Dubai’s property market keeps pulling people into real estate, and the reason is simple: more residents arrive every year, and every one of them needs somewhere to rent or buy. If you’re thinking of becoming an agent, the RERA licence is where you start. You cannot legally broker property in Dubai without it. Here’s what the licence is, how to get one, and what it costs.
What RERA actually is
RERA, the Real Estate Regulatory Agency, sits under the Dubai Land Department (DLD) and regulates the emirate’s property sector. In plain terms, it writes the rules everyone in real estate has to follow, and it’s the body that licenses the agents.
Its remit covers tenants, landlords, agents, investors, and the licensing of agents and approval of real estate companies.
Day to day, RERA regulates leasing agreements, issues agent licences and signs off company applications, runs research on the sector and publishes reports, and handles public education on property law.
What a RERA licence gets you
A RERA licence is proof you’re allowed to work as an agent, and in Dubai that carries real weight. Only licensed brokers can list properties on the country’s real estate portals. Work without one and you’re exposed to legal trouble, not just lost business.
The upside is practical. Licensed agents reach a bigger audience and close more deals, and sellers are far more willing to hand a property to someone whose licence they can check. If you’re serious about the job, sort the licence out first.
To qualify for a RERA broker licence you need to:
- have finished high school
- be at least 21
- hold the right to live and work in the UAE
- have passed the RERA exam and received the certificate
What you're allowed to do with it
The licence covers a surprisingly long list of activities, not just showing flats:
- Real estate consulting
- Brokerage for renting real estate
- Real estate inspection services
- Real estate mortgage brokerage
- Real estate survey services
- Administrative supervision services for real estate
- Mortgage consulting
- Real estate development
- Brokerage for buying and selling real estate
- Real estate registration services
- Real estate representative office
- Real estate promotion registration services
- Real estate public auctions and exhibition services
- Buying and selling land and property
- Leasing and managing private real estate
- Leasing and managing real estate for a third party
- Administrative supervision services for owners’ associations
How to get it, in four steps
You can’t trade until the licence comes through, so whether you plan to freelance, start your own agency, or join an existing firm, this is the first job on the list.
1. Sort your UAE residency
You need the legal right to live in the UAE before you can hold a RERA licence. UAE nationals can skip this step.
Everyone else applies for a residence visa through the GDRFA (General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs), either as an entrepreneur setting up a real estate business or through an employer already operating here.
2. Train with DREI and pass the exam
You can’t sit the exam without completing an accredited course first. Most people go through the Dubai Real Estate Institute (DREI). It’s the best-known provider, though not the only one. Finish the course, pass the exam, and you get your certificate.
3. Apply on the DLD website
With the certificate in hand, you apply for the licence through the Dubai Land Department’s website. You’ll upload your ID documents and exam details and pay the fees.
4. Get approved and start
The licence runs for one year and renews annually. Miss the renewal and you’re back to square one, so keep it current if you’re in this for the long haul. Once it’s approved, you’re cleared to trade.
One practical tip: wait until the actual licence is in your hands before taking on clients, because they’ll often ask to see it.
What it costs
The licence itself is AED 5,020 per activity, according to the DLD’s own service page, though the figure can shift depending on your qualifications.
On top of that, budget roughly AED 1,000 for your broker ID and AED 750 to AED 1,100 to register for the exam.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| RERA exam registration | AED 750 to AED 1,100 |
| RERA licence | AED 5,020 (per activity) |
| Broker ID | AED 1,000 |
Documents you'll need
For an individual application:
- personal ID: passport, visa, Emirates ID
- a passport-size photo
- a Dubai Police certificate, if requested
- your RERA exam certificate
Applying as a company adds a few more:
- trade licence
- Memorandum of Association
- trade name registration
- Ejari
- an NOC, if you’re in a free zone
