Start a Dubai brokerage by confirming the legal entity, approved activity and DLD/RERA requirements for the work you intend to perform. Build the setup budget from current official requirements and written supplier quotes. Activate listing, communication and client-data workflows only after the necessary permissions and operating responsibilities are clear.
Choose your legal structure and trade licence
Before you register anything with RERA, you need a trade licence that includes real-estate brokerage as an activity. In Dubai, most brokerages choose one of two routes:
- Mainland (DED) licence — the onshore route issued by the relevant Dubai licensing authority; it allows you to operate across Dubai's onshore market and is the most common route for a brokerage that wants to work with landlords and sellers directly.
- Free zone licence — issued by a free zone such as Meydan Free Zone. Free zones can be faster to set up and may offer 100% foreign ownership, but you must confirm that the free zone's brokerage activity is accepted by RERA before you start.
| Consideration | Mainland DED | Free zone |
|---|---|---|
| Licensing authority | Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism | Free zone authority (e.g., Meydan Free Zone) |
| RERA registration | Required before operating | Required before operating; confirm activity wording is accepted |
| Office requirement | Physical office/lease required by DED and RERA | Office or flexi-desk may satisfy free zone, but RERA may require separate physical office |
| Ownership | Confirm current foreign ownership rules with the licensing authority; rules vary by activity and legal form | Generally 100% foreign ownership in many free zones; confirm with the free zone |
| Typical setup time | 1–3 weeks after documents | Often faster, but RERA step adds time |
The table is a general comparison, not legal advice; confirm current requirements with the issuing authority.
To obtain a trade licence:
- Choose and reserve a company name that complies with Dubai naming rules.
- Define the business activity as "Real Estate Brokerage" or the authority's equivalent wording.
- Lease an office and register the tenancy (Ejari). RERA will ask for this later.
- Apply for initial approval and then final licence approval.
- Pay the licence fee and receive your trade licence.
RERA only registers brokerages that hold a valid trade licence with the real-estate brokerage activity. According to the Dubai Land Department eServices, brokerage office licensing is a separate step tied to your trade licence.
RERA brokerage registration and office requirements
RERA registration is separate from your trade licence. It is the step that makes your brokerage legal to market properties and represent clients. The Dubai Land Department operates the register and issues your RERA brokerage office certificate.
Requirements typically include:
- A valid trade licence showing the real-estate brokerage activity.
- A physical office that meets RERA's criteria (usually a dedicated space, not a virtual office, with a signboard showing the trade name in Arabic and English).
- A tenancy contract registered with Ejari.
- Passport and Emirates ID copies for owners and partners.
- Payment of the RERA brokerage office fee.
Follow these steps in order:
- Register on Dubai REST and submit a brokerage office registration application.
- Upload your trade licence, Ejari, office photos and signboard photo.
- Pay the fee and wait for any inspection.
- Receive your RERA brokerage office certificate.
- Sponsor agents under your brokerage; each agent must complete the RERA exam and hold a broker card before they can conduct property transactions.
For the agent-level path in detail, read How to Become a RERA-Licensed Real Estate Agent in Dubai.
Operating as an unregistered brokerage can lead to fines and other penalties; complete this step before advertising a single property.
Bank account, VAT and accounting setup
Open a dedicated business bank account as soon as the trade licence is issued. Banks in Dubai usually ask for the trade licence, shareholder passports, Emirates IDs, memorandum of association and proof of office address. Keep personal and business transactions separate from day one.
VAT is the next piece. The UAE standard rate is 5% (confirm your exact position with the tax authority). Registration thresholds are set by the Federal Tax Authority; check their website for current figures. This is a regulatory threshold; confirm your position before you reach it.
Set up accounting from the first deal:
- Use a cloud accounting tool that supports UAE VAT invoices.
- Issue VAT-compliant invoices for commission.
- Track commission splits per agent in the same system you use for deals.
- File quarterly VAT returns if registered.
If your CRM records deal stage, commission and VAT amount, your monthly accounts close faster.
Your first listings and portal agreements
Before you advertise any property, you need a Trakheesi permit from DLD for each listing. The permit is linked to the property's title deed or developer NOC and confirms the advertising is lawful. Without it, Bayut and Property Finder will block or delay the listing.
After you have a RERA brokerage certificate and your agents have broker cards, sign up to the portals you will actually use: Bayut and Property Finder, and possibly Dubizzle. Each portal will ask for your licence and broker card details, and each charges a package fee based on listings and lead credits. Start with one portal to learn the workflow before adding more.
Your CRM should be connected to these portal feeds before you buy lead credits, not after. If the portal sends a lead to a mailbox and your agent replies four hours later, you've paid for the lead and lost the response. See How to Publish One Listing to Bayut, Property Finder and Dubizzle Without Double Work.
