RERA Approval Process in Dubai - Step by Step
The RERA approval process is sequential. Skipping or rushing any step is the most common cause of application rejection or delays. Here is the complete process as of 2026.
Step 1: Secure a Valid UAE Residence Visa
Expatriate applicants must hold a valid UAE visa before any other step in the RERA process can begin. The DLD will not process a broker card or Trakheesi registration without a current Emirates ID. Residence visas for individual brokers are typically sponsored by the employing brokerage firm. UAE nationals and GCC citizens are exempt from this requirement and may proceed directly to training. If you are establishing your own brokerage rather than joining an existing firm, your residence visa will need to be sponsored through your new company - which requires the trade licence to be in place first.
Step 2: Obtain a Trade Licence for the Real Estate Activity
Individual brokers joining an established brokerage do not need their own trade licence - the employing firm's licence covers their activity. However, anyone establishing a new real estate company must first obtain a trade licence from the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) for mainland companies, or from the relevant free zone authority for free zone entities. The trade licence must include the specific real estate activity code (brokerage, management, development, or other) before the company can register in the Trakheesi system. Free zone licensees must also obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from their licensing authority before registering with RERA. DET trade licence costs for real estate activities range from AED 10,000 to AED 15,000 annually.
Step 3: Complete RERA-Approved Training (DREI Course)
All applicants must complete the Certified Training for Real Estate Brokers course before appearing for the RERA exam. This programme was historically delivered exclusively by the Dubai Real Estate Institute (DREI), the educational arm of the DLD. As of 2025, RERA-approved training providers including the Innovation Experts Real Estate Institute and DX Broker also deliver accredited courses. The course runs for two to four days and covers UAE real estate law (including Law No. 7 of 2006 on real estate registration), professional ethics, brokerage procedures, and DLD documentation standards. Training is available in both online and in-person formats. Course fees from approved providers range from AED 2,400 to AED 3,500 depending on the institution and format.
Step 4: Pass the RERA Certification Exam
After completing the training course, applicants must register for and pass the RERA certification exam administered by the DLD. The required passing score is 75% or above. The exam tests knowledge of Dubai real estate regulations, the legal framework governing transactions, professional conduct standards, and Trakheesi system requirements. Exam fees vary based on educational qualifications and have a direct impact on total first-year cost. Applicants with a bachelor's degree or higher pay AED 3,200 for the exam. Those with a high school certificate but no degree pay AED 6,300. Applicants without formal educational qualifications pay AED 15,750. The exam registration fee of AED 700 to AED 785 is paid separately to the DLD at the time of booking. Results are typically available within a few days. Failed applicants may retake the exam by paying the re-examination fee.
Step 5: Obtain a Good Conduct Certificate
A clean criminal record is mandatory for all RERA licence applicants. The Good Conduct Certificate - also known as a Police Clearance Certificate - must be obtained from Dubai Police before the Trakheesi application can be submitted. The certificate costs approximately AED 200 and is typically processed within two working days through the Dubai Police website or an authorised typing centre. The certificate confirms the applicant has no criminal history and is eligible to work in a regulated profession in Dubai.
Step 6: Prepare and Attest All Required Documents
Before submitting the Trakheesi application, all documents must be in order. Incorrect attestation of educational certificates is one of the most common causes of application rejection and delay. Documents issued outside the UAE require embassy attestation in the country of origin followed by UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) attestation. Non-Arabic documents must be translated into Arabic by a UAE-certified legal translator before submission to the DLD.
Standard documents required for RERA licence application in Dubai include a passport copy and valid UAE residence visa, Emirates ID, recent passport-size photograph with white background, DREI training completion certificate, RERA exam passing certificate, Good Conduct Certificate from Dubai Police, attested and translated educational certificates, and a copy of the employing company's valid trade licence.
Step 7: Submit Application via Trakheesi
The employing brokerage firm or the applicant's own company submits the RERA licence application through the DLD's Trakheesi system at trakheesi.dubailand.gov.ae. The system integrates with DET's trade licence database to synchronise company information. All documents are uploaded digitally. The DLD reviews the application and issues the licence - typically within one to two working days after a complete and correctly attested submission. Applications with documentation errors or missing attestation are rejected and must be resubmitted, restarting the processing timeline.
