Activity guide / Real Estate & Property
Real Estate Brokerage business setup in the UAE
Acting as an intermediary in the sale, purchase or leasing of property on behalf of owners or buyers.
Plan this activityBy Two Pillars Advisory. Sources last checked 2026-09-12. Independent guidance, not authority advice.
Understanding real estate brokerage
Real estate brokerage acts for buyers, sellers, landlords or tenants. In Dubai, the company is registered with the Dubai Land Department, and each individual broker must pass training and hold a broker card before dealing with clients. Other emirates run their own regimes, so licensing must be repeated where you operate.
At a glance
- What the activity covers: Acting as an intermediary in the sale, purchase or leasing of property on behalf of owners or buyers.
- Activity type: Regulated brokerage services
- Likely jurisdiction context: Regulated
- Possible external approvals: Real estate brokerage is a regulated activity; registration and broker permits from the competent real estate authority are normally required.
What you offer matters.
What this activity covers
Acting as an intermediary in the sale, purchase or leasing of property on behalf of owners or buyers.
A plain-English label, not an official activity name or code.
Boundaries & approvals to check
Real estate brokerage is a regulated activity; registration and broker permits from the competent real estate authority are normally required.
Advertising listings without the required permit numbers.
Your independent consultant: Two Pillars Advisory
Two Pillars helps you define the business model, compare routes and prepare an application. We are an independent consultancy, not a licensing authority.
The licence issuer / regulator: the competent authority
The competent licensing authority decides the permitted activity scope and issues the licence. A sector regulator may separately assess and authorise regulated services. Neither decision is made by TPA.
Choose around your operations.
Expect authority registration of the company and of individual brokers or managers, and project-level approvals for development.
For real estate brokerage: Real estate brokerage is a regulated activity; registration and broker permits from the competent real estate authority are normally required.
Confirm the local operating route
Describe where customers, staff, premises and goods will be located. Ask the mainland issuer and any proposed free zone to confirm the exact scope and any permissions for operating outside the zone.
Map delivery across borders
Describe where the service is delivered or goods move. Confirm entity scope, destination requirements and any UAE local operations separately; international customers do not establish free zone eligibility.
Check the sector perimeter first
Describe the actual service, product and client type to the competent regulator. A commercial registration alone does not establish authorisation to deliver regulated services.
| Decision point | Mainland | Free Zone | Sectoral approvals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who decides? | Competent emirate licensing authority | Proposed free zone licensing authority | Competent regulator, where applicable |
| Permitted operating scope | Requires case-by-case confirmation | Requires case-by-case confirmation | Real estate brokerage is a regulated activity; registration and broker permits from the competent real estate authority are normally required. |
| Premises, people & documents | Confirm for the selected activity | Confirm for the selected activity and zone | Confirm against the regulated service or product |
| Fees & timing | Obtain a current itemised quotation | Obtain a current itemised quotation | Confirm if a separate application applies |
From scope to application.
- Choose the emirate or emirates where you will broker property.
- Plan for broker training and registration for each agent.
- Prepare office premises that meet the authority requirements.
- Set up client money and advertising permit procedures.
Illustrative planning sequence; the authority may require a different application order or additional steps.
Common mistakes worth avoiding.
- Advertising listings without the required permit numbers.
- Letting unregistered staff deal with clients.
Authority information, independently explained.
Published by Two Pillars Advisory. References last checked 2026-09-12; each source’s check date and jurisdiction are shown below. Review is limited to the cited activity scope, not an approval or universal licensing assessment. Confirm current requirements directly before applying.
No affiliation, partnership or endorsement by the authorities listed.
- Dubai Land Department: Real Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA). Dubai real estate activity is regulated by the Dubai Land Department and RERA. Other emirates have their own competent authorities and separate requirements. (Dubai, checked 2026-09-12)
- Dubai Land Department: Rules and Regulations. Published rules and regulations covering registration and conduct requirements for Dubai real estate participants. (Dubai, checked 2026-09-12)
- Invest in Dubai: Search business activities. Official Dubai activity search. Final activity wording and code must be confirmed here or with the licensing authority before filing. (Dubai, checked 2026-09-12)
- Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET): Business licensing. Official Dubai business licensing information, including licence types and permit requirements. (Dubai, checked 2026-09-12)
Before you take the next step.
Can a free zone company broker Dubai property?
Brokerage of Dubai property is supervised by the Dubai Land Department and generally needs a mainland licence with RERA registration.
Does each agent need their own registration?
Yes, in Dubai individual brokers need training and a broker card in addition to the company registration.