Dubai business setup guide · Real estate
How to Start a Real Estate Brokerage Business in Dubai
Starting a real estate brokerage in Dubai involves more than obtaining a normal trade licence. The company structure, real estate activity, DLD/RERA requirements, professional broker cards, premises and advertising permissions all need to work together before the brokerage begins regulated activity.
Quick answer: for a Dubai mainland brokerage, the commercial licence application is submitted through Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), while the Dubai Land Department and its Real Estate Regulatory Agency regulate the real estate activity. The brokerage and the people carrying out regulated work must satisfy the applicable DLD/RERA requirements, including registration and professional practice-card requirements.
Dubai has a large and highly regulated brokerage market. That creates opportunity, but it also means a founder should not approach the setup as if a general commercial licence alone gives permission to broker property.
The first decision is exactly what the company will do. A business arranging property sales for third parties, a leasing brokerage, a company buying property for its own account, a property manager and a real estate consultancy can fall under different activities and conditions.
Define the revenue model before choosing the entity. If the company will earn commission by bringing owners, buyers, landlords or tenants together, the real estate brokerage activity and professional requirements become central to the setup.
Who Regulates Real Estate Brokerage in Dubai?
A Dubai real estate brokerage sits across both the normal company-licensing framework and the emirate's real estate regulatory framework. Understanding which authority handles each layer helps prevent applications being submitted in the wrong order.
The Department of Economy and Tourism handles the mainland commercial licensing layer for standard Dubai companies and the selected business activity.
Dubai Land Department and the Real Estate Regulatory Agency oversee the regulatory requirements applying to real estate activities and practitioners.
Trakheesi is used for real estate licensing services, professional cards, advertising permits and related regulatory processes.
DLD's current real estate activity licensing guidance states that the licence application should be submitted through Dubai DET, followed by registration through the DLD's Trakheesi system and the applicable real estate professional practice-card process.
This is why saying that a brokerage simply “gets a DLD licence” is incomplete. The licence and regulatory permissions operate as connected layers.
Official reference: Dubai Land Department — Real Estate Activity License .
Choose the Correct Brokerage Activity First
“Real estate business” is not one catch-all licence activity. DLD separately recognises several real estate activities, including sales and purchase brokerage, leasing brokerage, real estate consultancy, mortgage brokerage, property management and other regulated services.
Real estate sales and purchase brokerage
This covers a brokerage acting between property owners and prospective buyers in connection with buying and selling transactions.
Real estate leasing brokerage
This covers brokerage between landlords and prospective tenants for leasing transactions.
A business may intend to work across both sales and leasing. Confirm the exact activity combination before incorporation rather than assuming that one generic “real estate” description covers every planned revenue stream.
Do not confuse brokerage with property investment. A company buying, holding or leasing its own property follows a different commercial model from a brokerage earning commission by acting between third parties. See First Elite Global's guide to property investment business setup in Dubai if the company will primarily hold assets rather than broker transactions.
Mainland or Free Zone for a Dubai Real Estate Brokerage?
For a brokerage planning to operate directly within Dubai's property market, the jurisdiction must be assessed against the exact brokerage activity and DLD/RERA requirements rather than selected on headline licence price alone.
Dubai mainland
A mainland company uses Dubai's DET licensing framework and can be a natural route where the brokerage intends to build a substantive operating presence in Dubai. Real estate remains a regulated activity, so DET incorporation does not remove the separate DLD/RERA requirements.
Read more about the broader Dubai mainland company setup process if you also need to understand trade-name, premises, visa and post-licence steps.
Free-zone structures
A free-zone company should not be assumed to have automatic permission to conduct brokerage activity throughout Dubai merely because its licence contains a property-related activity.
DLD's current real estate activity licensing service does recognise free-zone licences within its process and states that free-zone licences require a no-objection certificate from the relevant licensing authority. The exact free zone, activity, operating model and DLD requirements therefore need to be checked together before incorporation.
