As we know Dubai has a world-class infrastructure to start different kinds of businesses and once again it is on the threshold of starting a real estate business in UAE either for both national & international entrepreneurs. This business activity in UAE has an unlimited amount of potential and area of growth now & in the future as well. So if you are planning to start your own company in Dubai then setting up a Real Estate Company will be a wise decision.
Now the most difficult question arises is which real estate business activity you should go choose as Dubai Land Department (RERA) has many real estate business activities like Real Estate Consultancy, Mortgage, development, buying & selling brokerage, etc. The real Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA) is a government agency to regulates, forms, and authorizes the real estate sector in Dubai.
So to make it easy for you and pick the most relevant real estate business activity that you are planning to startup in Dubai, here are the important Real Estate business activities approved by Dubai Land Department RERA (Dubai Real Estate Regulatory Agency).
Note: Now Dubai Land Department RERA (Dubai Real Estate Regulatory Agency) allows Iranian, Iraqi, and Syrian people to get Dubai residence visas by investing in Dubai property. If these nationals buy property in Dubai then they will be able to get Dubai residency. To know more in detail, feel free to contact Business Link UAE as we are assisting with complete Dubai visa processes for Iranian, Iraqi, and Syrian people as well as other nationalities.
Real Estate Business Activities Approved by RERA Dubai Land Department:
Real Estate Mortgage Consultancy
Activity No.: 671912
License type: Professional
Nature of Activity: Includes firms specialized in offering advisory on how to mortgage property to get loans from financial institutions for financing freehold property, including a selection of a financial institution, how to mortgage and release property, preparation, and submission of documents, the implications of breaking financing and mortgaging in the midterm, refinancing and mortgaging fully paid properties, re-mortgaging and transfer to another financer, evaluation of financing rates, such firms are not allowed to seek or carry out any mortgaging for themselves.
Conditions and required documents:
Parties:
For UAE or GCC nationals
- Bachelor’s degree in ( Finance, Economics, or Accounting).
- Certificate of Real Estate practitioner course.
- Minimum of 2 years experience in the Real Estate industry.
- Certificate of good conduct from Dubai police.
For Expatriates:
- Bachelor’s degree in (Finance, Economics, or Accounting).
- Certificate of real estate practitioner course.
- Minimum of 3 years experience in real estate.
- Must be sponsored under this license.
- Certificate of good conduct from Dubai police.
For setting up a branch of a Foreign Company:
- Copy of license or commercial registration.
- A parent company must be in business for at least 2 years.
- Copy of the memorandum of the article of association.
- Board resolution to open a branch office in Dubai and to appoint the branch manager.
- The branch manager must full fill the above-mentioned conditions.
- A local services agent is required.
- The main license activity must be similar to the branch.
- Certificate of good conduct for a manager from Dubai police.
Note:
- All documents should be notarized by the UAE embassy overseas, the ministry of foreign affairs in Dubai, and should be translated into Arabic.
- Activity fee 5000 DH per year.
Real Estate Consultancy
Activity No.: 741404
License type: Professional
Nature of Activity: Includes offices that offer real estate consultancies in return for money. These consultancies are relevant to data, information, and prices of all types of real estate. The services of these offices do not include facilitating contacts between parties or undertaking selling and buying procedures.
Conditions and required documents:
Parties:
For UAE or GCC nationals:
- Bachelor’s degree in (Business Administration, Real Estate or Finance).
- Certificate of Real Estate practitioner course.
- Minimum of 3 year’s experience in the real estate industry.
- Certificate of good conduct from Dubai police.
For Expatriates:
- Bachelor’s degree in (Business Administration, Real Estate or Finance).
- Certificate of Real Estate practitioner course.
- Minimum of 5 years experience in the real estate industry.
- Must be sponsored under this license.
- Certificate of good conduct from Dubai police.
For setting up a branch of a foreign company:
- Copy of the license or commercial registration.
- The parent company must be in business for at least 2 years.
- Copy of the memorandum of the article of association.
- Authorization letter from the parent company to open a branch office in Dubai and to appoint the branch manager.
- The branch manager must full fill the above-mentioned conditions.
- A local services agent is required.
- The main license activity must be similar to the branch.
- Certificate of good conduct for a manager from Dubai police.
Note:
- All documents should be notarized by the UAE Embassy overseas, Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dubai and should be translated into Arabic.
- Activity fee 5000 DH per year.
