Dubai processed roughly 112,850 real estate transactions worth about AED 419.9 billion in the first half of 2026. Almost all of them passed through a broker. The regulatory frame around those brokers is strict and, unusually, almost entirely checkable by you in a few minutes. Most buyers never check.
What a Dubai real estate broker actually does
The role is wider than showing units. A licensed brokerage handles six distinct functions, and the quality difference between firms shows up in the last three, not the first.
The visible work
Sourcing and shortlisting stock against your brief, arranging viewings, and negotiating price and payment terms. This is where most agencies compete, and where they look most alike.
The work that decides your outcome
Documentation and regulatory filing
Executing the correct RERA forms, obtaining the seller’s No Objection Certificate from the developer, booking the trustee office appointment, and managing DLD transfer. An error here delays or kills a transaction.
Due diligence on the asset
Post-transaction handover
Ejari registration, DEWA connection, snagging coordination, and letting or management if you are buying to rent.
The single best question to ask
Ask a broker what the service charge per square foot is in the specific building, and what it was three years ago. A broker who knows the answer has transacted in that tower. A broker who does not is selling you a listing, not a property.
The four-point verification check
1. The RERA Broker Registration Number
Every practising agent must hold a RERA Broker Card carrying a BRN, valid for 12 months and renewed annually with continuing education requirements. Ask for the number, then verify it in the Dubai REST app. Under 2026 rules, brokers with unresolved complaints logged in the DLD system can face renewal delays or a mandatory hearing, so a current card carries real information.
2. The brokerage trade licence
Real estate brokerage in Dubai requires a mainland DED licence. It cannot be run from a free zone. Ask for the trade licence number and the RERA office registration, and confirm the agent you are dealing with is registered under that specific brokerage.
3. The Trakheesi advertising permit
Every property advertisement in Dubai, on portals, on social media, on WhatsApp, in print or on a brokerage’s own website, must carry a valid Trakheesi permit number issued by the DLD. The advert must match the permit. Advertising without one is a RERA violation carrying fines that start around AED 50,000, listing removal, and licence suspension for repeat offenders. If a listing has no permit number, the listing is not legitimate.
4. Form A, or Form B if you are buying
Form A is the standardised broker listing agreement issued under DLD and RERA authority. It transfers the owner’s mandate to market a property to one named licensed broker, typically for 90 days, and it must be registered through Dubai REST before a Trakheesi permit can be issued against it. No Form A means no mandate, whatever the agent says the owner agreed verbally. A request to sign anything other than Form A to list a property is a serious warning sign. Form B is the buyer’s equivalent, recording the working relationship between a property seeker and their agent.
Where to find verified property listings in Dubai
Portal listings are not the primary record. Dubai’s property data sits in three official systems: the Dubai Land Department for transactions and title, RERA for licensing and project registration, and Ejari for tenancy contracts. The Dubai REST app gives you access to title verification, permit checks and transaction history directly.
Use registered DLD transaction data, not portal asking prices, when you benchmark value. The gap between the two is routinely significant, and it is the most common reason buyers overpay.
On "for sale by owner" listings
There is no official DLD directory of properties sold directly by owners, and Dubai’s structure discourages the model. An owner can sell privately, but the transfer still runs through a DLD trustee office, the NOC still comes from the developer, and the 4% transfer fee still applies. What you save on the roughly 2% commission, you often lose on pricing, because you are negotiating without access to registered comparable data. Owner-listed stock advertised on portals still requires a Trakheesi permit.
Mortgage position
Commission and what you should pay
The Dubai market standard is 2% of the sale price plus 5% VAT on the commission, paid by the seller to the mandate-holding broker on secondary transactions. Form A should record the agreed percentage, who pays, the trigger event for payment, and the VAT treatment. On off-plan purchases direct from a developer, the developer typically pays the broker, so your commission cost is usually nil.
Be cautious of a broker who leads with a discounted commission. On a AED 2 million purchase, half a percent is AED 10,000. A single missed service charge liability or a mispriced offer costs multiples of that.
Five signals that separate a strong brokerage from a weak one
- It quotes registered DLD transaction data unprompted, not portal averages.
- It gives you the Trakheesi number before you ask.
- It tells you which units in a building it would not buy.
- It has transacted repeatedly in your target community, and can name the service charge trend there.
- It stays involved after transfer, through Ejari, handover and letting.
Choosing for your specific situation
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I check if a real estate agent in Dubai is licensed?
Ask for the agent’s RERA Broker Registration Number and the brokerage trade licence, then verify both through the Dubai REST app. The broker card is valid for 12 months and must be renewed annually.
What services do Dubai real estate brokers provide?
Sourcing and viewings, price and terms negotiation, RERA documentation including Form A and Form F, developer NOC, DLD trustee office transfer, due diligence on title and service charges, and post-transfer handover including Ejari and DEWA.
What is a Trakheesi permit and why does it matter?
Trakheesi is the DLD advertising permit system. Every Dubai property advert must carry a valid permit number linking it to a verified property, a licensed agent and a registered brokerage. A listing without one is not legitimate.
How much commission do real estate brokers charge in Dubai?
The market standard on secondary sales is 2% of the sale price plus 5% VAT on the commission. On off-plan purchases from a developer, the developer generally pays the broker.
Where can I find verified property listings in Dubai?
Verify any listing against DLD, RERA and Ejari records through the Dubai REST app. Portal listings should carry a visible Trakheesi permit number, and registered DLD transaction prices, not asking prices, should be your valuation benchmark.
Can I buy property in Dubai without a broker?
Yes, but the transaction still requires a DLD trustee office transfer, a developer NOC and the 4% DLD fee. Without access to registered comparable data you carry the pricing risk yourself.