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

To become a real estate agent in Dubai, join a licensed brokerage, get a Dubai Police certificate of good conduct, complete the qualification course, pass the broker exam (AED 700 plus small fees) and obtain a broker card from the Dubai Land Department (DLD) through Trakheesi. The card costs AED 500 and stays valid while the brokerage's licence does.

This guide sets out the steps and the official fees, checked on the DLD website on 12 November 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 on its practice card page and in its frequently asked questions:

• 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. See who runs the training below.
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?

The DLD FAQ also quotes a card fee of AED 520 when a broker is added to a company, against AED 500 on the practice card page, so check the amount shown on Trakheesi when you pay. 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?

Who runs the broker training course?

The Dubai Real Estate Institute (DREI) is the training body attached to the DLD. Under Law No. (5) of 2020 concerning the Dubai Real Estate Institute, it is a public corporation affiliated to the DLD, and its functions include preparing training programmes for developers, brokers and others in the property sector and issuing qualification certificates to people who carry out real estate activities.

Course prices quoted online for the broker course differ by provider and change over time, and we could not confirm a current official price, so we do not quote one. Ask the brokerage which approved course it accepts, and get the fee, the length and whether the exam is included in writing before you pay.

Is there a separate route for UAE nationals?

Yes. In June 2025 the DLD invited Emirati citizens to join the Dubai Real Estate Broker Programme. The DLD says it offers specialised training with accredited institutions, a broker card valid for three years after the training, a National Broker licence, a share of projects reserved for participants and job openings at brokerage firms. Its stated goal is to raise the Emirati share of brokerage work to 15% over three years.

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.

What is the difference between a broker licence and a broker card?

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's real estate permit page lists 14 permit 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 FAQ, citing Law No. (85) of 2006, says the broker's commission 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 with the DLD, unless the brokerage contract says otherwise. A broker can lose the right to commission by acting against the client they represent or by not being licensed.

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. Renewal asks for proof of continuing education.

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, advertising rules on its real estate permit page and further answers on its frequently asked questions page.