Choosing a CRM and WhatsApp setup from day one
A CRM is not a later add-on. From the first lead, you need:
- A single lead pool that captures Bayut, Property Finder, Dubizzle, Facebook and Google Ads enquiries in one place.
- Automatic assignment to the right agent, with a visible owner for every lead.
- A shared WhatsApp inbox that keeps every conversation tied to the CRM contact record.
- Off-plan project data and buyer requirement matching if you sell off-plan.
- Management reports: lead source, response time, pipeline stage and commission.
The wrong time to choose a CRM is after you hire your third agent and two months of messages are spread across personal phones.
WIYO is a web-based real-estate CRM built for UAE brokerages. Its Complete Real Estate Operating System plan is US$99 per user per month, with a 35% discount on two-year terms and 30% on one-year terms. The plan includes unlimited leads, listings and inventory, all UAE and international portal integrations, off-plan tools with AI Match, one WhatsApp Pro Account, AI Co-pilot, listing management and property management. WIYO is the publisher of this guide and sells the CRM described; read the pricing page for current terms.
If you are a solo agent, a lighter tool may serve you better; see our solo agent guide. If you are a large multi-branch brokerage with deep customisation needs, evaluate our open API guide before deciding.
Set up WhatsApp early: use the official WhatsApp Business Platform, not personal numbers, and connect it to your CRM. This keeps every agent's conversations in a shared, auditable inbox and lets you use AI-assisted drafts from the CRM. See WIYO's WhatsApp CRM for Dubai.
Who this guide is for
This guide is for founders setting up a brokerage with one or more agents in Dubai. If you are a solo agent first getting your own RERA card, start with How to Become a RERA-Licensed Real Estate Agent in Dubai. If you already hold a licence and are comparing CRMs, read What Does a Dubai Brokerage Actually Pay for Software and the UAE Real Estate CRM Pricing Index 2026.
Separate permissions from operational readiness
A trade licence, a broker’s authorization and a CRM subscription serve different purposes. Confirm the exact approved activity and jurisdiction with the relevant authorities before assuming a particular company structure permits brokerage work.
| Check | Evidence to keep |
|---|---|
| Authority to operate | Written activity and registration requirements for your entity and agents. |
| Authority to advertise | Required owner instruction and current advertising process for each listing. |
| Ability to serve | Named intake owner, response coverage and controlled document storage. |
| Ability to fund | Cash plan based on dated setup quotes and expected collection timing. |
Use DLD’s service directory to find the applicable official service, rather than treating a formation provider’s package as regulatory approval.
Next: Business plan template · CRM requirements checklist.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a trade licence before registering with RERA?
Yes. RERA registers a brokerage office only after you hold a valid trade licence that includes real-estate brokerage as an activity. The licence confirms the legal entity; RERA then attaches the operating requirements, office signboard and agent cards to that entity. Apply for the trade licence first, then complete RERA registration.
Can I run a Dubai brokerage from a virtual office?
RERA generally expects a physical office that it can inspect, with a signboard in Arabic and English. Some free zones allow flexi-desk arrangements for the trade licence, but you must still meet RERA's office criteria before your brokerage certificate is issued. Check current DLD requirements before signing a lease.
How much does it cost to start a brokerage in Dubai?
Licence and registration fees vary by structure and authority, and DLD updates its fee schedule regularly. Plan for three separate cost blocks: trade licence setup, RERA brokerage office registration, and office rent/Ejari. Then add portal packages and a CRM. Check official fee schedules before budgeting; WIYO's CRM cost is fixed at US$99 per user per month before term discounts.
Do I need a CRM before I have any agents?
Yes, because portal leads start arriving the day you switch on. A CRM captures the lead, assigns an owner, logs the WhatsApp conversation and measures response time from the first enquiry. Retrofitting a CRM after leads are inside personal phones usually means lost history and duplicated work.
Can I start with just WhatsApp and a spreadsheet?
You can, but only for the first few weeks. As soon as two people handle one lead, you need a shared lead pool and a conversation history tied to the client record. Otherwise you will pay for the same lead twice, double-contact a buyer and lose the follow-up trail. A WhatsApp CRM gives you the shared inbox without a second tool.
What commission split should I set as a new brokerage?
Commission splits are set by agreement between the brokerage and its agents; there is no fixed legal ratio. A common starting point is 50/50 or 60/40 with a higher agent share on self-generated leads. Record the split in the CRM from the first deal so every commission statement is consistent.
Sources
- Meydan Free Zone, Meydan Free Zone Authority. Example free zone licensing business activities.
- Dubai Land Department eServices, Dubai Land Department. Brokerage office licensing and related eServices.
Written by
Shaffay Bajwa
Founder & CTO at WIYO · Software engineer, 5 years building in the UAE real estate market.
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