Buyer Guides · 5 min read
Questions to Ask a Real Estate Agent in Dubai
The EQT Private Office · RERA-registered brokerage · Published August 19, 2026 · Updated September 24, 2026
First ask a Dubai real estate agent for their RERA Broker Registration Number and their agency's Office Registration Number. Then ask for evidenced comparable sales in your exact community, whether the listing is exclusive or open, the total fees in writing, and how they verify the seller's ownership and handle the NOC and transfer. The answers show whether the agent is licensed, knows your community and will represent your interests. In Dubai you can check them, because every legitimate agent carries a BRN and works under a licensed agency. Each question is below, with 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; citywide averages tell you little.
- •Find out 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 before you sign anything.
Start with the licence: BRN and ORN
Every practising real estate agent in Dubai must be licensed. The agent holds a RERA Broker Registration Number (BRN) and works under an agency with an Office Registration Number (ORN). Practising without a licence is illegal, so this question is essential.
Ask for the BRN, the agency name and the ORN. A legitimate agent has the BRN on their business card, their listings and the RERA forms you will sign later. Check both numbers on the DLD register or in the Dubai REST app before you go 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 comes without hesitation and matches the public register.
Ask about track record in your exact community
Dubai is made up of very different micro-markets. Pricing, service charges, rental demand and buyer profiles on Palm Jumeirah differ from Dubai Hills Estate, Downtown or Emirates Hills. An agent who works your community every day knows current asking-to-achieved ratios, which buildings or clusters hold value, and which units have quirks that affect price.
Anyone can be enthusiastic about Dubai. You are testing for specific, recent knowledge of your community.
- •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, and honesty about any gaps.
Request evidenced comparable sales
Any agent can quote a price. A professional backs it with comparable sales they can evidence: recent transactions of similar units, with transfer dates and prices. Optimistic listing prices that never sold prove nothing. Achieved prices are the honest benchmark.
If you are selling, the same test protects you from an inflated valuation meant to win the instruction and from a lowball meant to secure a quick sale. Ask to see the working behind 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 over a single confident figure.
Exclusive or open, and how they will market it
When you sell, it matters whether one agent holds the listing exclusively or many agents share it. An exclusive mandate puts accountability on one agent and usually brings a proper marketing plan, professional photography and controlled access. An open listing can reach more people but often produces duplicated, inconsistent adverts across the portals.
As a buyer, find out whether the agent represents the seller on this property or is reposting another agency's listing. That affects how directly they can negotiate and how reliable their 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, open about representation, and a concrete plan in place of a vague promise of exposure.
Total fees, in writing
Commission in Dubai is 2% of the price plus 5% VAT in most deals, and on a resale the buyer pays it for their side. It is negotiable. What matters is that the amount and who pays it are clear before you commit. On off-plan the developer pays the agent, so a buyer often pays no commission at all.
Ask about the other fees too: the DLD transfer fee, trustee office charges, NOC fees and any mortgage-related costs. A good agent sets out the full picture early, so nothing surprises you 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, the 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 involve different risks, paperwork and timelines. Ask which the agent handles most. One who knows off-plan payment plans and escrow well may have less practice with resale NOCs and mortgage transfers, and the reverse is also true.
Then ask how they confirm the seller 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 step 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 can offer references, or at least point to reviews and repeat business. If they hesitate here after everything else went well, take note.
Watch how they answer as closely as what they say. You want someone calm, specific and willing to put things in writing. Pressure, urgency and a preference for keeping things verbal are the warning signs.
- •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 clear willingness to document terms.
Frequently asked
What is the single most important question to ask a Dubai agent?+
Ask for their BRN (RERA Broker Registration Number) and the agency's ORN. Both are legally required and you can verify both 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 closed there in the last year and the reasoning behind current pricing. Real knowledge shows in specifics: particular towers, sub-communities and achieved prices.
Is it rude to ask an agent about their commission upfront?+
Not at all; a professional expects it. Commission is 2% plus 5% VAT in most deals and is negotiable, so asking for the amount, the VAT treatment and who pays is good practice. On off-plan the developer pays, so you may owe nothing.
Should I ask for references before working with an agent?+
Yes. For a purchase this size, asking for recent clients or credible reviews is reasonable. A confident agent offers them readily. If an agent won't provide any after an otherwise good conversation, weigh that carefully.
What should a good answer about ownership verification include?+
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 owns the property, pause.