Real Estate Development
Activity No.: 659908
License type: commercial
Nature of Activity: This refers to companies established for the development and founding of real estate projects which include housing and commercial complexes, tourism projects, and the development of the infrastructure and leisure facilities for such projects. It also covers the selling of the property or projects per the freehold ownership law of property whether owned by the license holders or another party through a contract signed between the developer and the landowner and registration of the contract in the Escrow Accounts Department ahead of the commencement of the project.
Conditions and required documents:
Parties:
All nationals.
- Other activities can’t be included in this license.
- Expatriate partner or manager must be sponsored under this license.
- Certificate of good conduct from Dubai police.
Note:
- The project should be registered in the Escrow Accounts Department after the license is issued.
- For marketing, any project must obtain approval from the promotion section in rera.
- Activity fee 25000 DH per year.
Real Estate buying & selling Brokerage
Activity No.: 702001
License type: Commercial
Nature of Activity: Includes firms dealing with buying and selling of property acting as brokers between the owners and buyers. The role ends with the signing of the contract and upon receipt of the agreed commission.
Conditions and required documents:
Parties:
For UAE or GCC nationals:
- Companies are not allowed to be owners or partners.
- Owners must be at least 21 years old.
- Real estate practitioner course for bachelor degree holder and diploma real estate course for non-graduate.
- An expatriate manager must be sponsored under this license.
- Certificate of good conduct from Dubai police.
Note:
- Registration of the owner and staff at the broker department and obtaining broker ID card from DLD website (dubailand.gov.ae) services (Trakheesi system).
- Owners are not allowed to have more than one real estate brokerage license.
- Can open a branch office if there is a minimum of 15 sales brokers in the main office.
- Activity fee 5000 DH per year.
- Office registration number and broker registration number must be included in all real estate advertisements.
Real Estate Leasing Brokerage
Activity No.: 702003
License type: Commercial
Nature of Activity: Includes the firms which work as a connecting link between landlords and tenants regarding property lease against remuneration, their role will end up when said parties reach an agreement.
Conditions and required documents:
Parties:
For UAE or GCC nationals:
- Companies are not allowed to be owners or partners.
- Owners must be at least 21 years old.
- Real estate practitioner course for bachelor degree holder and diploma real estate course for non-graduate.
- An expatriate manager must be sponsored under this license.
- Certificate of good conduct from Dubai police.
Note:
- Registration of the owner and staff at the broker department and obtaining the broker ID card.
- Owners are not allowed to have more than one real estate brokerage license.
- Can open a branch office if there is a minimum of 15 sales brokers in the main office.
- Activity fee 5000 DH per year.
- Office registration number and broker registration number must be included in all real estate advertisements.
Real Estate Registration Trustee
Activity No: 749957
License type: Professional
Nature of Activity: Includes firms permitted by Land Department to undertake to register real estate transactions online, it involves buying and selling contracts, real estate mortgage, leasing, right of usufruct between parties, terms, and conditions pertaining to said services should be preserved, these firms will be inscribed in the agent’s register
Conditions and required documents:
Parties:
All nationalities (local partner share must not be less than 70%)
- Bachelor’s degree on low for the locale partner.
- Owners must be at least 21 years old.
- Certificate of good conduct from Dubai police.
- Real estate Registration agent course (Dubai Real estate institute).
- Minimum of 2 years experience in real estate.
Note:
- Must register the office and the employees in the trustee section (land department) and should apply for an ID card from the DLD website (www.dubailand.gov.ae).
- The activity fee is 100000 DH per year.
Temporary Real Estate Development License
Nature of Activity: This refers to companies established for the development of real estate projects (singular or plural) and the sale of these projects as per the freehold law. This is on the condition that the land is registered to the same person that holds this temporary license. This license cannot be used to sponsor any visas. The marketing of this project is not allowed except through a contract with a broker registered by RERA.
Rules and Documents required for individuals:
- Title Deed or Pre-registration Certificate of land from the Dubai Land Department.
- Passport copy.
- Certificate of good conduct from Dubai police.
- Office leasing contract.
- Tenancy contract for the project owner’s office or tenancy contract for the brokerage office that markets the project AND a NOC from the broker relating to this property.
Rules and Documents for companies:
- Title Deed or Pre-registration Certificate of Land from the Dubai Land Department.
- Copy of the license in addition to a copy of the Memorandum of Association for the company.
- Partners’ passport copy.
- Tenancy contract for the project owner’s office OR tenancy contract for the brokerage office that markets the project AND a NOC from the broker relating to this property.
- Certificate of good conduct for a manager from Dubai police.
