Real Estate Agent Li...
Real Estate Agent License
Real Estate Agent License in Dubai, UAE
Dubai's real estate sector is booming, but to operate legally, you must hold a RERA license from the Dubai Land Department. This license ensures you meet legal and professional standards, giving you the authority to buy, sell, lease, or manage properties in Dubai.
What Is a Real Estate Agent License in Dubai?
To work as a property agent in Dubai, you need a RERA broker card, not a standalone license. The Real Estate Regulatory Agency issues it through the Dubai Land Department, and it ties you to a registered brokerage.
Working without one is illegal and carries a fine of up to AED 50,000. That is why getting the registration right, from training to card issuance, matters from the first step.
Two Routes to a Real Estate License in Dubai
Dubai law does not permit independent real estate agents. Every broker must either be employed by a RERA-registered brokerage or set up a licensed firm of their own. The route you choose decides your cost, your paperwork, and your visa.
Most new agents join an existing brokerage first. The firm sponsors the residence visa and holds the trade license, so the agent only needs a broker card. Opening your own agency is a larger step, with a trade license, a physical office, and RERA activity registration on top.
Broker Card vs Own Brokerage
| Factor | Join a brokerage | Open a brokerage |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | New and career agents | Firm owners |
| Trade license | Not needed | Required (DET) |
| Physical office | Not needed | Mandatory |
| Broker card | Required | Required per agent |
| Visa sponsor | The brokerage | Your own firm |
| First-year cost | AED 6,000 to 13,000 | AED 37,000 to 80,000 |
Who Can Qualify for a Real Estate License in Dubai
RERA sets the entry bar deliberately low on background but firm on compliance. There is no nationality limit and no degree requirement. What you must have is legal residency, a clean record, and the certified training behind you.
The one rule that catches people is sponsorship. Your UAE residence visa must be sponsored by the brokerage that employs you, under the same trade license that requests your card.
- You are 21 years of age or older
- You hold a valid UAE residence visa sponsored by your employing brokerage
- You have a valid Emirates ID and passport copy
- You hold at least a high school certificate; a degree is not required
- You have a Dubai Police Good Conduct Certificate
- You have completed the certified broker training and passed the RERA exam
Note: Foreign degrees must be attested before RERA accepts them, which adds 5 to 15 business days. RIZ & MONA Consultancy flags this early so it does not stall your application.
How to Get a Real Estate License in Dubai
Every step from the training room to a live broker card is set by RERA, not optional.
Secure brokerage sponsorship
Join a RERA-registered firm that will sponsor your visa and request your card.
Complete the CTRB training
Take the 4-day certified broker course at DREI, online or in person.
Pass the RERA exam
Sit the 100-question exam and score at least 70% to earn your certificate.
Get police clearance
Obtain a Good Conduct Certificate from Dubai Police, usually within 2 days.
Apply through Trakheesi
Your firm files your card application on the DLD Trakheesi system.
Receive your broker card
RERA issues your card and BRN within about 2 working days of payment.
Real Estate License Cost in Dubai (2026)
An individual broker pays roughly AED 6,000 to 13,000 in the first year for training, the exam, and the card. The exact total depends on your qualification, which sets your exam fee, and your training provider.
Individual Broker, First Year
AED 6,000 to 13,000
Covers training, the RERA exam, police clearance, and broker card issuance. Assumes your brokerage covers the company-level trade and activity fees.
RERA Exam Fees by Qualification Level
All fees are set by the Dubai Land Department and RERA and are current as of early 2026. They change at the authorities' discretion and vary by activity and qualification. RIZ & MONA Consultancy provides a personalized quote before you commit to any step.
Typical End to End
Weeks
Assumes a valid residence visa is already held and documents are complete. Attestation of a foreign degree can add 5 to 15 business days.
Renewal: Broker cards are valid for one year. Renew at least 30 days before expiry. A card left expired for six months or more is cancelled, which forces a full restart of the process.
With residency already in place, most agents move from training to an active broker card inside two weeks. Overseas degree attestation is the usual delay.
- CTRB training runs 4 days, online or in person
- Exam results are issued within about 2 working days
- Police clearance is processed in around 2 days
- The broker card is issued within 2 working days of Trakheesi payment
- Foreign degree attestation adds 5 to 15 business days when required
Who Regulates Real Estate Agents in Dubai
Dubai Land Department
Registers all property and oversees the real estate sector, including broker licensing.
Real Estate Regulatory Agency
Issues broker cards, registers agents, and enforces market compliance under Bylaw 85 of 2006.
Dubai Real Estate Institute
Runs the certified broker training and the RERA exam that every applicant must pass.
Trakheesi System
The DLD platform where card applications, renewals, and advertising permits are processed.
Banking for a Dubai Brokerage
Your own agency needs a corporate bank account to receive commissions and pay staff. Banks review real estate firms closely because of escrow and commission flows. RIZ & MONA Consultancy prepares your file for that review.
Banks and timelines
Banks used by Dubai brokerages
How long it takes
- Real estate firms face extra scrutiny because of client escrow and commission handling.
- A registered physical office strengthens a brokerage bank application.
- Bank terms and minimum balances differ by bank and can change without notice.
- Banking timelines are indicative only. RIZ & MONA Consultancy cannot guarantee any bank's decision, as approval rests with the bank.
Ready to Get Your Real Estate License in Dubai?
Tell us whether you are joining a brokerage or opening one. We will map your route, handle the RERA steps, and send a clear, personalized quote.