How to Become a Real Estate Agent in Dubai: Steps and Fees

Here is how to become a real estate agent in Dubai: you must join a licensed brokerage, obtain a Dubai Police certificate of good conduct, complete the required training, pass the broker exam and be issued a broker practice card through the Dubai Land Department (DLD) Trakheesi system. The card fee is AED 500 and the card stays valid for as long as the brokerage's trade licence does. This guide sets out the steps and the official fees as of October 2026, and says where figures differ between sources.

What do you need to become a real estate agent in Dubai?

The DLD sets these conditions for the broker card:

• A certificate of good conduct from the Dubai Police.
• A pass in the annual test for practising the profession.
• Registration and a card before you practise the activity in the licence.
• For a broker added to a company, residency on the same licence, a photo, and copies of your passport and residency, with completion of the qualification course.

Practically, that means you need a brokerage to sponsor you. The card is tied to the brokerage's trade licence, and the application is made online through Trakheesi by the company. A broker cannot normally hold a card alone. Requirements such as age, education and visa depend on your nationality and situation, so confirm yours with the brokerage and the DLD before you pay for anything.

What are the steps to get a broker card?

1. Choose a licensed brokerage. Check the licence first. Our guide to choosing a real estate agency covers the checks, and the same ones apply to you as the person joining.
2. Get a certificate of good conduct from the Dubai Police.
3. Complete the qualification course. Providers set their own fees and timetables, and published prices differ, so ask for a current written quote.
4. Register for and pass the broker exam. The DLD lists the exam fee below.
5. Apply for the card on Trakheesi. You create an account, enter your details, upload documents, wait for review, then pay online and print the card from the system. The DLD gives the service time as five minutes once approved.
6. Start work. Advertising a property needs a permit, which the DLD also issues through Trakheesi, and brokers need a marketing contract with the owner for most permits.

How much does it cost to become a real estate agent in Dubai?

Do not trust a single total from a blog. Estimates of the first year cost differ by thousands of dirhams, because they mix government fees, course prices and the cost of company set-up and visa. Add up the items above, then ask the brokerage what it pays and what it charges you.

What documents do you need for the broker card?

Is there an exam, and who is exempt?

Yes. The DLD requires a pass in the annual test to practise. Pass marks and exam formats vary between published sources, so we do not quote them. Ask your training provider for the current format.

The DLD lists exemptions from the broker exam for individuals over 55, for brokers with five consecutive years in the same real estate office, and for holders of a start-up licence. Terms and conditions apply, so confirm that you qualify.

Broker licence or broker card: what is the difference?

Opening your own brokerage is a different and larger process. The DLD lists more than twenty licensed real estate activities, and brokerage is one of them. Start with the DLD licensing page and the licensing authority, not with the card.

Which practice cards does the DLD issue?

People searching for a "real estate broker license" or "real estate agent license" are usually after the broker card, but the DLD issues several practice cards. These are the ones listed on its practice card page.

The evaluator card is not an entry route for a new agent, because it requires two years of valuation experience for citizens and five for expatriates.

How does advertising work for a new agent?

Advertising a property in Dubai needs an advertising permit from the DLD, issued through Trakheesi. The DLD lists 14 advertising types, including online adverts, billboards, open house events and project launches. Most permits cost AED 1,000 plus a AED 20 knowledge and innovation fee, and a project launch event permit costs AED 5,000. For most types a broker must provide a copy of the marketing contract with the property owner, so you cannot advertise a unit you do not have authority to market. Ask your brokerage who applies for permits and who pays for them.

What does your first 90 days look like?

Ask the brokerage which of these it actually provides before you join.

How do real estate agents earn money in Dubai?

By commission. The DLD says the broker's fee is set by the agreement between the parties, and that where the agreement is silent, prevailing custom applies. No fixed percentage is set by the DLD. The brokerage contract must state the parties, the property, the agreed amount, the commission rate and the date the property is registered with the DLD. The DLD also says commission is payable after the sale contract is concluded and registered, unless the brokerage contract says otherwise.

For what clients usually pay, see agency commission in Dubai. Earnings vary with the market and with how many deals you close, so be sceptical of anyone who promises an income.

What does an agent need to know about the rules?

A newly carded agent works inside a regulated system. The key points:

• You may only act for a client under a written brokerage contract, with the details above.
• Advertising needs a permit from the DLD, and the unit needs a marketing agreement with the owner.
• Transactions are registered by the DLD, and the roles of RERA and the DLD are different. See DLD, RERA and the Dubai REST app: who does what.
• The card must be kept current, and it lapses if the company's licence does.

How do you choose which brokerage to join?

The brokerage is the biggest factor in your first year, since it sponsors the card, supplies leads and training and sets the commission split. Ask about the split in writing, who pays for the course, exam and card, what lead sources are provided, and what support there is for new agents. Ask to speak to agents who joined in the last year. You can also see our join us page, and clients choosing between agents can read how to choose a real estate agent, which shows what the other side of the table is looking for.

The DLD publishes the card requirements on its real estate practice card page and further answers on its frequently asked questions page.