Buyer Guides · 9 min read
Questions to Ask a Real Estate Agent in Dubai
The EQT Private Office · RERA-registered brokerage · Published August 19, 2026
Ask a Dubai real estate agent for their RERA Broker Registration Number and their agency's Office Registration Number first, then for evidenced comparable sales in your exact community, whether the listing is exclusive or open, the total fees confirmed in writing, and how they verify the seller's ownership and handle the NOC and transfer. These questions tell you whether an agent is licensed, whether they genuinely know your community, and whether they will represent your interests or simply close a transaction. In Dubai the answers are checkable, because every legitimate agent carries a BRN and works under a licensed agency. This guide sets out each question and what a strong answer sounds like.
Key takeaways
- •Ask for the agent's BRN and the agency's ORN first; both are legally required and both are verifiable.
- •Insist on evidenced comparable sales in your specific community, not citywide averages.
- •Clarify whether the listing is exclusive or open, and get the total fees confirmed in writing before you proceed.
- •A good agent explains how they verify the seller's ownership and how they will handle the NOC and transfer.
- •Vague, evasive, or verbal-only answers are a signal to slow down, not to sign.
Start with the licence: BRN and ORN
Every practising real estate agent in Dubai must be licensed. The individual holds a RERA Broker Registration Number, or BRN, and works under an agency that holds an Office Registration Number, or ORN. Practising without a licence is illegal, so this is not an optional courtesy question.
Ask directly for the BRN and the agency name and ORN. A legitimate agent will have the BRN printed on their business card, on their listings, and on the RERA forms you will eventually sign. You can cross-check both numbers on the DLD register or in the Dubai REST app before you go any further.
- •What is your BRN, and which agency and ORN do you work under?
- •Can I see the BRN on your card and on this listing?
- •A good answer: the number is offered without hesitation and matches the public register.
Ask about track record in your exact community
Dubai is a collection of very different micro-markets. Pricing, service charges, rental demand and buyer profiles in Palm Jumeirah differ from those in Dubai Hills Estate, Downtown or Emirates Hills. An agent who works your community daily will know current asking-to-achieved ratios, which buildings or clusters hold value, and which units carry quirks that affect price.
You are testing depth here, not geography in the abstract. General enthusiasm about Dubai is easy. Specific, recent knowledge of your community is not.
- •How many transactions have you closed in this community in the last twelve months?
- •Which sub-communities or towers do you know best, and why?
- •A good answer: named recent deals, clear reasoning on local pricing, honest about any gaps.
Request evidenced comparable sales
Any agent can quote a price. A professional supports it with comparable sales they can evidence: recent transactions of similar units, ideally with transfer dates and prices, rather than optimistic listing prices that never sold. Achieved prices are the honest benchmark.
If you are selling, the same discipline protects you from an inflated valuation designed to win the instruction and from a lowball designed to secure a quick sale. Ask to see the working, not just the headline number.
- •Which recent comparable sales support this price, and can you show the evidence?
- •Are these achieved transfer prices or asking prices?
- •A good answer: specific comparables with dates, a clear method, and a realistic range rather than a single confident figure.
Exclusive or open, and how they will market it
When you sell, it matters whether the listing is exclusive to one agent or open to many. An exclusive mandate concentrates accountability and usually means a proper marketing plan, professional photography and controlled access. An open listing can mean wider exposure but also duplicated, inconsistent adverts across portals.
As a buyer, it is worth knowing whether the agent actually represents the seller on this property or is simply reposting another agency's listing, because that affects how directly they can negotiate and how reliable the information is.
- •Is this an exclusive listing, and do you represent the seller directly?
- •For a seller: what does your marketing plan include, and for how long?
- •A good answer: clear on the mandate, transparent about representation, a concrete plan rather than a vague promise of exposure.
Total fees, in writing
Commission in Dubai is typically 2% of the price plus 5% VAT, and on a resale it is usually paid by the buyer for their side. It is negotiable, but the point is that the number and who pays it should be clear before you commit. On off-plan the developer usually pays the agent, so a buyer often pays no commission at all.
Fees beyond commission also deserve daylight: the DLD transfer fee, trustee office charges, NOC fees and any mortgage-related costs. A good agent volunteers the full picture rather than letting it surface at the transfer counter.
- •What is your commission, is VAT on top, and who pays it in this deal?
- •What other costs should I budget for beyond your fee?
- •A good answer: a clear percentage, VAT treatment stated, and a plain list of the other transaction costs.
Off-plan versus ready, and how they verify ownership
Buying off-plan from a developer and buying a ready resale are different processes with different risks, paperwork and timelines. Ask which the agent handles most, because an agent fluent in off-plan payment plans and escrow may be less practised on resale NOCs and mortgage transfers, and vice versa.
Finally, ask how they confirm the seller genuinely owns the property and has the right to sell. A professional checks the title deed, confirms the seller's identity, and manages the developer NOC and the DLD transfer properly. This is the step that protects you from the most serious problems.
- •Is your experience mostly off-plan or ready resale, and what does that mean for my purchase?
- •How do you verify the seller's ownership before we proceed?
- •How will you handle the NOC and the transfer at the trustee office?
- •A good answer: a clear process, reference to the title deed and DLD steps, and no shortcuts around verification.
Ask for references and watch how they respond
Recent clients are the simplest reality check. An agent who has served buyers or sellers like you should be able to offer references or at least point to reviews and repeat business. Reluctance here, when everything else has been positive, is worth noting.
Pay attention to the manner of the answers as much as the content. Calm, specific and willing to put things in writing is the profile you want. Pressure, urgency and a preference for keeping things verbal is the profile to avoid.
- •Can you share references from recent buyers or sellers in this area?
- •Will you confirm the key points of our discussion in writing?
- •A good answer: references offered readily and a genuine willingness to document terms.
Frequently asked
What is the single most important question to ask a Dubai agent?+
Ask for their BRN, the RERA Broker Registration Number, and the agency's ORN. Both are legally required and both are verifiable on the DLD register or the Dubai REST app, so this one question separates a licensed professional from someone operating illegally.
How can I tell if an agent really knows my community?+
Ask for named recent transactions they have closed there in the last year and the reasoning behind current pricing. Depth shows in specifics: particular towers, sub-communities and achieved prices, rather than general enthusiasm about Dubai as a whole.
Is it rude to ask an agent about their commission upfront?+
Not at all, and a professional expects it. Commission is typically 2% plus 5% VAT and is negotiable, so asking the number, the VAT treatment and who pays is simply good practice. On off-plan the developer usually pays, so you may owe nothing.
Should I ask for references before working with an agent?+
Yes. Recent clients or credible reviews are a reasonable request for a significant purchase. A confident agent offers them readily, and reluctance to provide any social proof, when the rest of the conversation has gone well, is worth weighing carefully.
What should a good answer about ownership verification include?+
It should reference checking the title deed, confirming the seller's identity, obtaining the developer NOC and completing the transfer at a DLD trustee office. If an agent is vague about how they confirm the seller actually owns the property, treat that as a reason to pause.
