A Dubai real estate brokerage is a company that connects property owners with buyers or tenants for a commission. For most founders, the route is to establish a Dubai mainland company, obtain a commercial activity for sales, leasing or brokerage, register the activity with the Dubai Land Department (DLD) and Real Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA) through Trakheesi, and obtain a broker card for each person carrying out brokerage work.

The published broker card fee is AED 500, and mainland companies can generally have 100% foreign ownership for most activities. This guide should be checked against the latest government requirements on ****.

A company licence alone does not allow an individual to broker or advertise Dubai property. Each broker must meet the registration requirements and hold the required DLD/RERA practice card.

Dubai Real Estate Business Setup at a Glance

Business model Main licence or activity Important approval
Property sales agency Real estate buying and selling brokerage DLD/RERA registration, Trakheesi and broker cards
Rental agency Real estate leasing brokerage DLD/RERA registration, Trakheesi and broker cards
Property management Leasing and management of third-party properties DLD/RERA approval, management contracts and financial requirements
Property development Real estate development Land ownership and project marketing approvals
Own-property investment Buying and selling land or property Correct business activity and compliance with Dubai ownership rules

DLD lists separate activities for sales brokerage, leasing brokerage, development, property management, consultancy, and buying or selling land and property.

1. Choose the Type of Real Estate Business

The correct business activity depends on what the company will do. Do not apply for a general real estate licence before making this decision.

Real Estate Brokerage

A brokerage connects property owners with buyers or tenants and earns commission from completed transactions. The activity may cover:

  • Sales and purchase brokerage
  • Leasing brokerage
  • Both sales and leasing, if the licensing authority approves the combination

DLD treats sales and leasing brokerage as separate categories, so the activities must be selected correctly during the licence application.

Property Management

Property management is different from brokerage. It may include:

  • Rent collection
  • Tenant administration
  • Maintenance coordination
  • Lease registration
  • Property management contracts

Managing or leasing third-party property has higher financial and staffing requirements. DLD states that the relevant structure requires a AED 5 million bank guarantee and at least 20 administrative employees. Confirm that these requirements apply to the exact activity before applying.

Real Estate Development

A development company needs more capital and regulatory approvals than a small brokerage. DLD states that the land being developed must be owned by the licence holder or one of its partners.

Marketing a development project also requires a permit through Trakheesi.

2. Decide Between Mainland and Free Zone

For a brokerage serving the Dubai property market, a Dubai mainland company is usually the clearest starting structure. The company can apply through the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism and then complete the DLD/RERA registration process.

A free-zone company is not automatically a shortcut. DLD states that a free-zone real estate licence requires a no-objection certificate from the relevant licensing authority before the real estate activity can be processed.

The UAE generally allows 100% foreign ownership of mainland companies for most activities. Strategic activities may have separate ownership or approval rules, so confirm the position for the exact activity before incorporation.

For many first-time foreign founders, the usual structure is:

  • Dubai mainland company
  • Limited liability company or another approved legal form
  • Real estate sales, leasing or brokerage activity
  • Commercial office
  • DLD/RERA registration
  • Broker cards for active brokers

3. Reserve the Trade Name and Obtain Initial Approval

The usual Dubai company formation process involves:

  1. Selecting the business activity
  2. Choosing the legal form
  3. Reserving the trade name
  4. Applying for initial approval
  5. Preparing the Memorandum of Association, where required
  6. Securing an approved business location
  7. Obtaining external approvals, where required
  8. Paying the licence fees and collecting the trade licence

Initial approval only confirms that the government has no objection to establishing the business. It does not authorise the company to carry out real estate brokerage.

The application can usually begin through Dubai's business licensing channels, including the Invest in Dubai platform and the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism.

4. Secure a Commercial Office

A real estate brokerage needs an approved business address and tenancy documents. The UAE Government lists a Dubai tenancy contract attested through RERA among the documents required for a mainland business licence.

A residential apartment cannot be used as a commercial agency office.

Include these costs in the setup budget:

  • Office rent
  • Tenancy registration or Ejari-related costs
  • Office fit-out
  • Signage
  • Business phone and internet
  • Insurance, if required
  • Accounting and bookkeeping systems

DLD's brokerage requirements also refer to proof of ownership or a tenancy contract for the brokerage premises.

5. Obtain Real Estate Activity Approval

After receiving or applying for the Dubai trade licence, register the company or licence in Trakheesi, the DLD system used for real estate activity and advertising services.

The usual sequence is:

  1. Apply for the Dubai business licence.
  2. Register the company or licence in Trakheesi.
  3. Submit the real estate activity approval application.
  4. Provide the required company, manager and office documents.
  5. Pay the DLD/RERA fees.
  6. Apply for practice cards for the brokers.

DLD states that the real estate licence must be submitted through the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, registered in Trakheesi, and followed by an application for the relevant real estate activity practice card.

6. Register Each Broker and Obtain Broker Cards

Every person carrying out brokerage work must meet the applicable qualification, conduct and registration requirements.

The requirements generally include:

  • A valid real estate brokerage licence
  • Registration in the brokers registry
  • Approved real estate training or qualification
  • Passing the required real estate brokerage test
  • A Dubai Police certificate of good conduct
  • Valid residency linked to the relevant licence, where applicable
  • A DLD/RERA broker card

DLD states that a person cannot practise real estate brokerage before obtaining the required licence and registration.

