How to Start a Real Estate Company in Dubai: RERA License, Cost & Requirements 2026

Starting a real estate company in Dubai can provide access to one of the UAE’s most active property markets. However, real estate brokerage is a regulated activity, so obtaining a normal trade licence alone is not sufficient. The business must follow the licensing requirements of Dubai’s economic licensing authority and the real-estate regulatory framework administered by the Dubai Land Department (DLD) / RERA.

This guide explains how to start a real estate company in Dubai, RERA requirements, broker cards, licensing procedures, costs and approvals in 2026.

What License Is Required to Start a Real Estate Company in Dubai?

The exact licence depends on the real-estate services your company intends to provide.

Common activities include:

• Real estate buying and selling brokerage
• Property leasing brokerage
• Real estate consultancy
• Property management
• Real estate project marketing
• Mortgage brokerage
• Real estate development
• Buying and selling properties
• Other approved real-estate services

The activity must be correctly selected because DLD requirements differ between different types of real-estate businesses.

How to Start a Real Estate Company in Dubai

1. Decide Your Real Estate Business Activity

Start by defining exactly what the company will do.

For example, if your primary business will be connecting property owners with buyers and earning commission when transactions are completed, you will need the appropriate real estate brokerage activity.

Don’t select a generic consultancy or commercial activity if your actual business involves regulated real-estate brokerage.

2. Choose the Appropriate Company Structure

Determine the legal structure for your real-estate company based on:

Shareholders → Ownership → Business Activity → Management → Office → Employees → Future Expansion

For a normal Dubai trade licence, the official business licensing process requires applicable incorporation documentation and a site lease contract.

3. Reserve Your Trade Name

Choose a suitable business name and reserve it through Dubai’s business licensing system.

For a real-estate company, consider whether the name works effectively across:

Website + Property Portals + Google + Social Media + Signage + Advertising

A professional and memorable name can be especially important in the competitive property sector.

4. Obtain Initial Business Approval

Proceed with the applicable initial company-formation requirements.

At this stage, make sure your selected activity accurately reflects whether you’re establishing a:

Brokerage | Property Management Company | Real Estate Consultancy | Project Marketing Company | Other Real Estate Business

5. Complete DLD/RERA Licensing Requirements

Real-estate activities are subject to Dubai Land Department requirements.

DLD’s current Real Estate Licensing service states that applications can be handled through the Trakheesi system or Invest in Dubai, depending on the licensing route.

For applicable businesses, the process generally involves:

Trade Licence Application → DLD/RERA Requirements → Trakheesi Registration → Professional Practice Cards

DLD also notes that a real estate brokerage office is automatically registered when its licence is issued.

6. Arrange an Office for Your Real Estate Company

A normal Dubai trade licence requires a site lease contract.

Choose an office based on:

• Budget
• Number of brokers
• Client accessibility
• Parking
• Meeting facilities
• Visibility
• Future staffing
• Location of target properties

Your office is also part of your company’s credibility, particularly if you’re targeting high-value investors.

7. Obtain the Trade License

Once the relevant requirements and external approvals are satisfied, complete the trade-licence process.

The official Invest in Dubai trade licence service states that licence fees vary according to the licence type and specific activities.

Do not confuse:

Trade Licence ≠ Individual Broker Practice Card

They are separate parts of establishing a compliant brokerage operation.

RERA Broker Requirements in Dubai

Individuals carrying out regulated real-estate brokerage must meet the applicable professional requirements.

DLD states that no person may practice an activity registered on the licence until they are registered and have obtained the appropriate professional practice card.

Real Estate Broker Exam

DLD currently lists the real estate broker exam at:

AED 700 + AED 10 Knowledge Fee + AED 10 Innovation Fee

An ERES fee of AED 50 + VAT is also currently listed.

Real Estate Broker Card

The current published fee for issuing a real estate broker professional practice card is:

AED 500

Additional Knowledge and Innovation fees apply.

DLD also requires a certificate of good conduct from Dubai Police and passing the applicable test for practicing the brokerage profession.

What Is Trakheesi?

Trakheesi is Dubai Land Department’s system used for real-estate licensing and professional practice processes.

DLD’s current brokerage guide describes the broker-card pathway as:

Obtain Real Estate Licence → Register Licence in Trakheesi → Apply for Broker Card → Pay Fees → Receive Electronic Card.

The professional practice card’s validity is linked to the validity of the trade licence.

How Much Does It Cost to Start a Real Estate Company in Dubai?

There is no universal fixed cost.

