A cash flow forecast is not the same as a P&L projection. It maps when cash actually arrives and leaves — accounting for payment terms, VAT payment dates, payroll cycles, and loan repayments. UAE banks require a 12-month cash flow forecast before approving business loans. Investors use it to validate assumptions about working capital needs. At Finanshels, we recommend maintaining a rolling 13-week (90-day) cash flow model as the operational baseline for any growing UAE business.
Pro tip: Build your forecast around actual collection experience, not invoice dates. If your clients typically pay 45 days late, model 45-day delays — not the payment terms on the invoice.
See also: Cash Flow, Burn Rate, Working Capital
