Real estate brokerage —
RERA + DED + AED 300k paid-up.
Open a Dubai real estate brokerage. Real Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA) registration + DED commercial licence + AED 300,000 paid-up capital + individual broker cards. Strict compliance regime.
- Timeline
- 21–45 d
- From
- AED 35k
- Authorities
- 2
- Activity codes
- 3
Dubai real estate brokerage — full stack.
A Dubai real estate brokerage operates under Real Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA) — a department of Dubai Land Department (DLD) — combined with Dubai DED commercial licence. RERA mandates AED 300,000 paid-up capital, broker training certification (RERA-approved courses + exam), broker card issuance per individual broker, professional indemnity insurance (AED 1M minimum), and adherence to RERA's broker code of conduct. Trakheesi brokerage licence is RERA's modern unified system. Strict compliance — RERA penalties for unauthorized brokerage are AED 50,000+ per violation.
Dubai DED activity codes covered
6810 — Real estate activities with own or leased propertyDirect property holding, leasing, sales
6820 — Real estate activities on a fee or contract basisBrokerage core activity — buying/selling/leasing on behalf of clients
6831 — Real estate agenciesProperty valuation, advisory, market analysis
Real estate brokerage setup — competitor pricing.
Includes RERA brokerage licence, Trakheesi platform onboarding, AED 1M PI insurance binding, and 1 broker card. Excludes the AED 300,000 paid-up capital and broker training fees.
| Provider | Setup price | Trakheesi onboarding | PI insurance binding |
|---|---|---|---|
| YABS | AED 35,000 | Included | Included |
| Shuraa | AED 42,000+ | Add-on | Upsell |
| Virtuzone | AED 48,000+ | Add-on | Upsell |
| Creative Zone | AED 38,000+ | Included | Upsell |
| Adam Global | AED 52,000+ | Add-on | Upsell |
8 steps, 21–45 d.
Activity + trade name
Reserve trade name AED 620. Activity 6820 primary; 6810/6831 optional.
DED initial approval
DED 1–2 days. Real estate activities trigger RERA review track.
AED 300,000 paid-up capital deposit
RERA requires AED 300,000 demonstrated paid-up capital — held in Dubai bank account in company name. Bank certificate confirming deposit submitted to RERA.
Professional indemnity insurance
Minimum AED 1M professional indemnity insurance from UAE-licensed insurer. Annual premium AED 8,000–18,000.
RERA brokerage licence application
Submit MoA, paid-up capital certificate, indemnity insurance, broker training certificates, broker CVs to RERA via Trakheesi portal. RERA review 14–21 working days.
MoA + Ejari + final DED trade licence
MoA notarised AED 1,100. Ejari AED 220. DED trade licence AED 13,500.
Individual broker cards (Trakheesi)
Each broker (including the General Manager) needs an individual RERA broker card. Card issuance after broker training certification + RERA exam pass. AED 5,000 per broker initial + AED 2,500 annual renewal.
Brokerage operations — escrow accounts + RERA reporting
RERA-mandated escrow accounts for client funds. Quarterly RERA compliance reporting. Per-transaction RERA filing for sales >AED 500,000.
What you actually pay.
| Item | AED |
|---|---|
Trade name + DED initial approval | 855 |
MoA notarisation | 1,100 |
Ejari (physical office) | 220 |
Trade licence fee (real estate commercial) | 13,500 |
RERA brokerage licence registration | 9,500 |
RERA broker card (1 broker initial) | 5,000 |
Establishment Card + immigration file | 2,600 |
| Government fees subtotal | 32,775 |
| YABS service fee | 9,500 |
| 5% VAT (on YABS service fee) | 475 |
| Total | 42,750 |
Government fees vary by activity and approval requirements. Final quote confirmed after activity selection.
Where people get this wrong.
Pulled from 500+ YABS engagements. Each pitfall has a knock-on cost in time or AED — knowing them up front is half the value of using a PRO.
Operating before broker card issuance
Cost: RERA fines AED 50,000+ per unauthorised transaction; commissions clawed back
YABS fix: We sequence broker training + exam to complete before licence go-live so the card is ready day-one.
Listing properties on Property Finder / Bayut without verified Trakheesi number
Cost: Listings auto-removed; portal account suspended; lost lead pipeline
YABS fix: We onboard the Trakheesi-verified company profile to Property Finder + Bayut + dubizzle during the licence-issuance week.
Treating off-plan inventory as inventory rather than brokerage
Cost: RERA classifies you as a developer; AED 50M+ developer financial-guarantee requirements apply
YABS fix: We confirm broker-vs-developer classification with RERA before signing any off-plan reservation agreement.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need AED 300,000 paid-up capital for Dubai real estate brokerage?
Yes. RERA mandates AED 300,000 demonstrated paid-up capital for brokerage licence approval. The capital must be deposited in a Dubai-based corporate bank account with bank certificate confirming the balance — submitted to RERA. The capital is operational working capital, not a frozen deposit; you can use it for company operations after licence issuance, but RERA may conduct random verification.
What is a Trakheesi broker card?
Trakheesi is RERA's unified digital licensing platform. Every individual real estate broker in Dubai must hold a current Trakheesi broker card showing their RERA registration, broker number, and licence validity. Card issuance requires completing RERA-approved broker training (typically 2-week course) and passing the RERA broker exam. AED 5,000 initial + AED 2,500 annual renewal per broker.
Can I run a real estate brokerage without being a licensed broker myself?
Yes — the company licence and the individual broker cards are separate. A non-broker investor can own a brokerage as long as the appointed General Manager is a RERA-licensed broker who holds an active Trakheesi card. Many investor-owned brokerages operate this way. The broker GM carries professional responsibility; the investor owns the company.
How long does Dubai real estate brokerage licensing take?
Realistic timeline 21–45 working days: RERA brokerage licence review (14–21 days, longest single step), DED + MoA + Ejari (5–7 days), broker training and exam (10–14 days, often run in parallel), broker card issuance (3–5 days), final DED licence (3 days). Total varies based on whether the GM already holds an active broker card.
What is the difference between real estate broker and real estate developer in Dubai?
Brokerage (activity 6820) means representing buyers/sellers/landlords/tenants in transactions for a commission — typically 2% sales commission, 5% rental commission. Real estate development (activity 4100 + 6810 combined) means owning, building, or selling your own property inventory — different licensing, different RERA category, different financial requirements (developers face significantly higher capital and bond requirements).
Apply for the real estate brokerage package
Apply online in 4 steps. Itemised AED quote, no sales-call gate.
This page was last reviewed by the YABS compliance team in Q2 2026 and reflects current Dubai DED, Dubai Municipality, DHA, MOHRE, FTA, and DLD requirements.