Quick Answer: A trustworthy Dubai real estate agent must hold an active RERA broker card issued through the Dubai Land Department, be registered under a licensed brokerage, and provide the DLD’s official Form A/B/F contracts in writing. Verify this in under a minute using the free Dubai REST app before you view a single property.

Dubai has no centralised MLS and no single regulator-run portal listing every active broker’s track record — which means the burden of vetting an agent falls almost entirely on the buyer. With over 12,000 registered brokers in the emirate and property values often exceeding AED 1 million, choosing the wrong agent is not a minor inconvenience. It can mean lost deposits, missed escrow protections, or contracts that quietly favour the seller.

This checklist gives you the exact verification steps, red flags, and questions used by seasoned investors before they let any agent represent them in a Dubai property transaction — whether you are buying off-plan, buying ready, renting, or selling.

12,000+

RERA-registered brokers active in Dubai

2%

Standard buyer/seller commission on secondary sales

<60 sec

Time to verify a broker’s licence via Dubai REST

1. Why the Right Agent Matters in Dubai

Every property transaction in Dubai — off-plan reservation, secondary sale, or rental — runs through paperwork governed by the Dubai Land Department (DLD): Form A (seller listing agreement), Form B (buyer representation agreement), and Form F (memorandum of understanding between buyer and seller). A licensed agent is legally required to use these standard forms. An unlicensed or unregistered individual acting as a “broker” cannot legally execute them, which strips you of RERA’s dispute-resolution process if something goes wrong.

Because so much of Dubai’s property market is driven by overseas and first-time investors, the market also attracts unlicensed freelancers operating through social media and property portals without any brokerage affiliation. The checklist below exists to filter them out before you hand over a deposit or a Power of Attorney.

2. The 8-Point Verification Checklist

1

Active RERA broker card

Ask for the agent's RERA licence number and verify it live on the Dubai REST app or the DLD website. The card must show "active" status and a matching name.

2

Registered under a licensed brokerage

Individual agents cannot operate independently. Confirm the brokerage's own DED trade licence and ORN (Office Registration Number) are valid and match the agent's card.

3

Listing carries a Trakheesi permit number

Every legal property ad in Dubai must display a Trakheesi permit number. No permit number on the listing means the ad itself is non-compliant — treat this as an immediate red flag.

4

Track record in the specific community

Ask how many transactions they have closed in the exact building or community you're targeting in the last 12 months. Community specialists spot pricing anomalies that generalists miss.

5

Willingness to put commission in writing before you view a unit

A legitimate agent confirms commission structure and payment terms upfront in writing — before showings, not after an offer is accepted.

6

Uses DLD's official Form A/B/F documentation

Any agreement outside the DLD's standard forms should be treated with suspicion. These forms exist precisely to standardise buyer and seller protections.

7

Verifiable reviews across independent platforms

Cross-check Google reviews, Property Finder agent ratings, and Bayut agent ratings — not just testimonials posted on the agent's own website or social channels.

8

Clear escrow and payment instructions

For off-plan, confirm payments go directly to the project's RERA-registered escrow account — never to the agent's or a third-party personal account.

Verify in Under a Minute : Download the free “Dubai REST” app (published by DLD) and search the agent’s name or broker card number under the “Verify” section. A valid result shows the agent’s photo, licence status, and registered brokerage. If nothing appears, the individual is not licensed to broker property in Dubai.

3. Red Flags to Walk Away From

  • Cannot produce a RERA licence number when asked directly
  • Pressures you to transfer funds before any Form A/B/F is signed
  • Asks for a “registration” or “access” fee to view a listing — legitimate agents are paid on commission only
  • Requests off-plan payments be sent anywhere other than the project’s escrow account
  • Refuses to disclose who else is representing the seller, or claims exclusivity on a listing found on five other portals under different agents
  • Pushes an aggressive close within 24-48 hours with no time to review contract terms
  • Cannot answer basic questions about service charges, DLD fees, or the building’s completion status

Never Wire Funds to a Personal Account :Legitimate off-plan payments always go into a RERA-registered escrow account tied to the specific project — never into an agent’s personal bank account, a brokerage’s operating account, or a “temporary holding” account. If asked to do otherwise, stop the transaction and report the request to RERA.

