How to choose a real estate agent or advisor in Dubai: checks, contracts and commission

Key takeaways

• Verify the broker: every licensed agent has a Broker Registration Number (BRN) you can check on the DLD’s Dubai REST app.
• Verify the ad: listings need a Trakheesi permit with a Madmoun QR code. Scan it.
• Sign the right form: Form A (seller and agent), Form B (buyer and agent), Form F (the sale MOU).
• Commission: typically 2% plus 5% VAT, usually paid by the buyer on resale.
• Agent or advisor: an agent is paid when a deal closes; an independent advisor is paid for advice, whether or not you buy.

How many agents are there to choose from?

A lot. Dubai had 32,294 registered real estate brokers working from 9,785 brokerage offices at the end of 2025, and 13,083 of them joined that year, up 38%, according to the Government of Dubai Media Office. Brokers handled 96,440 transactions and earned AED 13.59 billion in commission, up 31%.

With that many new entrants, the checks below are worth five minutes of your time before you share a passport copy or a cheque.

How do you check an agent is licensed?

1. Ask for the agent’s BRN and the brokerage’s ORN (office registration number).
2. Look both up on the Dubai REST app or the DLD website. The name and photo should match the person you are dealing with.
3. Check the Trakheesi permit on any listing they send you; the Madmoun QR code links to the official record. Unpermitted ads are a red flag. See the advertising rules.

“…a more mature and sustainable market underpinned by transparency, governance, and data-driven policies.”

Omar Hamad Bu Shehab, Director General, Dubai Land Department, on the 2025 results

Which forms should you sign, and when?

• Form A: the listing agreement between a seller and their agent.
• Form B: the agreement between a buyer and their agent, setting out commission and the agent’s duties. Sign it before viewings start.
• Form I: the agreement between two agencies to split a commission on a shared deal.
• Form F: the memorandum of understanding between buyer and seller once a price is agreed, usually with a 10% deposit.

If an agent avoids written agreements, find another one.

What commission is normal?

On resale, buyers typically pay 2% of the price plus 5% VAT; on a AED 2 million apartment that is AED 42,000. Sellers often pay a similar fee to their own agent. On off-plan bought direct, the developer usually pays the agent, which is worth knowing when an agent recommends one launch over another. See all buying costs.

What should a good agent show you?

• DLD transaction comparables for the same building or community, not just other listings.
• Real service charges for the building, from the DLD service-charge index or the owners’ association.
• The tenancy position if the unit is let: the Ejari contract, rent and renewal date.
• For off-plan: the RERA project number, escrow account and the developer’s completed buildings.

Agent or independent advisor?

An agent is paid when a transaction happens, so their incentive is to close a deal. An independent advisor is paid for the analysis, so the incentive is to be right, including when the right answer is not to buy. Many buyers use both: an advisor to set the strategy and test the deal, and a RERA-licensed agent to execute it. See real estate advisory.