Buyer Guides · 4 min read
How to Choose a Real Estate Agent in Dubai (Licence Checklist)
The EQT Private Office · RERA-registered brokerage · Published August 3, 2026 · Updated September 24, 2026
To choose a real estate agent in Dubai, first check the licence: the agent's RERA broker card number (BRN), the brokerage's office registration number (ORN) and the Trakheesi permit number on any listing, all of which you can verify on the Dubai Land Department (DLD) website or the Dubai REST app. Then judge the person: recent deals in the community you want, honest pricing backed by comparable sales, and a fee agreed in writing, usually 2% of the price plus VAT for a buyer. Below: how to run each check in a few minutes, what you sign, and how EQT's own licensed team works.
Key takeaways
- •Ask for the agent's BRN and the brokerage's ORN, then verify both with the DLD's licence checks on its website or the Dubai REST app.
- •Every property ad in Dubai needs a Trakheesi permit, and the permit number must be shown on the ad.
- •RERA's standard contracts: Contract A (seller and brokerage), Contract B (buyer and broker), Contract F (seller and buyer).
- •The usual buyer's commission is about 2% of the price plus 5% VAT, on top of the 4% DLD transfer fee.
- •After the licence, judge local knowledge: recent comparable sales, honest pricing and clear answers on service charges.
How to check an agent's licence in Dubai
Dubai licenses brokers through RERA, the regulatory arm of the Dubai Land Department, so every check below uses official data and takes a few minutes. Ask the agent for their broker card and the brokerage's registration number before your first viewing, then look both up yourself. An agent who is licensed will give you the numbers without hesitation.
The DLD offers two services on its website and in the Dubai REST app. Licensed Real Estate Brokers lists the brokers RERA has licensed in Dubai, and Verify License and Permits checks licences and permits issued through Trakheesi, the DLD's licensing system. Both return results immediately, and you do not need to be a UAE resident to use them.
- •Ask for the agent's BRN (Broker Registration Number) from their RERA broker card.
- •Ask for the brokerage's ORN (Office Registration Number).
- •Look both up in the DLD's Licensed Real Estate Brokers service or the Dubai REST app, and check the name and brokerage match.
- •On any listing, find the Trakheesi permit number and verify it with the DLD's Verify License and Permits service.
| What to check | Where you find it | How to verify |
|---|---|---|
| BRN (Broker Registration Number) | The agent's RERA broker card | DLD Licensed Real Estate Brokers service or Dubai REST app |
| ORN (Office Registration Number) | The brokerage's documents, website and ads | DLD Licensed Real Estate Brokers service or Dubai REST app |
| Trakheesi permit number | On every property ad | DLD Verify License and Permits service or Dubai REST app |
| Buyer agreement and fee | RERA Contract B | Signed with the broker before viewings, fee in writing |
What the BRN, ORN and Trakheesi permit tell you
The BRN belongs to the individual. A broker card is issued through Trakheesi only after the brokerage holds a real estate licence registered with the DLD, so a valid BRN tells you the person may practise and which office they work for. The ORN belongs to the brokerage and identifies the registered office behind the agent.
The Trakheesi permit belongs to the advert. RERA requires a permit for every property advertisement, from portal listings and social posts to billboards and open days, and the permit number must appear on the ad itself. A listing with no permit number, or one that does not verify, is a reason to stop and ask questions.
The contracts you sign: A, B and F
RERA requires brokers to use its standard smart contracts, created through the Dubai REST app or the DLD's broker system. Knowing which one applies to you tells you who the agent represents.
- •Contract A: the agreement to market a property, between the seller and the brokerage.
- •Contract B: the buyer's agreement with the broker, recording your wish to purchase.
- •Contract F: the agreement to sell, between seller and buyer (often called the MOU).
Understanding commission and costs
The standard buyer's agency commission in Dubai is about 2% of the price plus 5% VAT on that commission. You also pay the 4% Dubai Land Department transfer fee and registration costs. Sellers pay their own agent a similar 2%.
Agree the fee in writing, in Contract B, before you view. If an agent stays vague about fees or pushes you to commit before you have that document, walk away.
Beyond the licence: what separates a good agent
A licence tells you the agent is allowed to trade, not that they know your market. The agents worth hiring focus on one or two communities, can show you recent comparable sales to support a price, and will tell you when a home is overpriced or the wrong fit.
Ask five direct questions and the answers will sort the specialists from the generalists.
- •How many properties have you sold in this community in the last 12 months?
- •Which recent comparable transactions support this asking price?
- •What are the service charges and expected net yield for this building?
- •What is your commission, and what exactly does it cover?
- •Do you have off-market options that fit my brief?
How EQT's licensed team works
EQT Real Estate is a RERA-registered brokerage, ORN 33039, and you can check that number in the DLD services above. Our brokers carry their own RERA broker cards: Masoud Raeissi (BRN 87122) covers Palm Jumeirah, Emirates Hills, Jumeirah Bay Island and District One; Kateryna Babenko (BRN 68203) covers Palm Jumeirah, JLT, Dubai Creek Harbour, JBR and Maritime City; and Carlos Abou Rjeily (BRN 49189) specialises in Palm Jumeirah villas.
Each client works with the advisor who knows their community and speaks their language. Between them the team works in English, Arabic, Russian, Ukrainian, Farsi, Italian, French, Kazakh, Hindi and Urdu, and every agreement is made on RERA's standard contracts with the fee set out in writing.
Frequently asked
How do I check a real estate agent's licence in Dubai?+
Ask for the agent's BRN (Broker Registration Number) and the brokerage's ORN, then search them in the Dubai Land Department's Licensed Real Estate Brokers service on its website or the Dubai REST app. Check that the name and brokerage match. The result is immediate.
What is the difference between a BRN and an ORN?+
The BRN is the individual broker's registration number, shown on their RERA broker card. The ORN is the office registration number of the brokerage they work for. A legitimate agent has a valid BRN linked to a registered brokerage with an ORN.
How do I know if a Dubai property listing is genuine?+
Every property ad in Dubai needs a Trakheesi permit from RERA, and the permit number must appear on the ad. Verify it with the Dubai Land Department's Verify License and Permits service on its website or in the Dubai REST app.
What commission do real estate agents charge in Dubai?+
The standard agency commission in Dubai is around 2% of the property price for the buyer's side, plus 5% VAT. You pay it on top of the 4% Dubai Land Department transfer fee and registration costs.
Do I need to sign an exclusive agreement with an agent in Dubai?+
No. As a buyer you sign RERA's Contract B with the broker you work with, and many buyers view through more than one agent. Sellers sometimes give one brokerage an exclusive listing under Contract A in exchange for a dedicated marketing effort.
What is the best real estate agency in Dubai?+
It depends on what you are buying. Look for a RERA-registered brokerage with a verifiable ORN, brokers with valid BRNs, a track record in your target community, transparent fees and honest pricing advice. The largest name is not automatically the best fit.
