How to Start a Real Estate Company in Dubai
Learn how to start a real estate brokerage or property business in Dubai, including licence route, RERA/DLD approvals, office needs, costs and setup steps.
Business Setup AE editorial review Last reviewed 2026-09-16
Quick answer
Starting a real estate brokerage in Dubai normally requires the correct Dubai mainland business activity and licence plus the approvals, registration, broker and office requirements that apply to that activity through the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism and Dubai Land Department's Real Estate Regulatory Agency.
- Commercial issuer
- Dubai DET
- Property regulator
- DLD / RERA
- Office
- Activity-specific premises evidence
- Cost
- Approval and premises dependent
Real-estate activity is not one generic licence. Brokerage, property management, leasing, valuation and development are different activities with different approvals and operational requirements.
Confirm the intended activity with DET and Dubai Land Department before signing an office lease or paying a formation provider. Broker cards, training or qualification requirements apply to individuals only where the selected activity requires them.
Choose the real-estate activity first
| Business model | Commercial route | Confirm before applying |
|---|---|---|
| Brokerage | Dubai mainland activity | DLD/RERA registration and broker requirements |
| Property management | Relevant DET activity | Management scope and DLD requirements |
| Leasing brokerage | Relevant DET activity | Broker and advertising permissions |
| Valuation | Specialist activity | Qualification and regulator approval |
| Development | Developer activity | Project, land and DLD registration requirements |
DET licence and DLD/RERA-related approvals
DET handles the commercial licensing route, while Dubai Land Department and its Real Estate Regulatory Agency administer property-sector requirements. The sequence and evidence vary by activity. Do not describe an approval, broker card or training step as universally required when it applies only to a particular activity or individual role.
Office and broker requirements
A brokerage should budget for suitable registered premises and any property-regulator evidence attached to the chosen activity. Individuals carrying out regulated brokerage work may need the applicable training, examination, good-conduct and registration steps. Confirm current requirements directly with DLD/RERA before hiring or advertising services.
Real-estate company cost components
- Trade-name, initial approval and DET licence
- Memorandum and legal-form charges
- Office rent, Ejari and related premises charges
- DLD/RERA approvals and establishment registration where applicable
- Individual broker training, examination or card charges where applicable
- Establishment card, visas and labour/immigration files
- Professional fees, VAT and annual renewals
Who this option suits best
- Founders opening a Dubai property brokerage
- Property managers and leasing businesses
- Qualified professionals planning a regulated real-estate activity
Step-by-step process
- 1
Define the exact property activity
Separate brokerage, management, leasing, valuation and development before choosing a code.
- 2
Confirm DET and DLD/RERA requirements
Check current authority approvals, qualifications and premises conditions.
- 3
Choose the legal form and reserve the name
Apply through Dubai's mainland commercial licensing route.
- 4
Secure compliant premises
Complete Ejari and any activity-specific office evidence at the correct stage.
- 5
Complete sector approvals
Submit the documents required for the selected real-estate activity.
- 6
Receive the licence and register individuals
Complete any broker registration steps before regulated work or advertising begins.
Documents required
- Passport copies (valid 6+ months) for every shareholder and manager
- Passport-size photo with white background for each applicant
- Proof of address or a recent utility bill / bank statement
- Three proposed trade names in order of preference
- Business activity list and a short business description
- Emirates ID and visa copy or entry stamp if you are already in the UAE
- Ejari and premises documents
- Activity-specific DLD/RERA forms and approvals
- Qualification, training and good-conduct evidence where required for individual brokers
Realistic timeline
| Stage | Duration |
|---|---|
| Activity and authority confirmation | Before premises commitment |
| Commercial licensing | After approvals and documents |
| DLD/RERA establishment steps | Activity dependent |
| Individual broker registration | Where applicable |
A responsible estimate must include premises and activity-specific approvals. Business Setup AE does not publish a single all-in real-estate licence cost without a matching verified source.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
Using 'real estate' as one activity
Fix: Choose the exact regulated activity and approval path.
Signing premises before authority confirmation
Fix: Verify location and facility requirements first.
Assuming every employee needs the same approval
Fix: Separate company approvals from individual broker requirements.
Advertising before registration is complete
Fix: Confirm the licence and required property-sector permissions first.
Compliance after licensing
- Corporate tax registration with the FTA — 9% applies on taxable profit above AED 375,000; 0% below it. Small Business Relief may apply to revenue under AED 3m.
- VAT registration is mandatory once taxable turnover passes AED 375,000 in 12 months, and voluntary from AED 187,500.
- Economic Substance Regulations (ESR) notifications for relevant activities such as holding, IP, headquarters and distribution.
- Ultimate Beneficial Owner (UBO) register kept with the licensing authority and updated within 15 days of any change.
- Anti-Money Laundering (AML) registration on the goAML portal for designated non-financial businesses and professions.
- Annual licence and establishment-card renewal, plus audited financials where the free zone or activity requires them.
Regulators referenced: Ministry of Economy (UAE) · Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) · Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) · Federal Tax Authority (FTA) · General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) · Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE)
Frequently asked questions
How do I start a real estate brokerage in Dubai?
Do I need RERA approval?
How much does a real estate company licence cost?
Is an office required?
People also ask
Is a broker card the same as the company licence?
No. The company licence authorises the entity; an individual broker registration or card authorises a person to perform the regulated role where required.
Can a free-zone company act as a Dubai property brokerage?
Do not assume so. Brokerage activity and onshore property-sector approvals must match the DET and DLD/RERA route. Confirm the structure with the authorities before applying.
Which authority regulates Dubai real estate?
Dubai Land Department and its Real Estate Regulatory Agency oversee the property sector, while Dubai DET handles the commercial licensing route.
Founder checklist
- Define the exact property activity
- Confirm DET and DLD/RERA requirements from official sources
- Verify premises before signing
- Separate company and individual broker requirements
- Obtain itemised year-one and renewal costs
- Register for corporate tax within the deadline after licence issuance
- Diarise your licence renewal date and UBO/ESR filing dates
Why you can trust this guide
- Independent marketplace — Business Setup AE does not form companies and takes no commission on provider pricing
- Every listed provider holds a valid UAE trade licence and publishes fixed prices
- Costs reviewed against 2026 published government schedules
- Written and reviewed by advisers who have processed UAE licences and residence visas
Editorial ownership: Business Setup AE Editorial Team. See our editorial and corrections policy and package verification method.
Related guides and services
Official government sources
Fees, thresholds and licensing rules on this page are checked against these official UAE government and regulator sources.
- Dubai DET — business licensingOfficial commercial licence route
- Dubai Land DepartmentOfficial property-sector regulator and services
- Ministry of Economy — UAEFederal commercial registration, trade names and company law
Topics covered
Get fixed quotes from verified providers
Tell us what you need once. Verified UAE formation firms reply with fixed, itemised pricing — usually within 15 minutes.