Note:
- The plot of the project shall be reserved until the construction has finished.
- Have the right to develop the projects registered in the name of the licensee owner only.
- Visiting and Working visas are prohibited.
- Only registered brokers are allowed to market the units.
Real Estate Public Auction Organizing
Activity No.: 749935
License type: Commercial
Nature of Activity: Includes firms engaged in organizing property public auction against the commission, the process covers handling licensing formalities, fixing auction date and venue, promoting the property in the media regarding its particulars and sale terms and conditions, providing consultancy and evaluation by experts, handle payments arrangements and ownership transfer, remote auctioning when concerned parties are not present.
Conditions and required documents:
Parties:
All Nationalities
- Owners must be at least 21 years old.
- Minimum of 2 years experience in the Real Estate industry.
- Bachelor’s degree certificate.
- An expatriate partner or manager must be sponsored under this license.
- Certificate of good conduct from Dubai Police.
For setting up a branch of a foreign company:
- Copy of license or commercial registration.
- The parent company must be in business for at least 2 years.
- Copy of the memorandum of the article of association.
- Board resolution to open the branch and appoint the manager.
- The branch manager must fulfill the above-mentioned conditions.
- Local services agent required.
- Approval from Ministry of economic to open branch.
- The main license activity must be similar to the branch.
- Certificate of good conduct for a manager from Dubai police.
Note:
- All documents should be notarized by the UAE Embassy overseas, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dubai, and should be translated into Arabic.
- Must obtain approval from the auction section in the land department in order to organize the public auction.
- Activity fee 5000 per year.
Real Estate Exhibition Organizing
Activity No.: 749947
License type: Commercial
Nature of Activity: Includes firms specialized in real estate exhibitions held to promote property locally and internationally. Permission from legal authorities is required to hold such exhibitions.
Conditions and required documents:
Parties:
All Nationalities:
- Owners must be at least 21 years old.
- years experience in the real estate industry.
- Bachelor’s degree certificate.
- An expatriate partner or manager must be sponsored under this license.
- Certificate of good conduct from Dubai police.
For setting up a branch office of a foreign company:
- Copy of license of commercial registration.
- The parent company must be in business for at least 2 years.
- Copy of the memorandum of the article of association.
- Board resolution to open the branch and appoint the manager.
- The branch manager must full fill the above-mentioned conditions.
- A local services agent is required.
- Approval from the Ministry of Economics to open branch.
- The main license activity must be similar to the branch.
- Certificate of good conduct for a manager from Dubai police.
Note:
- All documents should be notarized by the UAE Embassy overseas, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dubai, and should be translated into Arabic.
- Must obtain approval from the promotion section in rera in order to organize the exhibition.
- Activity fee 10000 DH per year.
Owner Association Management Services
Activity No.: 702008
License type: Professional
Nature of Activity: Includes firms specialized in managing and supervising the properties that are jointly owned and run by owners associations with the responsibilities of contracting, managing, and supervising the firms in charge of maintenance, cleaning, security services, and other specialized service providers; as well as handling the administrative issues and the record of the building and association submitting periodical reports to the association. These firms are not allowed to practice selling or purchasing or leasing brokering.
Conditions and required documents:
Parties:
All Nationalities
- Practitioner course for owner association management for owner and manager.
- Bachelor’s degree certificate for owner and manager.
- Minimum of 2 years experience in the Real Estate industry for locals.
- Minimum of 3 years experience in the Real Estate industry for foreign.
- Certificate of good conduct from Dubai police.
- Foreign partners must be sponsored under this license.
- Other activities can’t be included together.
Note:
- The license & all employees permitted to specialize in Real Estate Regulation should have RERA registration before practicing their activity.
- Activity fee 10000 DH per year.
Real Estate Management Supervision Services
Activity No.: 702006
License type: commercial
Nature of Activity: Includes firms specialized in managing and supervising properties as regarding contracting with the firms in charge of maintenance, cleaning, and security services, handling the administrative issues for the property’s owner, coordinating with lease brokers to find tenants for vacant units in the building, these firms are not allowed to practice selling, leasing or releasing properties.
Conditions and required documents:
Parties:
All Nationalities
- Managers and employees who are involved in leasing must complete the RERA property management certificate course.
- Undertaking for not practicing in real estate brokerage or sub-leasing activities.
- Expatriate partner or manager foreign must be sponsored under this license.
- Good conduct certificate from Dubai police.
Note:
- Offices, managers, and sales employees must be registered in the RERA brokerage section and get access to the Ejari system before starting the business.
