500,000 | 96 | Restaurants, beauty salons, minimarts, car rental, clinics | Mini mart, JLT, AED 450,000 |
| Over AED 500,000 | 147 | Garages, larger restaurants, clinics, pharmacies, supermarkets | Pharmacy, Hor Al Anz, AED 600,000 |
The real listings below show sellers’ own claims, so verify them.
What can you buy for AED 100,000 or less?
Expect licences without premises, equipment set-ups and very small shops. Of the 38 listings, 28 asked exactly AED 100,000.
| Listing | Area | Asking price | Seller’s highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trading licence | Al Raffa, Bur Dubai | AED 25,000 | Two bank accounts, corporate tax registered |
| Building maintenance licence | Sheikh Zayed Road | AED 25,000 | Mainland licence, 6-visa quota |
| Mobile car wash and detailing | Al Quoz | AED 75,000 | Two equipped vans, licence optional |
| Flower and event decor business | Al Jaddaf | AED 100,000 | Large decor and rental inventory |
| Beauty salon | JLT | AED 100,000 | 50 sqm, annual rent AED 90,000, 2 staff |
What can you buy for AED 100,000 to 250,000?
With 129 Dubai listings, this is the busiest band below AED 500,000, with many salons, cafeterias and groceries. See also our pages for a cafeteria for sale in Deira and a baqala for sale in Dubai.
| Listing | Area | Asking price | Seller’s highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cafeteria | International City | AED 110,000 | 510 sq ft, licence, kitchen and gas approval included |
| Butchery | Al Jaddaf | AED 150,000 | Fully equipped, on delivery apps |
| Grocery | International City | AED 150,000 | Chillers, POS, CCTV and stock |
| Gym | Al Quoz 3 | AED 150,000 | 2,650 sq ft, rent AED 180,000 |
| Minimart | Al Hudaiba | AED 250,000 | Rent AED 108,000 a year |
What can you buy for AED 250,000 to 500,000?
Expect established restaurants, larger salons, minimarts and small clinics. Browse more under ladies salon for sale in Dubai.
| Listing | Area | Asking price | Seller’s highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beauty salon | Liwan, Dubailand | AED 300,000 | 565 sq ft, approved municipality layout |
| Cafeteria | Bur Dubai | AED 350,000 | Shawarma counter, grill chicken permit |
| Pakistani restaurant | Al Jaddaf | AED 350,000 | Strong delivery-app presence |
| Dental clinic | Deira | AED 400,000 | 1,100 sq ft, rent AED 75,000 |
| Mini mart | JLT | AED 450,000 | Rent AED 100,000, about AED 80,000 of stock |
What can you buy for more than AED 500,000?
Here you find supermarkets, pharmacies, garages and bigger restaurants. Of the 147 listings, 76 asked up to AED 1,000,000.
| Listing | Area | Asking price | Seller’s highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supermarket | Al Nahda 1 | AED 550,000 | Fully equipped, residential area |
| Ladies beauty salon | Al Shatha Tower, Dubai Internet City | AED 550,000 | 1,000 sq ft, rent AED 180,000 |
| Indian restaurant | Al Karama | AED 560,000 | Near the metro, owner retiring |
| Pharmacy | Hor Al Anz, Deira | AED 600,000 | Trading since 2021, cash and card sales |
| Commercial laundry | Dubai Investment Park (DIP) | AED 650,000 | 2,712 sq ft warehouse |
Is a cheap business for sale in Dubai a good deal?
Only if you know what the price covers. Many listings under AED 100,000 are licences with no shop or customers. Some older listings mention licence or lease dates that have already passed, so ask for current documents. Rent matters too: the gym above asks AED 150,000 but pays AED 180,000 a year in rent.
What should you check before buying a small business?
Does the trade licence cover what the business does?
Check the owner, expiry date and every licensed activity; anything sold outside the licence is a risk you inherit. Ask whether it is a mainland or free zone licence, because that decides who handles the transfer.
How long is left on the Ejari lease?
Dubai tenancy contracts are registered through Ejari with the Dubai Land Department. Check the rent, cheques, expiry date and whether the landlord will consent in writing to the new owner.
What exactly does the key money pay for?
Ask for a written breakdown of equipment, stock, fit-out and goodwill. The Al Shatha Tower salon above asks AED 550,000 but quotes key money of AED 525,000 in its description, so ask what the difference covers.
Who is on the visas, and who pays the gratuity?
According to the UAE Government portal, expatriate private-sector staff with at least one year of service earn 21 days’ basic salary per year for the first five years and 30 days per year after that, capped at two years’ wages. Agree who pays gratuity built up before the sale.
Does VAT apply when you buy a running business?
Under the Federal Tax Authority’s public clarification VATP015, a transfer of a going concern is not a supply for VAT when the whole business or an independent part is transferred to a taxable person who continues it. A sale of loose assets does not qualify.
How is the licence transferred to you?
For a Dubai mainland company, a change of owner is a trade licence amendment with the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) through the Invest in Dubai platform. Free zones follow their own process. Fees vary, so get a current quote. See our guide on how to buy a business in Dubai.
Small business buyer’s checklist
- Trade licence copy with activities, owner and expiry date
- Ejari certificate, tenancy contract and landlord consent
- Written breakdown of what the key money includes
- Staff list with visas, basic salaries and start dates
- Bank statements and POS or delivery-app reports
- Itemised equipment and stock list, with nothing on finance
- VAT and corporate tax status, and any unpaid fines
- A lawyer-reviewed sale agreement with part of the price held until transfer
Key terms explained
- Running business: a business that is open and trading, sold with its equipment, lease and usually its licence.
- Key money: a lump sum paid to the outgoing owner, on top of rent, for the location, fit-out and goodwill.
- TOGC (transfer of a going concern): the sale of an operating business as a whole, which can fall outside VAT.
- Ejari: the Dubai Land Department system for registering tenancy contracts.
- Trade licence: the DET or free zone permit listing the activities a business may carry out.
Key takeaways
- On 20 October 2026, 263 of 410 Dubai listings on BusinessFinder.me asked AED 500,000 or less.
- Below AED 100,000, most listings are licences rather than trading shops.
- Below AED 500,000, the most choice sits between AED 100,000 and AED 250,000.
- Check the licence, lease, key money, staff and real figures.
Frequently asked questions
What is the typical price of a small business in Dubai?
On 20 October 2026, Dubai listings on BusinessFinder.me started at AED 25,000, and the median asking price was AED 350,000.
Can I buy a business in Dubai for under AED 100,000?
Yes, but choice is limited. We counted 38 Dubai listings at AED 100,000 or less, and many were licences or equipment set-ups rather than trading shops.
What is the cheapest type of business to buy in Dubai?
Licence-only companies were the cheapest listings we found. Among trading shops, we saw a JLT beauty salon at AED 100,000, an International City cafeteria at AED 110,000 and a grocery at AED 150,000.
Can a foreigner buy a small business in Dubai?
Yes. According to the UAE Government portal, foreign investors can own 100% of most mainland companies, and only a short list of strategic activities is restricted.
Is VAT charged when you buy a running business?
Not if it qualifies as a transfer of a going concern, where the whole business or an independent part goes to a taxable person who continues it.
Last updated: 20 October 2026
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General information, not legal or tax advice. Listing details can change; confirm requirements with DET, your free zone or an adviser.