A real estate brokerage licence in Dubai typically costs from around AED 20,000 to AED 35,000 in year one, covering the DET licence, RERA registration, an office with Ejari, one visa and the establishment card. Each agent also needs a RERA broker card.
What it costs (2026)
Real estate is a regulated activity, so RERA registration and broker cards sit on top of the standard licence. Here is where the money goes, with honest ranges:
- Trade licence (DET, real estate brokerage activity): typically from around AED 12,000–15,000 for the initial licence and activity registration.
- RERA registration and DLD fees: mandatory registration with the Real Estate Regulatory Agency and Dubai Land Department; budget roughly AED 5,000–10,000+ depending on the current fee schedule.
- RERA broker card: each broker must pass the certified training and exam and hold a broker card; budget roughly AED 3,000–5,000 per agent including the training and card.
- Office space and Ejari: a registered office is required; budget roughly AED 12,000 upward per year.
- Visa allocation and establishment card: budget roughly AED 4,000–7,000 per visa, plus a few hundred up to around AED 2,000 for the immigration file.
The line most agents skip is the Year-2 renewal. Your licence, RERA registration, office, visas and each broker card all renew annually, and the RERA and broker-card renewals are easy to forget. Get the full year-two figure in writing before you commit.
Requirements & approvals
Real estate brokerage is tightly regulated. You must register the company with RERA and the Dubai Land Department, and every individual acting as a broker must complete the RERA certified practitioner training, pass the exam and hold a valid broker card, no card, no legally selling or leasing property. There are good-conduct and documentation requirements for the brokers, and the company itself must maintain its RERA registration. We handle the DET licence, RERA registration and broker-card process together so your agents can start legally from day one.
Process & timeline
- Confirm the real estate brokerage activity and legal form, then reserve your trade name and get initial DET approval.
- Secure premises and register the Ejari tenancy.
- Pay fees and receive your trade licence.
- Register the company with RERA and the Dubai Land Department.
- Enrol your brokers in RERA training, pass the exam and issue broker cards.
- Open your establishment card and process visas.
The licence is often issued within a couple of weeks, but the RERA registration and broker-card training and exam add time before your agents can legally trade. We give you a realistic combined timeline, not just the licence date.
Mainland or free zone for this activity?
For brokering Dubai property, mainland is effectively the route, because RERA and Dubai Land Department registration and the ability to broker on-market properties across Dubai run through the mainland framework. Free zone real estate licences exist but are generally limited in scope and do not replace RERA brokerage authority for the open Dubai market. If you intend to list, sell and lease Dubai property as a broker, mainland with full RERA registration is the answer.
Ranges are a starting point, not a quote. Use our free cost calculator for your exact all-in number, or WhatsApp us for a straight answer: +971 54 332 2846.
FAQs
How much does a real estate brokerage licence in Dubai really cost?
Most owners pay from around AED 20,000 to AED 35,000 in year one for the licence, RERA registration, office and Ejari, one visa and the establishment card, with each broker card as a separate per-person cost. We confirm your exact all-in figure, renewal included, before you commit.
Do I need a RERA broker card for every agent?
Yes. Every individual acting as a broker must complete the RERA certified training, pass the exam and hold a valid broker card before legally selling or leasing property, and the company must be registered with RERA and the Dubai Land Department. We handle the licence, RERA registration and broker cards together.
What is the Year-2 renewal cost for a real estate brokerage?
Your licence, RERA registration, office, visas and each broker card all renew annually, and the RERA and broker-card renewals are the ones people forget. This is the figure most agents hide, so ask us and we will put the full year-two total in writing before you pay.
See also: the full mainland company formation cost in Dubai (2026).
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