Buyer Guides · 4 min read
How to Check a Dubai Real Estate Agent's Licence (BRN)
The EQT Private Office · RERA-registered brokerage · Published August 19, 2026 · Updated September 24, 2026
Yes, every real estate agent in Dubai must be licensed. The agent needs a RERA Broker Registration Number (BRN) and must work under an agency with an Office Registration Number (ORN). Practising brokerage without a licence is illegal. You can check both numbers yourself, free and in a few minutes, in the Dubai REST app or on the DLD Brokers register. Below: what each number means, how to run the check, and what to do if an agent can't show one.
Key takeaways
- •Every Dubai real estate agent must hold a RERA BRN and work under an agency with an ORN.
- •Practising real estate brokerage without a licence is illegal.
- •You can verify an agent in the Dubai REST app, on the DLD Brokers register, or by cross-checking their BRN.
- •A legitimate agent displays the BRN on their card, listings and RERA forms.
- •A licensed agent is accountable to RERA, uses proper documentation, and gives you a route to complain if something goes wrong.
The short answer: yes, a licence is mandatory
The Real Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA), part of the Dubai Land Department (DLD), regulates real estate brokerage in Dubai. To act as an agent, a person must register and hold a Broker Registration Number. Working without one is illegal.
The rules protect buyers, sellers and tenants. An agent with a BRN has met RERA's training and registration requirements, and the regulator can hold them to account for the advice they give you.
- •RERA, under the DLD, regulates real estate brokerage in Dubai.
- •Individual agents must hold a BRN to practise legally.
- •Unlicensed brokerage is illegal, not merely discouraged.
BRN and ORN: two numbers that matter
The Broker Registration Number (BRN) belongs to the individual agent. The Office Registration Number (ORN) belongs to the agency they work for. A properly registered professional has both. EQT's ORN, for example, is 33039.
You should see the agent's BRN on their business card, on their property listings and on the official RERA forms: Form A when they take a listing and Form F for the sale agreement. If the number is missing from any of these, ask why.
- •BRN identifies the individual agent.
- •ORN identifies the licensed agency they work under.
- •Expect the BRN on the card, the listing and the RERA forms.
| Detail | BRN | ORN |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Broker Registration Number | Office Registration Number |
| Belongs to | The individual agent | The licensed agency |
| Where you see it | Business card, listings, RERA Form A and Form F | Example: EQT's ORN is 33039 |
| How to check | Dubai REST app or the DLD Brokers register | Check it separately on the DLD register |
How to verify a Dubai agent online
Run this check before you view a property or sign anything. It costs nothing and confirms three points: the person is registered, the number belongs to them, and their agency holds a licence.
- •1. Ask the agent for their BRN (Broker Registration Number) and the agency's ORN (Office Registration Number).
- •2. Open the Dubai REST app, the DLD's official app, and use its broker validation service to check the BRN against the department's records.
- •3. Prefer a browser? Use the DLD and RERA public Brokers register online to look up the BRN and confirm the linked agency.
- •4. Confirm the agent's name matches, the registration is current, and the agency's ORN also checks out before you view, sign or pay.
How to verify with the Dubai REST app
Dubai REST is the DLD's official smartphone app. Among its services is validation of brokers and properties against the department's own records, which makes it the quickest way to check an agent from your phone.
Enter the BRN the agent gave you. Check that the number is valid, that the name matches the person you are dealing with, and that the registration is current.
- •Dubai REST is the DLD's official app for real estate services.
- •Use it to validate the agent's BRN against official records.
- •Check the name matches and the registration is current.
How to verify with the DLD Brokers register
The DLD and RERA also publish a public Brokers register online. Look up the BRN to see the broker's registration status and the agency they are attached to. Use it if you prefer a browser, or as a second check after the app.
Then check the agency's ORN separately. If both registrations are valid and the names match what you were told, you have covered the essential due diligence on your agent.
- •The DLD and RERA publish a public Brokers register.
- •Look up the BRN to confirm registration and the linked agency.
- •Confirm the agency's ORN as a second layer of assurance.
Why using a licensed agent protects you
A registered agent works under RERA's rules, uses the official RERA forms, and routes your payments through the DLD and trustee processes. Informal arrangements have no place in that system, and that keeps your money safe.
If a deal with a licensed agent goes wrong, you can take a complaint to the regulator, and there is an official record of the engagement. An unlicensed operator leaves you with neither.
- •Licensed agents use official RERA forms and proper payment channels.
- •Regulation provides accountability and a route for complaints.
- •Unlicensed operators offer no recourse if a deal goes wrong.
What to do if an agent cannot show a licence
If someone calling themselves an agent cannot give you a BRN, or the number fails the check in the app or register, stop there. Do not view through them, do not sign anything and do not transfer money.
Professional agents expect to be checked and will send their BRN without fuss. If you get excuses or irritation, take your search to a broker who is happy to be verified.
- •No valid BRN means do not proceed, sign or pay.
- •A professional expects verification and cooperates with it.
- •Choose an agent who is happy to be checked against the register.
Frequently asked
Do real estate agents in Dubai legally need a licence?+
Yes. Every agent must hold a RERA Broker Registration Number and work under an agency with an Office Registration Number. Practising real estate brokerage without a licence is illegal in Dubai.
What is the difference between a BRN and an ORN?+
The BRN (Broker Registration Number) identifies the individual agent. The ORN (Office Registration Number) identifies the licensed agency they work under. A properly registered professional has both, and you can verify each against the DLD's records.
How do I verify a Dubai agent's licence?+
Ask for the BRN, then check it in the Dubai REST app (the DLD's official app) or on the DLD and RERA public Brokers register. Confirm the number is valid, the name matches, and the agency's ORN also checks out.
Where should an agent's BRN appear?+
On their business card, on their property listings, and on official RERA forms such as Form A for a listing and Form F for a sale agreement.
What if an agent cannot provide a valid BRN?+
Stop. Do not view through them, sign any document or transfer any money. Work with a broker who gives you their BRN when asked and passes the check.