4. Questions to Ask Before You Sign

  • Can you show me your RERA broker card and your brokerage’s ORN?
  • How many transactions have you closed in this building or community in the last 12 months?
  • Who else is representing the seller, and is this a shared or exclusive listing?
  • What is your commission, and when exactly is it due?
  • Which escrow account will off-plan payments be deposited into, and what is its registration number?
  • Can you provide the Form A listing agreement and Trakheesi permit for this property?
  • What happens if the deal falls through after I’ve paid a deposit?

5. Commission Structures Explained

Transaction Type Typical Commission Who Pays When Due
Secondary Market Sale 2% of purchase price Buyer and seller (each pays their own agent) On DLD transfer completion
Off-Plan Purchase 0% (developer-paid) Developer pays the agent directly N/A to buyer
Rental (Annual Lease) 5% of annual rent Tenant (standard market norm) On signing of tenancy contract (Ejari)
Property Management 5–10% of monthly rent Landlord Monthly, ongoing

6. Buying Direct From a Developer vs Through an Agent

For off-plan property, buyers can register directly with a developer’s sales office or through a registered agent — the unit price is identical either way, since the developer, not the buyer, pays agent commission. The advantage of using an experienced agent is access to comparative data across multiple developers, negotiation on payment plan flexibility, and an advocate during the handover and snagging process.

For secondary market purchases, an agent is effectively mandatory — sellers list almost exclusively through brokerages, and DLD transfer paperwork is typically coordinated through the agent’s brokerage on both sides of the transaction.

7. Working With an Agent as an Overseas Buyer

A large share of Dubai property buyers never set foot in the emirate before completing a purchase. A licensed agent can manage viewings via live video call, negotiate on your behalf, and coordinate the DLD transfer remotely — provided you grant a notarised Power of Attorney (POA) specifying exactly what the agent is authorised to sign.

  • Have the POA drafted by a UAE-licensed notary or your home country’s UAE embassy/consulate
  • Limit the POA scope to the specific transaction rather than granting broad, indefinite authority
  • Request video confirmation of every signing event, not just a written summary afterward
  • Use a solicitor or independent conveyancer for high-value purchases (AED 3M+) as an added layer of protection

A Good Agent Pays for Themselves :A skilled, RERA-licensed agent with genuine community knowledge routinely negotiates 3-8% off asking price, secures better payment plan terms on off-plan units, and flags issues (service charge disputes, title defects, unreleased NOCs) before they become expensive problems — value that far exceeds the standard 2% commission on most transactions.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check if a real estate agent in Dubai is licensed?

Every legitimate Dubai real estate agent must hold a RERA (Real Estate Regulatory Agency) broker card, issued under the Dubai Land Department. You can verify any agent’s licence number instantly using the free “Dubai REST” app or the DLD website — search by name or licence number to confirm the card is active and tied to a registered brokerage.

A RERA broker card is the mandatory licence every individual agent in Dubai must carry to legally sell, rent, or market property. It confirms the agent has passed RERA’s certification exam, is registered under a licensed brokerage, and is bound by the DLD’s code of conduct. Working with an unlicensed agent voids standard buyer protections and commission disputes have no regulatory recourse.

Standard commission in Dubai is 2% of the purchase price for buyers and sellers on secondary market transactions, and typically 5% of the annual rent for rental transactions. Off-plan sales usually carry no buyer-side commission since the developer pays the agent directly. Any agent asking for upfront “registration” or “access” fees before showing a property is a red flag.

Key red flags include: no verifiable RERA card, reluctance to provide a licence number, pressure to wire money before signing a Form A/B/F contract, listings with no DLD permit number (Trakheesi), refusal to put commission terms in writing, and agents representing themselves as the “exclusive” agent on a listing that also appears with five other brokers.

For secondary market purchases, working with 2-3 vetted agents across different brokerages widens access to listings, since Dubai has no centralised MLS. For off-plan purchases and long-term investment strategy, working with one trusted advisor who understands your full portfolio produces better outcomes than transactional, listing-by-listing agent relationships.

Yes. A licensed Dubai agent can manage the entire purchase remotely via a Power of Attorney (POA), including viewings via video call, contract negotiation, and coordinating the DLD transfer. Always have the POA drafted and notarised through a UAE notary public or your home country’s UAE embassy before granting an agent signing authority.