Step 8: Receive Broker Card and Begin Practising
Upon DLD approval, the Real Estate Activity Practice Card - the broker card - is issued electronically through the Trakheesi system. The broker card contains the Broker Registration Number (BRN), which must appear on every property listing, advertisement, and marketing material. The DLD charges AED 520 for broker card issuance (AED 500 card fee plus AED 20 in knowledge and innovation fees). Real estate evaluator cards carry a higher fee of AED 5,020. The broker can commence legal real estate activities in Dubai immediately upon receiving the card.
RERA Approval Cost in Dubai 2026
The cost of obtaining RERA approval in Dubai depends on the applicant's educational background, the type of real estate activity, and whether the applicant is an individual broker or establishing a new company. Below is a realistic breakdown of all fees involved.
DLD Real Estate Activity Licence Fees (Annual)
- Real estate sales and purchase brokerage - AED 5,020
- Real estate leasing brokerage - AED 5,020
- Real estate consultancy - AED 5,020
- Mortgage brokerage or consultancy - AED 5,020
- Property inspection services - AED 5,020
- Real estate valuation services - AED 10,020
- Administrative supervision (owners' associations) - AED 10,020
- Real estate leasing and management (third-party) - AED 15,020
- Real estate development - AED 25,020
- Real estate registrar trustee - AED 100,020
Total First-Year Cost for an Individual Broker
- DREI training course - AED 2,400 to AED 3,500
- RERA exam fee (with bachelor's degree) - AED 3,200
- RERA exam registration - AED 700 to AED 785
- Good Conduct Certificate - AED 200
- Broker card issuance - AED 520
- DLD activity licence (standard brokerage) - AED 5,020
- Total estimate (individual broker with degree) - approximately AED 12,040 to AED 13,225
Applicants without a bachelor's degree should budget AED 15,000 to AED 16,500 for total first-year costs due to the higher exam fee. Those without any formal educational qualifications may face first-year costs approaching AED 19,500 or more. Companies establishing a new real estate brokerage firm will incur additional costs for the DET trade licence (AED 10,000 to AED 15,000), Ejari office lease registration, employee visa processing, and corporate bank account opening.
Documents Required for RERA Approval in Dubai
- Valid passport copy
- UAE residence visa copy
- Emirates ID (front and back)
- Recent passport-size photograph (white background)
- DREI training course completion certificate
- RERA certification exam passing certificate
- Good Conduct Certificate from Dubai Police
- Attested educational certificates (with MOFA attestation for foreign documents)
- Arabic translation of all non-Arabic documents by a UAE-certified legal translator
- Copy of the employing company's valid DET or free zone trade licence
For companies applying for RERA activity registration, additional documents are required including the Memorandum of Association, Certificate of Incorporation, office tenancy contract with valid Ejari registration, and shareholder passport copies. Property management companies must also provide evidence of the AED 5 million bank guarantee deposited with the DLD.
RERA Licence Renewal in Dubai
A RERA licence is valid for one year from the date of issuance and must be renewed annually. Brokers who allow their licence to lapse face significant consequences - missed renewal beyond the grace period may require the full DREI training course rather than the shorter annual renewal test. Any licence that has expired for six months or more is cancelled by RERA, requiring the entire registration process to be restarted from the beginning.
The annual renewal process requires completing the DLD's annual broker renewal test (not the full exam), paying the renewal test registration fee of AED 700, the licence renewal fee of approximately AED 510 through Trakheesi, and broker card renewal of AED 520. Total annual renewal cost for a standard broker is approximately AED 1,730 if only the annual test is required, or AED 4,230 if the full DREI course is needed again. Brokers should initiate renewal at least 30 days before expiry to avoid complications.
RERA requires specific forms to be used in property transactions to ensure transparency and legal protection for all parties. Using incorrect or outdated forms is a compliance violation under Dubai RERA rules.
- RERA Form A The listing agreement between the seller and the agent. This must be signed before any property can be listed or advertised by a broker. Without a signed Form A, listing the property on any platform constitutes a RERA violation.
- RERA Form B The buyer's agency agreement between the buyer and the agent. Required before an agent can represent a buyer in property viewings or negotiations.
- RERA Form F The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the buyer and seller. This is the legally binding purchase agreement used in Dubai property transactions and must be completed through the DLD before the title deed transfer can proceed.
RERA and the DLD have developed several digital platforms that registered brokers and firms must be familiar with for day-to-day operations in Dubai's property market.
