Steps to Become a Real Estate Agent in Dubai

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to become a real estate agent in Dubai specially curated for you: 

Step 1: Obtain a Residency Visa (For Foreigners)

The first step you will have to clear to become a real estate agent is to obtain a residency visa. 

Any UAE citizen or GCC national can simply sign up for the licensing process. Expatriates, however, must have a valid residency permit to apply for a job as a real estate agent in Dubai. You can either get a work visa from your employer, or a residency visa sponsored by your spouse if they are working in Dubai. You will also need an Emirates ID for the same. 

Step 2: Apply for DREI Certified Training

Once your residency visa is ready, it is time to sign up for training with the Dubai Real Estate Institute (DREI). The four-day course known as Certified Training for Real Estate Brokers aims to give the necessary insight into the city’s real estate industry. 

This course is approved by the Real Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA), which is the regulatory arm of the Dubai Land Department (DLD). The various modules covered in this course include: 

• History and Development
• The Business of a Broker
• Concepts, Definitions, and Market Players
• Sales Processes and Agreements
• Leasing Process and Rental Agreements
• Code of Ethics
• Introduction to Owner’s Associations
• Legal Module
• Essential Skills 

You can either take classes online or at the RERA agent registration training center at DLD. In either case, take notes and revisit the materials that you need to. 

• Location: Dubai Land Department, Baniyas Road, Deira
• Timings: Sunday to Thursday – 07:30 a.m. to 02:30 p.m. 
• Contact: +971-4-203-0456
• Cost: AED 3000

Step 3: Attend the RERA Exam

Once your four-day training is over, you have to appear for a written RERA registration exam. If you are a bachelor’s degree holder, the exam fee is AED 3200, and if you aren’t a degree holder, you will have to pay AED 6300. The exam is easy provided you have studied the contents of the certification course really well. 

From the above statement, it is clear that you do not need a bachelor’s degree to become a real estate agent. But of course, having a degree improves your career trajectory in the long run. 

Step 4: Obtain Realtor License

Once you clear your exam, you will be eligible to get a realtor license to work as a real estate agent in Dubai. An additional requirement for you to get a realtor’s license is to get a certificate of good conduct. 

Once you have met these requirements, the Economic Department will issue you your realtor license and a card. You will receive all your credentials in one or two days after you submit all the necessary documents. 

Renewing your realtor’s license one month before its expiry is crucial to avoid penalties by the issuing authority.