What do you need to open a real estate company in Dubai?
- A DET trade license with real estate brokerage as the activity.
- An office on a commercial lease registered on Ejari. Home offices aren't accepted for a brokerage.
- Registration with the Dubai Land Department, through its RERA systems, for the brokerage itself.
- A certified broker. Anyone who negotiates a deal must pass the broker exam and hold a broker card.
- Trakheesi permits for every property advertisement you publish.
- A police clearance certificate for the owner or manager.
Requirements change, so we confirm the DLD's current checklist, including any guarantee or deposit, before we give you a quote.
Brokerage, property management or development: which license?
| Business | License route | Extra registration |
|---|---|---|
| Brokerage: buying, selling and renting for clients | DET license, brokerage activity | DLD brokerage registration, broker cards, Trakheesi permits. |
| Property management: rent collection and upkeep for owners | DET license, property management activity | DLD and RERA registration, Ejari contracts. |
| Development: building and selling projects | A separate, heavier regime | Developer registration, project approvals and escrow accounts. |
Can you do this from a free zone? Some zones license property consulting or management, but brokering Dubai property normally needs a DET license and DLD registration. If a free zone offers you a brokerage package, ask in writing which Dubai transactions it lets you broker.
How does the broker exam and broker card work?
Every agent who negotiates a deal needs RERA certification. You complete a short training course with an approved institute, then sit a computer-based exam of about 70 multiple-choice questions. You need a score above 70 percent to pass.
The exam registration was under AED 1,000 at the time of writing, plus the course fee, and you can retake it by paying again. Once you pass and the brokerage is registered, the DLD issues your broker card, which renews every year.
Owners count too. If you'll negotiate deals yourself, you sit the exam like everyone else.
How much does a real estate brokerage license cost in Dubai?
| Item | Government fee (paid to) | Startex service fee |
|---|---|---|
| DET trade license, brokerage activity | AED 15,000 to 25,000, first year (DET) | Quoted separately |
| DLD brokerage registration | AED 10,000 to 15,000, renews every year (Dubai Land Department) | Quoted separately |
| Office on Ejari | AED 15,000 to 40,000 a year, paid to the landlord (registered at the Dubai Land Department) | Quoted separately |
| Broker training and exam | A few thousand dirhams per agent (approved institute) | Quoted separately |
| Visas and insurance | AED 3,500 to 8,000 per visa, plus health cover (GDRFA Dubai and ICP) | Quoted separately |
| Total, first year | AED 45,000 to 90,000, before marketing and portal fees | Quoted separately |
Ranges at the time of writing, October 2026. See our business setup cost guide for the wider picture.
What are the steps, and how long do they take?
Plan on four to six weeks from first call to a registered brokerage, if your documents are ready and your broker has passed the exam.
- Reserve the trade name and get initial approval for the brokerage activity.
- Sign the office lease and register Ejari.
- Notarise the MOA, pay the fees and receive the DET license.
- Register the brokerage with the DLD.
- Issue broker cards for each certified agent.
- Start advertising with a Trakheesi permit for each listing.
How long does it take?
Plan on four to six weeks from first call to a registered brokerage, if your documents are ready and your broker has passed the exam.
| Step | Typical time | Who decides |
|---|---|---|
| Trade name and initial approval | 1 to 3 working days | DET |
| Office lease and Ejari | 1 to 2 weeks | Landlord and Dubai Land Department |
| DET license issued | 1 to 2 weeks from first call, in total | DET |
| Broker training and exam | A few days to a few weeks, depending on the course date | Approved institute and RERA |
| DLD brokerage registration | 1 to 2 weeks | Dubai Land Department |
| Broker cards and Trakheesi access | A few working days after registration | Dubai Land Department |
Fee ranges come from current government schedules and typical package pricing in Dubai, October 2026. Fees and rules change without notice, so we confirm the live figure with the authority before we quote you. Authorities named on this page: Dubai Economy and Tourism, Dubai Chamber of Commerce, Dubai Land Department, DMCC and the UAE Ministry of Economy. Official sources: Dubai Economy and Tourism (DET) and GDRFA Dubai.