The Trakheesi system at trakheesi.dubailand.gov.ae is the primary portal for all RERA licence applications, renewals, broker card requests, and advertising permit submissions. All property advertisements on platforms including Property Finder, Bayut, and Dubizzle require a valid Trakheesi advertising permit linked to the listing broker's active BRN - without this, listings are removed.
Dubai REST (Real Estate Self Transaction) is the DLD's mobile application for managing real estate transactions, accessing property ownership information, and conducting title deed verifications. The Dubai Brokers application provides real-time information about licensed brokers and their BRN status, allowing buyers and sellers to verify an agent's credentials before transacting. Ejari is the DLD's digital system for registering and managing lease agreements - all tenancy contracts in Dubai must be registered through Ejari to be legally recognised.
Common Mistakes That Delay or Reject RERA Approval
Several procedural errors frequently delay the RERA approval process or result in outright rejection by the DLD. Understanding these in advance significantly reduces the risk of setbacks.
Applying without a valid UAE residence visa is the most frequent issue for expatriate applicants. The DLD will not process a broker card application without a current Emirates ID. Securing residency first - before enrolling in the DREI course - is essential. Incorrect or incomplete document attestation is the second most common cause of rejection. Educational certificates from outside the UAE must follow the correct attestation chain: original country attestation, then UAE embassy attestation in that country, then MOFA attestation in the UAE. Missing any step in this chain results in rejection. Non-Arabic documents that have not been translated by a UAE-certified legal translator are also rejected by the DLD.
Selecting the wrong activity code in Trakheesi during registration is another common error. Brokers should confirm that their registered activity matches their intended business operations exactly - practising an unregistered activity is a RERA violation. Failing to renew on time is the final major pitfall. Brokers who let their licence expire and miss the renewal window may face having to retake the full training course and restart their Trakheesi registration.
RERA Licence vs Trade Licence - Key Difference
Many new entrants to Dubai's real estate sector confuse a RERA licence with a trade licence. Both are required, but they serve different legal purposes and are issued by different authorities.
A trade licence is issued by the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) for mainland companies or by the relevant free zone authority for free zone entities. It authorises the general operation of a business and covers legal formation, commercial registration, and compliance with general commercial regulations. A RERA licence is a supplementary regulatory permit issued specifically by the DLD through the Trakheesi system. It authorises the company and its registered individuals to practise specific real estate activities such as brokerage, property management, development, or valuation.
Both must remain valid simultaneously. A company cannot conduct real estate transactions with only a trade licence - the RERA licence and active broker cards are essential for legal compliance. Equally, a RERA licence cannot be issued without a valid trade licence that includes the relevant real estate activity code.
Exemptions and Special Cases
Certain categories of applicants qualify for exemptions from specific RERA requirements. Applicants aged 55 and above are exempt from the RERA broker exam requirement, provided they meet all other eligibility criteria. Brokers with five or more consecutive years of service at the same real estate office may also be exempt from the exam requirement. Holders of a Golden Visa registering as real estate brokers may benefit from a broker card renewal fee waiver as announced by the DLD - eligible applicants should submit a copy of their Golden Visa during Trakheesi registration to confirm eligibility. Some real estate activities - including real estate development, buying and selling land and property as a principal (not as an agent), and organising real estate exhibitions - do not require a practice card, although the RERA activity licence remains mandatory.
Why Choose Takween Advisory for RERA Approval in Dubai
Takween Advisory is a licensed UAE business consultancy with over 10 years of experience supporting professionals and companies with government licensing, regulatory compliance, and PRO services across all major UAE authorities. We manage the complete RERA approval process on your behalf - from trade licence registration and DREI training coordination through to document attestation, legal translation, Trakheesi submission, and broker card issuance - so your application moves through the DLD system correctly, completely, and without unnecessary delays.
Our team understands the exact documentation standards the DLD requires, the correct attestation chain for foreign educational certificates, the activity codes that apply to each real estate business type, and the common errors that cause first-time rejections. We handle every stage of the process through official government channels at standard government fees - with no hidden charges at any stage.
For brokers joining an established firm, we manage the full individual RERA approval process from start to broker card issuance. For companies establishing new real estate brokerages in Dubai, we handle the trade licence, Trakheesi registration, and team broker card applications as a single coordinated engagement.
To get started with your RERA approval in Dubai, contact our team for a free consultation. You can also explore our related services including business setup in Dubai, trade licence Dubai, PRO services Dubai, and document attestation Dubai.