- The Real Estate Management Supervision Services Company doesn’t have the right to collect rental checks in its own name, all rental checks should be issued under the names of property owners.
- Activity fee 5000 DH per year.
Requirements for real estate evolution registration
Issue real estate evaluation card:
- personal photo.
- Copy of passport and identity card.
- Certificate of Experience in the field of real estate evaluation two years experience for UAE nationals and five years’ experience for expatriates.
- Certificate of the training course in real estate valuation for (bachelor degree) issued by Dubai real estate institute.
- Diploma real estate course in real estate valuation for (non-graduates) issued by Dubai real estate institute.
- Certificate of good conduct issued by the general headquarters of Dubai Police and addressed to the real estate regulatory authority.
- Expatriate’s residence visa shall be on the same license.
- Card Fees are 5020 yearly.
Issue new evaluation trainee card
- personal photo.
- Copy of Passport and Identity Card.
- Certificate of the Training Course in Real Estate evaluation for (bachelor degree) issued by Dubai Real Estate Institution.
- Diploma real estate course in Real Estate evaluation for (non-graduates) issued by Dubai Real Estate Institute.
- Expatriates’ residence visas must be on the same License.
- Must be trained in any of the evaluation offices registered in RERA for a year.
- Card fees 520.
Renewal of evaluation card:
- personal photo.
- Copy of passport and identity card.
- Card fees 5020.
Cancellation of resident card:
- A copy of employment visa cancellation.
Remark:
- Every person conducting a real estate evaluation process shall be entered in the Residents Register and shall obtain a Real Estate Resident Card issued by the Authority as per the terms before carrying out activities.
- Must apply for the service in (trakheesi) at the Dubai land website dubailand.gov.ae.
Real Estate Valuation Services
Activity No.: 702005
License type: Professional
Nature of Activity: This includes the appraisal and assessing the value of the fixed property such as plots of land and building for various reasons at the request of specialized surveyors or by official authorities.
Conditions and required documents:
Parties:
For UAE or GCC nationals:
- A diploma degree is essential.
- Minimum 2 years of experience in the real estate industry.
- A real estate evaluation certificate from RERA.
- Certificate of good conduct from Dubai police.
For Expatriates:
- A diploma degree is essential.
- Minimum of 5 years experience in real estate evaluation.
- A real estate evaluation certificate from RERA.
- Certificate membership in an international real estate appraisal association.
- Under this license, the expatriate partner or manager should be a sponsor
- Certificate of good conduct from Dubai police.
Note:
- Anyone who practices as a real estate evaluator should be registered in RERA and have a real estate evaluator ID from RERA.
- Activity fee 10000 per year.
Real Estate Valuation Services
Activity No.: 702005
License type: Professional
Nature of Activity: This includes the appraisal and assessing the value of the fixed property such as plots of land and building for various reasons at the request of specialized surveyors or by official authorities.
Conditions and required documents:
Parties
All nationalities
- In real estate evaluation licenses, the expatriates allow being partners with UAE nationals
- Companies that can enter the license must have a real estate activity (UAE national must be a partner).
- Real estate practitioner course in evaluation (for bachelor degree) issued by Dubai real estate institute (for all parties).
- Diploma of Real Estate evaluation issued by Dubai Real Estate Institute (for those who do not have a University Degree) (for all parties).
- Certificate of Good Conduct issued by the General Head Quarters of Dubai Police and addressed to the Real Estate Regulatory Authority. (for all parties).
- Expatriate’s Residence Visa shall be on the same License.
Remark:
- Every person conducting a real estate evaluation process shall enter in the Residents Register and shall obtain a Real Estate Resident Card issued by the Authority as per the terms before carrying out activities.
- Not allowed to have more than one real estate evaluation license.
- In all the real estate advertisements office and evaluator registration number must include.
Property Inspection Services
Activity No.: 742217
License type: Professional
Nature of Activity: Includes firms specializing in the inspection of housing and commercial properties providing comprehensive, objective, and professional reports for proprietors, sellers, buyers, and real estate agents in order to facilitate negotiations and transactions, and to provide buyers, and sellers with reports and remarks ahead of the completion of buying and selling stating the condition of the property and indicating any technical flows.
Conditions and Required Documents:
Parties:
For UAE or GCC nationals:
- Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering or diploma in engineering Construction.
- Minimum of 3 years experience in the real estate industry for UAE nationals.
- Certificate of good conduct from Dubai police.
For Expatriates:
- Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering or diploma in engineering Construction.
