Real Estate Brokerage in the UAE

Key points

Popular districts for a the UAE mainland office include Business Bay, Deira, Bur Dubai, Jumeirah Lakes Towers and Al Quoz, each with different rent levels and customer footfall. A the UAE mainland company can apply for an unlimited visa quota in proportion to its office space, which free zone packages cannot match. Put simply, government and semi-government tenders in the UAE require a mainland licence and Chamber of Commerce membership, both of which GoldenKey arranges.

Step by step

1. 
   Step 1

   Activity and legal form

   We pick the precise activity codes from the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) list and settle on the legal form — normally a LLC, or a sole establishment for individual professionals. If the authority raises a query on starting a real estate brokerage in the UAE at this stage, we handle it the same day.

2. 
   Step 2

   Trade name and initial approval

   GoldenKey reserves your trade name and obtains initial approval from the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), including any external approvals your activity needs.

3. 
   Step 3

   Office, MOA and submission

   Just as important, you sign the memorandum of association before the notary or online, we register your tenancy contract and submit the full file. If the authority raises a query on starting a real estate brokerage in the UAE at this stage, we handle it the same day.

4. 
   Step 4

   Licence, Chamber and immigration

   Your the UAE mainland licence is issued, Chamber membership is activated and we open the establishment and labour files so visas can begin.

Documents required

For starting a real estate brokerage in the UAE the authority asks for the following documents, and we tell you exactly how each must be formatted.

• A passport-size photograph on a white background
• A short business plan or activity description for certain professional activities
• A no-objection certificate from your employer if you hold a UAE employment visa
• The UAE entry stamp or visa page if you are already in the country
• RERA or local land department approval
• Proof of address such as a utility bill or bank statement, requested by some zones

Pricing

All prices for starting a real estate brokerage in the UAE are indicative, shown in AED and confirmed in writing before you pay. The figures below for starting a real estate brokerage in the UAE are updated by GoldenKey whenever the authority changes its fees, so the price you see is the current one.

Where to license real estate brokerage

Brokerage is a regulated mainland activity. In Dubai the company and each agent must be registered with RERA, and brokers sit a Dubai Real Estate Institute exam. Free zone licences cannot broker mainland property.

Ajman Free ZoneOne of the UAE's most affordable free zones — 0-visa packa…Dubai mainlandThe UAE's commercial capital — trade anywhere in the UAE w…Abu Dhabi mainlandThe capital — government contracts, energy supply chains a…Sharjah mainlandIndustrial heartland of the UAE — manufacturing, trading a…Ajman mainlandGoldenKey's home emirate — one of the most affordable main…

Examples of this activity

• Residential sales brokerage
• Leasing agency
• Property management

Real Estate Brokerage guides by nationality

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Why the UAE

English is the working language of business, contracts are routinely drafted in English, and government portals are bilingual, which simplifies starting a real estate brokerage in the UAE for international business owners. In practice, the dirham has been pegged to the US dollar since 1997, which removes currency risk for starting a real estate brokerage in the UAE and makes international pricing simple.

Why GoldenKey

GoldenKey is based in Ajman Free Zone and has helped founders from more than 60 countries with starting a real estate brokerage in the UAE, so the paperwork, approvals and timing hold no surprises for us. GoldenKey's consultants have handled starting a real estate brokerage in the UAE for traders, consultants, tech founders and family offices, which gives us a realistic view of what each authority approves quickly. Because GoldenKey works with the licensing authority, the immigration department and the banks every single week, we know exactly which supporting documents each of them will ask for on a the UAE file.

Frequently asked questions