Practical rule: if your core revenue will come from brokering Dubai property for third-party owners, buyers, landlords or tenants, confirm the exact DLD/RERA-compatible route before paying for the company licence.
How to Start a Real Estate Brokerage in Dubai: Step by Step
The precise order can vary with the shareholders, legal form and licensing route, but a brokerage setup should normally be planned around the following sequence.
Define the brokerage model
Decide whether the company will handle sales, leasing or both, what property segments it will target, how commission will be earned and whether additional property-related activities are genuinely required.
Confirm the jurisdiction, activity and legal structure
Match the intended operations to the appropriate DET or eligible free-zone route and confirm the DLD/RERA conditions before finalising the entity.
Reserve the trade name and begin commercial licensing
Complete the relevant company-formation steps through the licensing authority, including the proposed business activities, shareholders and legal form.
Complete the required real estate approval process
Follow the DLD/RERA licensing workflow through the applicable digital systems. DLD currently directs applicants to submit the commercial licence application through DET and register in Trakheesi.
Meet manager, qualification and professional requirements
Check the current conditions applying to the manager, partners and brokers, including qualification, good-conduct, residency and professional-card requirements.
Complete premises and licence issuance
Secure the premises and tenancy documentation required for the selected licensing route and complete outstanding company and regulatory requirements.
Register practitioners and obtain the required cards
Individuals carrying out regulated real estate activity must complete the applicable registration and obtain the professional practice card for their role before practising the activity.
Prepare the brokerage to operate
Plan corporate banking, employment and immigration, accounting, tax, advertising permits, contracts, CRM and portal operations before the brokerage begins taking instructions from clients.
For the wider incorporation framework around these steps, see First Elite Global's business setup in Dubai guidance.
Manager and Broker Requirements Matter as Much as the Company Licence
A brokerage is not operational simply because the company exists. DLD's current guidance places conditions on the people carrying out the regulated activity.
Depending on the role and application, current DLD guidance includes requirements relating to:
- the appropriate real estate qualification or training;
- a certificate of good conduct issued by Dubai Police;
- residency requirements for expatriate managers or practitioners where applicable;
- registration with the relevant DLD/RERA systems;
- the applicable professional practice card;
- the broker examination where required; and
- ongoing card and licence validity.
DLD states that no person has the right to practise the activity registered in the licence until they are registered and have obtained the card designated for that type of activity.
DLD's current FAQ also states that an expatriate can own a real estate brokerage licence subject to the citizen-services-agent condition stated by the authority. Ownership and management assumptions should therefore be checked against the current activity requirements before the company structure is signed.
Documents to Prepare for a Real Estate Brokerage Setup
There is no single document checklist that applies unchanged to every brokerage. Requirements depend on the entity, shareholder structure, manager, individual practitioners, licensing route and any corporate shareholders.
Company formation information
- Shareholder and manager identification details.
- Passport copies and UAE residency information where applicable.
- Proposed company names and exact real estate activities.
- Shareholding percentages and legal-form information.
- Corporate shareholder documents where a company will hold shares.
- Premises or tenancy information required by the licensing route.
- Constitutional and authority forms applicable to the chosen structure.
Real estate professional information
- Personal photo for professional-card applications.
- Emirates ID where required by the service.
- Good-conduct certificate from Dubai Police.
- Evidence of the applicable real estate qualification or course.
- Broker-exam completion where required.
- Residency documentation linked to the relevant licence where required.
The exact list should be confirmed against the current DLD/DET workflow before submission. Do not assume a generic company-formation checklist is sufficient for this regulated activity.
One document the application needs is not necessarily another applicant's requirement. Corporate shareholders, foreign documents, different legal forms and individual practitioner circumstances can introduce extra documentation, translation or attestation steps.
How Much Does It Cost to Start a Real Estate Brokerage in Dubai?
There is no reliable single all-inclusive price for opening a Dubai real estate brokerage. The total is a combination of company licensing, DLD/RERA charges, professional cards and examinations, premises, immigration, staffing and operating costs.
