Activities · Real estate brokerage and property management (RERA)
Set up a Real estate brokerage and property management (RERA) company in the UAE.
In Dubai, real estate brokerage and property management are regulated by the Real Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA) under the Dubai Land Department. A mainland trade licence from the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) is required, followed by RERA registration through the Trakheesi system. Brokerage requires a broker licence (amount not yet confirmed official fee) and individual RERA cards. Property management splits into two activities: private (own/relatives’ properties, amount not yet confirmed/year official fee, no bank guarantee) and full third‑party management (amount not yet confirmed/year official fee, plus a amount not yet confirmed bank guarantee). Free zones generally cannot license these services for mainland property; the RERA layer is unavoidable. First‑year all‑in costs start around amount not yet confirmed for a lean supervision setup (agent estimate).
Mainland commercial trade licence (DET) with a RERA‑regulated real estate activity, plus RERA registration via Trakheesi and individual practice cards.
Whenever the business will provide real estate brokerage or property management services for Dubai mainland properties. RERA registration, Trakheesi, and Mollak access are mainland regulatory functions that a free‑zone entity cannot directly hold; a free‑zone licence alone is insufficient.
Zones that fit the activity
Names as the researchers wrote them, with the catalogue entry where the zone publishes one. A price is a package price and may cover a different package than another zone.
| Zone | Why | Catalogue entry | Package price | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dubai Mainland | Only mainland licensing allows full RERA registration, Trakheesi access, and legal management/brokerage of Dubai mainland property. Free zones do not offer recognised real estate service licences for mainland activities. | Real Estate Brokerage; Real Estate Leasing and Management Services for Others; Private Property Leasing and Management Services | not published | source |
Approvals outside the free zone
Real Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA) / Dubai Land Department
RERA / Dubai Land Department
RERA / Dubai Land Department
RERA / Dubai Land Department
RERA (Mollak system)
Corporate tax: 9% on taxable profit above amount not yet confirmed; 0% below. Small Business Relief may apply (revenue < amount not yet confirmed) until 31 Dec 2029. Free‑zone 0% rate generally not available because property management is not a qualifying activity and clients are mainland. VAT: 5% on management fees (even for residential property). Service charges collected by a licensed manager are treated as a taxable supply, not a disbursement, VAT is accounted for on the full amount invoiced to owners, which can push revenue over thresholds quickly.
The amount not yet confirmed bank guarantee for full third‑party management is a secured facility (not an upfront spend). A physical office and a valid RERA‑registered licence are typically required to open a corporate bank account. Banks may also ask for Ejari and proof of RERA registration.
Mistakes that cost a resubmission
- Assuming a free‑zone licence alone permits brokerage or property management for Dubai mainland property. source
- Not distinguishing between ‘private property management’ (own/relatives’ properties, no bank guarantee) and ‘third‑party management’ (requires amount not yet confirmed bank guarantee). source
- Registering only a brokerage activity and then performing property management, the two are separate RERA activities. source
- Failing to obtain RERA practice cards for all staff who deal with clients or manage properties. source
- Overlooking VAT on service charges, treating them as a pure pass‑through instead of a taxable supply. source
- Under‑budgeting for the mandatory physical office (Ejari) and the DREI training/exam costs per person. source
Questions founders ask
No. Brokerage and property management are distinct RERA activities. You must select the correct activity code(s) on your DET trade licence and register each activity separately in Trakheesi. A brokerage licence does not authorise third‑party property management, and vice versa.
No. The guarantee is required only for the ‘Leasing and Managing Third‑Party Properties’ (full management) activity. Private property management (own and second‑degree relatives’ properties) and supervision‑only services do not require the guarantee.
A free‑zone entity cannot directly manage or broker Dubai mainland property because RERA registration, Trakheesi, and Mollak are mainland regulatory functions. Some free zones offer a route where you form the company there and then complete the RERA layer separately, but the RERA step is unavoidable and often more complex. Mainland is the standard, recognised path.
The official fee for issuing or renewing a real estate broker licence is amount not yet confirmed, as per Executive Council Resolution No. (25) of 2009. Additional costs include the DET trade licence, RERA practice cards, training, and office rent.
What the research does not settle
- Exact official DET trade licence fee for real estate activities not found in the provided sources; only agent‑estimated range (amount not yet confirmed).
- Official cost of DREI training and RERA practice card issuance not located in the search results; only agent‑estimated range (amount not yet confirmed per person).
- Official Mollak registration fee not found.
- No official fee schedule for the ‘Real Estate Management Supervision Services’ activity (if distinct from full management) was present in the results.