Rera license dubai
What this page covers
Rera license dubai
Setting up a real estate brokerage in Dubai starts with obtaining a trade license through the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism. This license must include a permitted activity that covers real estate brokerage so your company can operate legally and sponsor visas.
Once the trade license is in place, you apply for approval from the Real Estate Regulatory Agency through the Dubai Land Department. This RERA approval, combined with your brokerage trade license, is what allows you to legally act as a real estate brokerage in Dubai’s property market.
In brief
- To work as a real estate brokerage in Dubai, you first need a mainland trade license from the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism with real estate brokerage listed as an activity.
- After obtaining the trade license, your key personnel must complete the required RERA training and you submit a brokerage application to the Real Estate Regulatory Agency via the Dubai Land Department.
- You also need an active office lease registered on Ejari, and RERA may inspect your office before issuing final approval for your brokerage to operate.
What to do
Choosing the right structure for your real estate brokerage in Dubai depends on your goals and risk profile. Investors often opt for a limited liability company to benefit from liability protection, while still being able to obtain a mainland trade license that covers real estate buying and selling brokerage activities.
Current rules allow 100 percent foreign ownership for many activities, including real estate brokerage, removing the previous requirement for a local partner. However, if you choose a sole establishment or civil company, a UAE national agent is still required for procedural matters, so it is important to align the legal form with your long‑term plans.
Some free zones offer lower‑cost real estate consultancy licenses, but these do not allow you to directly broker Dubai properties on the open market without partnering with a Dubai‑licensed firm. For firms that want to operate independently in the city’s property market, a mainland license with RERA approval remains the standard route.
What to keep in mind
Holding a Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism trade license alone does not authorize you to carry out real estate brokerage activities. You must also secure RERA approval through the Dubai Land Department, which is conditional on meeting specific training, documentation, and office requirements.
The brokerage application typically includes your trade license, RERA course completion certificates for key personnel, police clearance documents, and an active Ejari‑registered office lease. RERA may conduct an on‑site inspection to confirm that your office meets the required standards before granting approval.
A free zone real estate consultancy license may suit businesses that provide advisory services or that are willing to work through a Dubai‑licensed partner. If your objective is to broker properties directly in Dubai’s open market under your own license, you need a mainland brokerage license with RERA authorization rather than relying solely on a free zone setup.