A useful budget should separate published authority charges from variable company formation and commercial costs.
| Cost area | What it can include | Current published reference |
|---|---|---|
| Company licensing | Trade name, licence, legal form, incorporation and related DET or free-zone charges. | Varies by structure and application. |
| DLD real estate activity | DLD regulatory activity charge applicable to the selected real estate activity. | DLD currently lists “other activities” at AED 5,000 annually plus AED 20 knowledge and innovation fee. Confirm the selected brokerage activity before payment. |
| Broker professional card | Issuance of the individual real estate broker practice card. | DLD currently lists AED 500 for broker-card issuance. |
| Broker examination | Exam and related authority charges where the exam applies. | DLD currently lists AED 700 plus AED 10 knowledge fee, AED 10 innovation fee and the stated ERES charge. |
| Premises | Office rent, deposits, fit-out, tenancy registration and utilities where applicable. | Depends on location, size and licence requirements. |
| People and operations | Visas, insurance, salaries, broker cards, software, portal subscriptions and administration. | Depends on headcount and operating model. |
| Marketing permissions | Trakheesi real estate advertising permits where required. | DLD currently lists AED 1,000 for many “other” advertising permits plus AED 20 knowledge and innovation fee. |
These figures are not a complete brokerage setup quote. Authority schedules can change, different activities can fall into different fee categories, and the company-level licence, office and operating expenses sit outside many DLD service fees. Recheck the applicable authority schedule before payment.
How Long Does It Take to Open a Real Estate Brokerage in Dubai?
Separate the authority's published service time from the total time required to build an operational brokerage.
DLD currently publishes a service time of one working day for the Real Estate Activity License service. Its FAQ also states that the licence issued through Dubai's economic licensing authority based on RERA conditions can take approximately one to two days where documents are complete.
That does not mean every real estate brokerage can be incorporated, staffed and made operational within one or two days.
The overall timetable can also depend on:
- trade-name and company-formation steps;
- shareholder or corporate-document complexity;
- premises and tenancy arrangements;
- qualification and examination requirements;
- Dubai Police good-conduct certificates;
- residency and immigration steps;
- professional practice cards;
- free-zone NOCs where relevant; and
- banking and operational preparation after licence issuance.
Plan with dependencies rather than a promised completion date. Ask for a setup sequence showing which steps can run in parallel and which cannot begin until an earlier approval has been issued.
Your Brokerage Licence Is Not the End of Real Estate Compliance
A brokerage that intends to advertise property must also understand Dubai's real estate advertising controls.
DLD provides a Real Estate Ad Permit service through Trakheesi covering formats such as electronic advertisements, classified advertisements, outdoor advertising, promotional campaigns, open-house events and other property marketing.
For brokers, DLD's current permit conditions require the relevant marketing contract with the property owner for numerous advertising permit types. Dubai's Madmoun system also introduced QR-code verification for real estate advertisements.
Operational compliance to plan before launch
- Professional cards for the people performing regulated work.
- Correct brokerage and client documentation.
- Trakheesi advertising permits where required.
- Permit and QR-code requirements on applicable advertisements.
- Licence and card renewals.
- Employment, immigration and payroll obligations.
- Accounting, corporate tax and VAT analysis where applicable.
- Corporate banking and ongoing KYC requirements.
A brokerage should therefore be designed around ongoing operations, not merely around receiving its first licence certificate.
Common Mistakes When Opening a Real Estate Brokerage
Choosing a generic property activity
Brokerage, property management, consultancy and investing for the company's own account are different models. Start with the revenue stream and match the activity accordingly.
Choosing a free zone before checking DLD compatibility
A low-cost company package is of little value if the selected licence and free zone do not support the regulated activity in the way the business intends to operate.
Assuming the company licence makes every employee a broker
Professional registration and card requirements apply to the people undertaking regulated roles. Budget and plan for them separately.
Using an unrealistic all-in setup price
The first-year budget should include the commercial licence, regulatory charges, office, professional cards, exams where applicable, visas, staffing, software, marketing, banking and working capital.
