Leasing Property Brokerage Agents
Real Estate & Leasing Brokerage Licence in Dubai 2026
Dubai’s property market is one of the busiest on earth, and licensed real estate and leasing brokers earn commission on every sale and every tenancy they close. If you want to legally list, lease, sell or manage property in Dubai, you need a real estate brokerage licence from the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) plus registration with RERA (the Real Estate Regulatory Agency, part of the Dubai Land Department). Dubai Business Services handles both sides so you can start earning commission legally.
What the Brokerage Licence Covers
- Leasing brokerage: matching landlords and tenants, preparing tenancy contracts, registering Ejari
- Sales brokerage: representing buyers and sellers on ready and off-plan property
- Property management: managing units on behalf of owners — rent collection, inspections, maintenance coordination
The Part Most Guides Miss: RERA
A DET trade licence alone does not let you broker property in Dubai. Every individual broker must be RERA-certified: complete the RERA “Certified Training for Real Estate Brokers” programme, pass the exam, and obtain a broker card from the Dubai Land Department. Your company must also be registered on the DLD/RERA broker register. This is exactly where new agencies get stuck — and exactly what DBS manages end to end.
Ownership
Real estate brokerage is available as a mainland DET activity, and many trading and professional activities in Dubai now allow 100% foreign ownership. DBS confirms the ownership structure for your specific activity and shareholders.
Requirements & Documents
- Passport copies of the shareholder(s) and manager
- Proposed trade names for reservation
- Ejari-registered office space
- RERA broker training completion and exam pass for each broker
- Good-conduct certificate where requested
Step-by-Step Process
- Reserve the trade name and get DET initial approval
- Sign the tenancy contract and register Ejari
- Issue the DET real estate brokerage trade licence
- Complete RERA certified broker training and pass the exam
- Register the company with DLD/RERA and issue broker cards
- Open the establishment card and apply for staff visas
Cost — What Drives the Price
Your total is built from the DET licence and activity fees, RERA registration and broker-card fees, the RERA training and exam, office rent and Ejari, and immigration costs for your visas. Because broker numbers and office size vary, DBS gives you an itemised quote instead of a headline figure that hides the RERA and Ejari line items.
Timeline
The DET licence is typically issued within a few working days; the RERA training, exam and broker card add the extra step before you can legally transact. DBS runs the two tracks in parallel to get you earning sooner.
Why DBS
Most brokerage start-ups underestimate the RERA layer and lose weeks. DBS’s consultants handle the DET licence, the DLD/RERA registration and the broker-card process together, prepare every document, and keep your agency fully compliant with the Land Department.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to be RERA-certified to work as a broker? Yes. Every broker needs RERA training, the exam and a valid broker card — the company licence is not enough on its own.
Can a foreigner own a real estate brokerage in Dubai? In most cases yes — many mainland activities now allow full foreign ownership. DBS confirms this for your activity.
Can I do both leasing and sales? Yes, the activities can be combined on one licence with the correct activity codes.
What is Ejari and do I need it? Ejari is the official tenancy-registration system. You need it for your own office and you will register client tenancies through it.