The DLD service page lists these fees:

  • Real estate broker card: AED 500
  • Broker examination: AED 700
  • Knowledge fee: AED 10
  • Innovation fee: AED 10
  • ERES fee: AED 50 plus VAT

DLD also lists a broker-card renewal fee of AED 520 in its frequently asked questions. Check Trakheesi before payment because government fees and service categories can change.

Expatriate Founders

An expatriate should not assume that a personal freelance arrangement permits independent property brokerage. The safer route is to operate through a properly licensed company and confirm that each manager and broker meets DLD/RERA requirements for residency, training, good conduct and broker-card registration.

7. Obtain Permits Before Advertising Property

Dubai regulates real estate advertising. Before publishing a listing or promotion, check whether the marketing format requires a Trakheesi permit.

DLD lists permits for:

  • Electronic advertisements
  • Newspaper advertisements
  • SMS campaigns
  • Outdoor advertising
  • Printed advertising
  • Billboards
  • Classified advertisements
  • Open houses
  • Promotional campaigns
  • Project launches
  • Real estate seminars and exhibitions

For several broker advertising categories, including online advertising, DLD requires a marketing contract with the property owner.

The DLD advertising service lists:

  • Most advertising permits: AED 1,000
  • Knowledge and innovation fee: AED 20
  • Project launch event permit: AED 5,000
  • Extra requirements for exhibitions and large events

Do not advertise off-plan Dubai property unless the project meets the applicable registration and escrow requirements.

8. Prepare Contracts and Operating Systems

Before hiring agents or accepting listings, prepare a process for:

  • Seller and landlord onboarding
  • Buyer and tenant registration
  • Marketing authorisations
  • Viewing agreements
  • Brokerage agreements
  • Commission agreements
  • Property verification
  • Offer and reservation procedures
  • Complaint handling
  • Document storage
  • Commission payment records

DLD states that a brokerage contract should identify the parties, property, transaction amount, commission rate and registration details.

A new agency should also use a customer relationship management system instead of relying only on spreadsheets and messaging applications. Useful functions include:

  • Lead tracking
  • Property inventory
  • Viewing schedules
  • Follow-up reminders
  • Listing expiry alerts
  • Commission calculations
  • Document management
  • Broker performance reporting

9. Register for Tax and Keep Accounting Records

A Dubai real estate company should obtain tax advice before trading, particularly if it will receive brokerage commissions, referral income, management fees or other service income.

Corporate Tax

The Federal Tax Authority states that taxable juridical persons must register for UAE Corporate Tax and obtain a Corporate Tax Registration Number. Applications are submitted through the EmaraTax platform.

VAT

A UAE-resident business must generally register for VAT when the value of its taxable supplies and imports exceeds AED 375,000 over the previous 12 months or is expected to exceed that amount within the next 30 days.

Voluntary VAT registration may be available from AED 187,500, subject to the applicable rules.

Use a UAE accountant or tax adviser to determine how each income stream should be treated.

How Much Does It Cost to Start a Real Estate Business in Dubai?

There is no single official startup price. The total depends on:

  • Business activity
  • Legal form
  • Mainland or free-zone structure
  • Office size and location
  • Number of shareholders
  • Number of brokers
  • Residence visas
  • DLD/RERA approvals
  • Advertising permits
  • Accounting and tax support
  • Website and CRM costs
  • Insurance
  • Bank guarantees, if property management is involved

The main published items include broker-card and examination fees, advertising permits and DLD activity fees. DLD's licensing service lists annual fees of:

  • AED 5,000 for "other activities"
  • AED 15,000 for leasing and management services for others
  • AED 25,000 for real estate development

Confirm which category applies to the selected activity before setting the budget.

For a small brokerage, the largest costs are usually the office, staff, visas, lead generation, software and the time needed to build a reliable property-owner network.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Obtaining a general trade licence without the correct real estate activity
  • Assuming a free-zone licence automatically permits Dubai brokerage
  • Allowing an unregistered person to negotiate or close transactions
  • Advertising property without checking the Trakheesi permit requirements
  • Listing property without a written owner marketing agreement
  • Using a residential apartment as a commercial office
  • Starting property management without checking the bank guarantee and staffing rules
  • Ignoring Corporate Tax and VAT obligations
  • Quoting property without verifying ownership, availability and project status
  • Treating lead generation as a substitute for an authorised brokerage operation

A manageable starting model is:

  1. Choose sales brokerage, leasing brokerage or both.
  2. Use a Dubai mainland company unless an adviser confirms that a free-zone structure suits the business.
  3. Begin with a small commercial office that meets the licensing requirements.
  4. Appoint one qualified manager and a limited number of registered brokers.
  5. Focus on one or two segments, such as residential leasing, off-plan sales or luxury resale.
  6. Build direct relationships with property owners and approved developers.
  7. Use Trakheesi permits for each advertisement that requires one.
  8. Outsource accounting, tax and legal work until revenue becomes stable.
  9. Add property management or development only after the company has the capital and approvals to support it.

Bottom Line

The first decision is the business model. Sales brokerage, leasing, property management, development and own-property investment have different activities, approvals and costs.

For a small new agency, sales or leasing brokerage is usually easier to launch than development or third-party property management. Choose the activity first, then confirm the ownership structure, office requirements, fees, broker-card process and advertising rules with the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism and Dubai Land Department.