Apple’s tracking rules slashed ad-platform accuracy, but sales haven’t died—they’ve just shifted. 2025 ROAS Benchmarks (UAE E-Com) ChannelPre-iOS 172025Budget MoveMeta Ads4.2×3.1×–10 %Google Search3.5×3.6×+5 %Influencers2.8×4.0×+12 %SMS / WhatsApp6.0×6.5×+8 % Action Plan 1. Shift
Most Emirates-based suppliers will shave 1-3 % off an invoice if you settle 30 days early. That’s free margin if your funding cost is lower. Step-by-Step 1. Ask first: Request a written early-payment quote—never assume. 2. Run the math: If the supplier offers 2 % and your 30-day loan costs
Suppliers love to advertise “0 %” Buy-Now-Pay-Later plans for stock purchases. Look closer and you may find an 8 % mark-up baked into the invoice. Reality Check Example ItemBNPL PriceCash PriceInventory POAED 100 000AED 92 000 On a 90-day term, that hidden mark-up equates to roughly 18 % APR. Smart Buyer Playbook 1.
Many tech founders assume Islamic-compliant finance is just for asset-heavy firms, but structures like Murabaha and Mudaraba can work for SaaS, e-commerce, and marketplaces. Two Popular Structures FeatureMurabaha “Cost-Plus”Mudaraba Revenue-SharePricingFixed mark-up disclosedVariable share of revenueRepayment styleInstalments% of monthly incomeIdeal use caseOne-off dev projectOngoing subscription revenue Checklist for Compliance * Obtain
Every 1 % of equity today could be millions at exit. Yet founders often give it up to avoid interest costs. Fast Calculator Exercise 1. Enter current valuation, target raise, and projected exit value. 2. Compare founder ownership under equity-only vs mix of equity + revenue-share loan. 3. Note how a 10
Overdrafts are convenient but can cost 14–18 % per year once fees pile up. 4 Signs It’s Time to Refinance 1. APR > 14 % after all charges. 2. Utilisation > 60 % on most days. 3. Personal guarantees tied to your family assets. 4. Exit fee if you ever close
Choosing the wrong debt product can strangle cash or dilute future equity. Use this plain-English flow to decide. Quick Decision Flow 1. Monthly revenue ≥ AED 150 k? * No → term loan usually cheaper. * Yes → go to step 2. 2. Gross margin ≥ 40 %? * No → revenue-share cushions thin margins. * Yes → move to step
Cloud software, store fit-outs, new laptops—what counts as operating expense (OPEX) and what is capital expenditure (CAPEX)? Classifying spend correctly affects taxes, depreciation, and financing choices. Simple UAE Tests 1. Time Test Benefit lasts > 12 months? → likely CAPEX. 2. Tax Test Depreciable asset under UAE corporate tax? → CAPEX.
Investors love businesses that turn cash quickly. The Cash-Conversion Cycle (CCC) reveals how many days pass between paying for inventory and collecting customer cash. CCC Formula Reminder CCC = Days Inventory Outstanding + Days Sales Outstanding – Days Payables Outstanding Benchmark Snapshots SectorHealthy CCCWarning LightF&B< 60 days> 90 daysFashion&
Ramadan gifting, Back-to-School shopping, and White Friday together can decide your entire year’s profit. The danger is running out of stock exactly when shoppers are ready to buy. Inventory-Funding Game Plan 1. Look back before you look forward Pull last year’s SKU-level sales during each peak. Split items
A traditional annual budget fixes numbers in place—great for enterprises, risky for fast-moving SMEs. A rolling forecast, updated each month or quarter, lets you adapt when VAT rules evolve, when a social-media campaign goes viral, or when shipping delays hit Jebel Ali. Key Differences FeatureAnnual BudgetRolling ForecastUpdate cadenceOnce a
Running a company in the UAE often feels like a sprint from payroll to supplier dues. A rolling 12-month cash-flow forecast replaces guesswork with visibility and helps you see trouble at least a quarter ahead. Step-by-Step Walk-Through 1. Pull the raw data Export the last six months of bank transactions
Buy-Now-Pay-Later lifts average basket from AED 90 → 120, but BNPL providers hold funds 14 days. Liquidity Bridge * Receivable-Advance Facility pays 85 % of BNPL order value on Day 1; lender collects directly from the BNPL provider on Day 14. * Cost vs Gain: 1.4 % fee vs ~2.5 % margin boost from
Seasonal gift packs can drive 40 % of annual revenue—but only if glass-bottle allocation, label design, and brewhouse schedules line up. 60-Day Cash Calendar Day Task Finance Tool 1–10 Book glass bottles (30 % deposit) PO finance 11–25 Label design & print Milestone micro-loan 26–45 Brew & bottle
Generous sleep trials win clicks—but returns hammer cash flow. Reserve Formula Expected Returns = Trial Units × Historic Return Rate Reserve Capital = Expected Returns × Unit Cost Finance the reserve via a return-risk revolver. You draw only when monthly returns exceed forecast; unused limit costs zero. Reverse-Logistics Twist Reverse-pickup fees financed under
Off-shoring saved cost but doubled lead-time. Moving the assembly line to Ras Al Khaimah slashes freight-emissions but demands upfront tooling and moulds. Phase-Draw Capex Plan Milestone % of Budget Draw Trigger Tooling deposit 30 % Signed CAD drawings Test batch 40 % QC pass on 100 pairs Scale run 30 % Retailer PO received