Renting or buying in Dubai, a good agent can save you time, money and stress — a poor one can do the opposite. Dubai’s market is regulated, with clear checks before trusting anyone with a viewing, negotiation or your money. This guide explains registration in general, verifying an agent and listing, contract forms, and red flags.
Understand How Agents Are Regulated
Dubai brokerages and agents operate under the Real Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA), part of the Dubai Land Department (DLD). In general, a brokerage should hold a licence and an Official Registration Number, or ORN, and individual agents should be registered with a Broker Registration Number, or BRN, often shown on a broker ID card. These numbers tie the person in front of you to a regulated, accountable business.
Legitimate agents are usually happy to share their ORN and BRN — they appear on reputable listings, cards and email signatures. If an agent cannot or will not provide them, treat that as a serious warning. Verify registration in general through official DLD and RERA channels, the sources to trust over screenshots sent by message. Rules can change, so check DLD’s current guidance when you search.
Verify the Listing as Well as the Agent
Check the property too. Genuine listings should match a real, available unit with a permit number for advertising in general, and details — price, size, floor, furnishing, availability — should stay consistent across advert, viewing and paperwork. Be cautious with prices far below market for the building, stock photos not matching the unit, or an agent pushing a different property once you enquire.
- Is the listing exclusive or marketed by several agents?
- Who is the landlord or seller, and is the agent authorised for them?
- Does the price include or exclude commission and other fees?
- Visit in person, or via a trusted representative, before paying
For rentals, confirm Ejari and the tenancy process will be handled properly. For purchases, ask about service charges, transfer procedures and timelines in general terms, and use official DLD channels to understand the current process rather than relying only on the agent.
Know the Contract Forms in General Terms
Dubai uses standard RERA forms. In general terms, Form A is the agreement between seller and brokerage authorising marketing, Form B is between buyer and brokerage, and the main sale agreement between buyer and seller is commonly known as Form F. For rentals, a standard tenancy contract is used and registered through Ejari. Recognise the names, expect the relevant form for your situation, and read every clause before signing.
Never sign a blank or incomplete form. Promises on maintenance, furnishing, payment schedule or handover condition should be written into the contract or a signed addendum, not just agreed verbally. Keep copies of everything and note who holds each document.
Money Safety: The Most Important Rule
In general, never pay rent cheques or deposits to an individual agent personally. Rent cheques should be payable to the landlord named on the title deed and tenancy contract, and commission is normally paid to the brokerage as a business, with a receipt or invoice. For purchases, deposits follow formal DLD-related procedures through recognised channels — if asked to transfer a large sum to a personal account quickly to secure a deal, stop and verify independently.
Pressure is itself a red flag. A trustworthy agent gives you time to check documents and read contracts. Urgency tactics — another buyer today, a price expiring in an hour, cash now — are designed to stop these checks.
Other Red Flags to Watch For
- No office, no ORN or BRN, or reluctance to meet at the office
- Refusal to show the property, title deed or landlord authorisation
- Fees appearing late, changing, or not explained in writing
- Discouraging Ejari registration or official channels
- Contact only by personal messages, with no company paperwork
Finding an Agent Worth Keeping
The best agents know their buildings, answer directly, provide comparable rents or prices to justify a figure, and mention downsides as well as highlights. Ask friends and colleagues for recommendations, then still run the same RERA checks — a referral is a starting point, not a substitute for verification. Specialists in one community often advise better than generalists covering the whole city.
Verify the ORN and BRN, check the listing, insist on proper forms and safe payments, and use the Dubai Land Department as your reference. An agent who welcomes those checks is usually the kind you want.