Business Strategy
Strategy & Corporate Development
Direction and deal flow, run as one function.
Handle supports strategy and corporate development functions as one execution engine — designing the operating model, pipeline, evaluation frameworks and governance that connect strategic priorities with sourcing, deals, integration and exits.
When this is needed
Strategy and Corporate Development in the UAE: where the mandate begins.
- Deals and major investments are happening in isolation from the strategic plan.
- A corporate development function is being set up, or its roles, processes and governance are unclear.
- The deal pipeline lacks structure, and opportunities are not screened consistently.
- The board needs a clear view of how acquisitions, investments and exits are creating value.
Matters Handle leads
Strategy and corporate development mandates.
Four mandate types. One function, from strategy to closing.
Strategy & CD Operating Model
Roles, workflow and governance for the function.
Deal Pipeline Management
Sourcing, qualification, tracking and pipeline reporting.
Strategic Investment Evaluation
Investments, ventures and acquisitions assessed for fit.
Portfolio & Exit Planning
Portfolio review, exits and recycling of capital.
The scope
Strategy & Corporate Development — scope, made explicit.
A focused, premium mandate — with the portfolio and its deal flow at the center.
Strategic Priority Setting
Priorities that direct the deal and investment pipeline.
Evaluation Frameworks
Commercial, financial and strategic fit assessed consistently.
Transaction Governance
Approval and oversight structures for deals.
Pre-Integration Support
Synergy hypotheses and integration pathways prepared.
Post-Close Performance
Deal results fed back into strategic reviews.
The mandate
Corporate development as a tool of strategy.
M&A teams often focus on the transaction alone. Handle integrates strategy and corporate development so that sourcing, evaluation, integration and exits are all driven by the strategic plan.
Business units provide insight and ownership; the central function provides structure and governance. Post-deal performance flows back into strategic reviews, giving the board a clear view of value creation.
What the mandate delivers
- Corporate development operating and governance model
- Opportunity sourcing and pipeline structure
- Deal evaluation frameworks
- Integration with strategy, finance and business units
- Pre-integration and synergy planning
- Post-close performance tracking
How the work runs
Four disciplines. One execution engine.
Every strategy and corporate development mandate is run with priority, pipeline, evaluation and integration control.
01
Strategic Direction
Priorities that decide where to invest, acquire or divest.
02
Pipeline Discipline
Opportunities sourced and qualified consistently.
03
Deal Evaluation
Commercial, financial and strategic alignment tested.
04
Integration & Exit
Deals connected to operating models, performance and exits.
The Handle model
Practice-led. Never fragmented.
The work may begin here — it stays connected to strategy, capital and law.
Strategy & Operations
The work stays connected to market position, operating model, performance and execution governance.
M&A & Capital
The work stays aware of capital readiness, investor review, transaction logic and deployment discipline where relevant.
Legal & Regulatory
The work stays protected through structure, rights, governance, enforceability and regulatory or dispute readiness.
Why Handle
Strategy and transactions, connected.
Handle links the corporate development function directly to its M&A, capital and legal execution — so portfolio decisions move from strategy to closing without losing their logic.
- One function for strategy and deals
- Structured sourcing and pipeline governance
- Consistent evaluation frameworks
- Entry and exit decisions managed together
- Post-deal value fed into strategy
- Partner-led mandates with institutional discipline
Before offering your business for M&A, you must raise it with discipline. Strengthen governance, restore financial clarity, and sharpen strategy. A parented business attracts investors with confidence, not discounts.
Mohamed abu El-MakaremManaging Partner & Chairman
Engagement paths
Where this work typically begins.
Growth & Expansion
When the asset must scale capacity, geography, capital, partnerships or market share.
Turnaround
When the asset must reset structure, capital, law, governance and operations under pressure.
Coverage
Connected across the strategy practice.
Handle supports strategy and corporate development functions in groups, holding companies and family enterprises across the UAE and the wider region.
Related service lines · Business Strategy
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Across the Handle model
Questions, answered
Strategy and Corporate Development — questions, answered.
How Handle connects strategy and corporate development.
What does strategy and corporate development cover?
It covers setting direction and executing the transactions or initiatives that reshape the portfolio.
What does a corporate development function do?
It defines strategic priorities, sources and evaluates opportunities, supports deals, and coordinates integration or divestment.
Why combine strategy and corporate development?
Combining them ensures deals and major initiatives support the strategic plan rather than occurring in isolation.
How does strategy and corporate development support investment decisions?
It provides structured analysis, options and recommendations on where to invest, acquire, divest or reshape the portfolio.
How does corporate development differ from an M&A team?
M&A teams often focus on transactions, while strategy and corporate development manage both strategic context and post-deal value creation.
Which skills does corporate development require?
Financial analysis, market assessment, negotiation, integration planning and stakeholder management.
How is corporate development effectiveness measured?
Through deal quality, portfolio performance and delivery of strategic milestones.
How should corporate development work with business units?
Business units provide insight and ownership, while the central team provides structure and governance.
Should corporate development manage divestments as well as acquisitions?
Yes. Both entry and exit decisions are managed as part of portfolio optimisation.
How does Handle support strategy and corporate development?
Handle designs operating models, decision frameworks and deal processes that connect strategy, transactions and integration.
Insights
Perspectives from live mandates.
Partner-led analysis on law, capital and strategy, shaped by boardroom realities across the UAE and the GCC.
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Work with Handle
Begin with Strategy & Corporate Development — kept connected to the whole Handle model.
When deals must execute the strategy.
Request an initial review
When corporate development must be structured.
Set out the matter. A partner reviews it and responds with a defined route, strategy and accountable lead.
- Partner-level review of every request
- Strict confidentiality and privilege from first contact
- One accountable partner from review to execution