- Minimum of 5 years experience in the real estate industry.
- Under this license, the expatriates must sponsor.
- Certificate of good conduct from Dubai police.
For setting up a branch of a foreign company:
- Copy of license or company registration.
- The parent company must be in business for at least 2 years.
- Copy of the memorandum of the article of association.
- Board resolution to open the branch and appoint the manager.
- The branch manager must full fill the above-mentioned conditions.
- A local services agent is essential.
- The main license activity must be similar to the branch.
- Certificate of good conduct for a manager from Dubai police.
Note:
- All documents should notarize by the UAE Embassy overseas, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dubai, and should be translated into Arabic.
- Activity fee 10000 DH per year.
Real Estate Survey Services
Activity No: 742177
License type: Professional
Nature of Activity: Includes firms engaged in surveying buildings and dwellings as regarding a number of floors and joint spaces, this process involves lands, buildings, and units, vertical and dimensional surveying, joint spaces in buildings lands surveying, preparation of maps, and sketches of real estate units.
Conditions and required documents:
Parties:
For UAE or GCC nationals:
- Minimum diploma degree required.
- Practitioner surveyor course. (Dubai real estate institute).
- Minimum of 2 years experience in the real estate industry.
- Certificate of good conduct from Dubai police.
Foreign:
- Minimum of Bachelor degree in a surveyor or internationally recognized certificate required.
- Practitioner surveyor course. (Dubai Real Estate Institute).
- Minimum of 5 years experience in the survey.
- Under this license, expatriates must sponsor.
- Certificate of good conduct from Dubai police.
Branch of a foreign company:
- Memorandum of association, a company must exists for at least 5 years.
- Board resolution to open the branch.
- List of projects provided by the company.
- The manager must have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree or an internationally recognized surveyor certificate.
- Practitioners surveyor (Dubai Real Estate Institute).
- Under this License, the manager must sponsor.
- Local Service Agent.
- Certificate of good conduct for a manager from Dubai police.
Note:
- Companies must register in the surveyor section inland department before operating the business.
- Activity fee 5000 DH per year.
- All documents must notarize by the UAE Embassy overseas, the Ministry of the Foreign Affairs in Dubai, and should be translated into Arabic.
Renting of Residential Units on Time-Sharing Bases
Activity No.: 701007
License type: Commercial
Nature of Activity: Includes firms specialized in offering furnished flats and cabins in residential resorts and commercial complexes for rent on a time-sharing basis. It also includes making renting available on a membership basis.
Conditions and required documents:
Parties:
All nationalities:
- Banking guaranty of one million DH.
- Time-Share training course from Dubai real estate institute.
- Certificate of good conduct from CID for all parties from Dubai police.
- Expatriate partner or manager foreign must sponsor under this license.
- Certificate of registration in a global organization.
- Marketing properties in Dubai must provide a title deed and completion certificate from an official authority.
- Undertaking not to market any uncompleted project.
- Undertaking to not sell a single unit to more than 51 people.
- Letter to specify how many units will be used for a time-share.
Note:
- Obtaining permission from the promotion section in the rear before marketing any project.
- Registration of the staff at the broker department and obtaining the broker ID card.
- No allowed selling incomplete projects.
- Time-share units locate in Dubai and will block in the land department.
- Activity fee 25000 DH per year.
Self-owned Property Leasing and Management Services
Activity No.: 701014
License type: Commercial
Activities Description: Includes firms engaged in managing commercial, residential, and industrial buildings owned by the owner and his first and second-degree relatives. Also, handling contractual arrangements with the firms in charge of maintenance, security and as well as issuing tenants contracts, such firms does not allow to practice real estate Brokerage.
Rules and Regulations required:
Parties:
All Nationalities
- Copy of title deed showing that the property is under the license owner’s name.
- Building completion certificate.
- A minimum of 8 million property evaluation certificates are required as per law no. 2/2003
- An expatriate partner or manager must sponsor under this license.
- Certificate of good conduct from Dubai police.
Note:
- After the license issue, companies must register all the properties they manage through Real Estate Relations Regulate Department (Ejari System).
- This license only allows the owner to manage his own properties and his second relative’s properties according to the local order 2/2003.
- Activity fee 5000 per year.
Still, if you have any queries or need any clarification, please do not hesitate to give us a call at +971 43215227 or contact info@businesslinkuae.com. We are one of the renowned company formation consultancies in Dubai and assist all entrepreneurs to set up their businesses in UAE and help to get RERA-certified local sponsors also.