Advertising property before the permit process is understood
Real estate advertising is separately regulated. Include Trakheesi permissions and compliant listing processes in the launch plan.
Leaving banking until the brokerage is already formed
Banks will independently assess the company, ownership, source of funds, expected transactions and business profile. Prepare the banking file while the structure is still being planned. First Elite Global also provides UAE corporate bank account opening support.
Real Estate Brokerage Setup Checklist
Before submitting an application or paying for a licence package, make sure the core commercial and regulatory decisions have been addressed.
Define whether the brokerage will handle property sales, leasing or both.
Confirm any additional property activities separately.
Confirm the licensing jurisdiction and legal form.
Check the current DLD/RERA requirements for the selected activity.
Review ownership, partner and manager conditions before signing the company structure.
Identify who needs real estate training, examination or a professional card.
Prepare the required good-conduct and residency documentation.
Confirm the office and tenancy requirements before committing to premises.
Separate DET/company charges from DLD/RERA and practitioner fees.
Plan Trakheesi advertising permissions before launching property marketing.
Prepare banking, accounting, tax, visa and staffing workstreams.
Getting these points clear first makes it much easier to compare setup proposals on a like-for-like basis.
Build the Brokerage Around the Activity It Will Actually Perform
First Elite Global can help map the company structure, licensing route, DLD/RERA requirements and post-licence setup around your planned brokerage model. Start with the activities, shareholders, manager, intended team and operating location so the setup can be scoped properly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What licence do I need to start a real estate brokerage in Dubai?
The licence needs to include the appropriate real estate brokerage activity. For a Dubai mainland route, the commercial licensing layer is handled through DET, while DLD/RERA requirements apply to the regulated real estate activity. Individual practitioners also need the registration and professional card applicable to their role.
What is the difference between a brokerage licence and a RERA broker card?
The company licence authorises the entity for its approved activity, while the professional practice card relates to the individual carrying out the regulated real estate role. One does not automatically replace the other.
Can a foreigner own a real estate brokerage in Dubai?
DLD's current FAQ states that an expatriate can own a real estate brokerage licence subject to the citizen-services-agent condition stated by the authority. The exact ownership and management requirements should be reconfirmed for the selected activity and legal structure before incorporation.
Can a Dubai real estate brokerage operate from a free zone?
A free-zone route needs to be assessed against the exact activity. DLD's current real estate activity licensing process recognises free-zone licences and states that they require a no-objection certificate from the relevant licensing authority. Do not assume every free zone or property-related licence gives the same brokerage permissions.
Does every real estate agent need a broker card?
People performing regulated brokerage activity need the appropriate registration and professional practice card. DLD states that a person may not practise the activity registered in the licence until the required registration and card have been obtained.
How much is a Dubai real estate broker card?
DLD currently lists AED 500 for issuing a real estate broker card. The broker exam and associated authority charges are separate where the exam applies. Always check the current DLD fee schedule before payment.
How long does a real estate brokerage licence take?
DLD currently publishes a one-working-day service time for its Real Estate Activity License service and states elsewhere that the licence can take around one to two days when the required documents are complete. The complete company setup can take longer because commercial licensing, premises, professional requirements, residency, cards and operational setup are separate workstreams.
Do Dubai real estate advertisements need a permit?
Many forms of real estate advertising require a DLD permit through Trakheesi, including electronic and classified advertisements, promotional campaigns and other listed formats. The applicable advertising and QR-code requirements should be incorporated into the brokerage's marketing process before listings go live.
Do I need an office for a real estate brokerage in Dubai?
Premises requirements depend on the licensing route and activity. Confirm the required office and tenancy evidence before signing a long lease so the premises are suitable for the intended licence and regulatory setup.
What should I budget for besides the brokerage licence?
Include company registration, DLD/RERA charges, professional cards and exams, premises, immigration, salaries, insurance, software, advertising permits, accounting, banking preparation and working capital. A headline licence fee is only one part of the first-year cost.
Official Resources
Requirements and government fee schedules can change. Recheck the applicable service immediately before making an application or payment.
