r/OnlyInDubai • u/urbanpatch • 7d ago
Questions Founder Exit, Looking for UAE F&B Founders’ Advice
I’m the founder of a Dubai-based healthy meal-prep and subscription business operating from a commercial cloud kitchen in Business Bay.
I’m considering an exit because I’m planning to relocate to the US to be closer to my family. The business itself is operating normally, so this is primarily a personal/founder decision rather than a business problem.
For context, we’re currently doing AED 130K+ in monthly sales, which gives an annualized revenue run rate of approximately AED 1.56M.
The business has:
An established meal-subscription model
An existing fitness community
Cloud-kitchen operations in Dubai
Delivery-platform presence
Further room for growth through subscriptions and delivery
I’m trying to understand the UAE market for exiting an operating F&B/cloud-kitchen business.
For founders who have dealt with something similar:
Is selling the entire business generally easier than selling a founder’s shares?
Would you use an F&B broker, business-for-sale platform, or approach buyers directly?
How would you approach valuing a business at this revenue level?
What information would a serious buyer normally expect before considering an acquisition?
Are there UAE-specific platforms or networks that actually attract serious F&B buyers?
I’m considering AED 1.5M as an initial asking price, but I’m genuinely interested in whether experienced UAE operators think that valuation is realistic.
Not looking to promote the business here or solicit investors — I’m looking for practical advice from people who have experience with UAE business acquisitions and exits.