Your total Dubai real estate company setup cost can include:

The official Invest in Dubai portal provides a business setup cost calculator, since licensing costs depend on the company’s activities and structure.

Real Estate Broker Card Cost in Dubai

For 2026 budgeting, DLD currently publishes:

Broker Card: AED 500
Broker Exam: AED 700 + Knowledge & Innovation fees
ERES: AED 50 + VAT

These amounts are only professional-card/exam-related charges and should not be presented as the total cost of establishing a real-estate brokerage.

Documents Required for a Real Estate Company in Dubai

Requirements vary by activity and legal structure.

Depending on the application, documents and requirements can include:

• Shareholder identification
• Emirates ID where applicable
• Passport/residency documents
• Trade-name reservation
• Company incorporation documents
• Office lease documentation
• DLD/RERA-related approvals
• Emirates ID for professional card
• Personal photograph for professional card
• Dubai Police good-conduct certificate
• Relevant professional qualifications/examination

DLD currently requires a personal photograph and Emirates ID for its professional practice card application, along with activity-specific requirements.

How Long Does It Take to Get a Real Estate License in Dubai?

DLD’s current FAQ states that a broker licence issued through Dubai Economy based on RERA requirements can take approximately 1–2 days when the documents are complete.

This should not be confused with the total time required to establish an operational brokerage.

The complete setup involves:

Company Formation → Office → Real Estate Licensing → Trakheesi → Professional Requirements → Broker Cards → Staffing → Operations

Can Foreigners Start a Real Estate Company in Dubai?

Foreign investors can establish Dubai businesses subject to the ownership, legal-form and activity-specific requirements applicable to their chosen setup.

However, real-estate activities have additional DLD/RERA conditions. For example, DLD states that an expatriate manager’s residency must be on the same licence in applicable brokerage circumstances.

Always check the current requirements for the exact activity and ownership structure before incorporation.

Can You Advertise Properties Immediately After Getting the License?

Do not assume that having a trade licence automatically permits every type of real-estate advertisement.

Dubai Land Department uses Trakheesi for real-estate permits, and project marketing can require an official permit through the system.

This is especially important if your lead-generation strategy involves:

Google Ads + Meta Ads + Property Portals + Social Media + Outdoor Advertising

Build advertising compliance into your marketing workflow from the beginning.

Real Estate Brokerage vs Property Management Company

These are different business activities.

Real Estate Brokerage

A brokerage connects buyers/sellers or landlords/tenants and typically earns commissions from successful transactions.

Property Management

Property management involves managing properties on behalf of owners according to the permitted activity.

Requirements can be substantially different. For example, DLD currently states that businesses licensed for leasing and managing third-party properties must provide a AED 5 million bank guarantee.

Therefore, choose the exact activity based on the services you intend to provide rather than simply applying for a generic “real estate company” licence.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I start a real estate company in Dubai?

Choose the appropriate real-estate activity and legal structure, reserve the trade name, complete business licensing requirements, arrange suitable premises, satisfy applicable DLD/RERA requirements, register through Trakheesi where required and obtain professional practice cards for individuals carrying out regulated activities.

Do I need RERA approval to start a real estate brokerage?

Real-estate brokerage is regulated through Dubai Land Department/RERA requirements. A brokerage must satisfy the applicable licensing and professional-registration requirements before conducting regulated brokerage activities.

How much does a real estate license cost in Dubai?

There is no single total cost. Commercial license fees vary according to activity, while your overall investment can also include office rent, professional cards, examinations, visas, technology, property portals and marketing.

How much is a RERA broker card?

DLD currently lists AED 500 for issuing a real estate broker card, plus applicable Knowledge and Innovation fees.

How much is the real estate broker exam?

DLD currently lists the broker exam at AED 700, plus AED 10 Knowledge Fee and AED 10 Innovation Fee.

Does every real estate agent need a broker card?

DLD states that individuals cannot practice activities registered on the licence without registering and obtaining the appropriate activity practice card where one is required.

Do I need an office for a real estate company?

For the normal Dubai trade-licence route, Invest in Dubai requires a site lease contract.

Start Your Real Estate Company in Dubai

Starting a real estate company involves more than obtaining a basic commercial licence. A brokerage must coordinate:

Company Formation → Trade Licence → Office → DLD/RERA Requirements → Trakheesi → Broker Qualification → Professional Cards → Property Marketing Compliance

Getting the activity and regulatory structure correct at the beginning can help avoid delays when hiring brokers, advertising properties and starting operations.

Planning to start a real estate company in Dubai? Get professional assistance with company formation, real estate licensing, RERA requirements and business setup coordination.