Real estate brokerage licence in Dubai

Property brokerage in Dubai is a regulated activity. Beyond the DET trade licence you need RERA registration for the company, a broker card for every agent, and completion of the required training and examination.

RERA regulated

Registration and broker cards required

Training & exam

Mandatory for every broker

Mainland licence

With an approved office

Who it is for

This licence suits you if

What to plan for

The parts that catch people out

Broker cards are personal

Every agent who deals with clients needs their own RERA broker card, obtained after the required training course and examination. The company registration alone is not enough.

Office requirements are real

RERA expects a genuine commercial office. A flexi-desk will not satisfy the registration, which is why brokerage is a mainland activity in practice.

Property management is separate

Managing property on behalf of owners, and managing owners associations, are distinct activities with their own registrations.

Trust account obligations

Handling client money brings escrow and trust account obligations. Structure the finance function before you take a deposit.

Questions

Questions about this licence

How long does it take to open a brokerage?

Six to twelve weeks realistically. The trade licence is quick; the RERA registration, the training course, the examination and the broker cards run in sequence and set the pace.

Can a foreigner own a Dubai real estate brokerage?

Yes. Real estate brokerage is among the mainland activities available with full foreign ownership, subject to RERA registration and the individual broker card requirements.

Can Emirates Business Lounge handle the approvals as well as the licence?

Yes. Where an activity needs a regulator — municipality, RERA, DET tourism, civil defence, a health authority — we prepare and submit the approval alongside the licence application rather than leaving you to discover it afterwards.

Free consultation

Planning to launch in this sector?

We will confirm the licence type, the activity codes, every approval you need and the realistic timeline — before you sign a lease or pay a fee.

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