Setting up a real estate brokerage company in Dubai is a distinct process from an individual broker getting their RERA certification — the company itself needs its own trade licence and RERA registration before any individual broker can practise under it.
Company licensing vs individual broker certification
The brokerage company needs a real estate services trade licence through Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), plus registration with the Real Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA) as an approved brokerage. This is separate from the RERA broker card that individual agents working at the brokerage must hold personally — the company registration and individual agent certification are two different approvals, both required before the business can legally operate.
Requirements for the brokerage itself
Beyond the trade licence, a real estate brokerage typically needs a registered office meeting RERA's specific requirements, a trade name that complies with real estate naming conventions, and at least one RERA-certified broker associated with the company from the outset. Ongoing RERA compliance, including advertising rules and escrow-related requirements for certain transaction types, applies once operational.
Costs and timeline
Costs include the standard mainland trade licence process plus RERA-specific registration fees, which are a smaller additional layer on top of standard company formation costs. Model your base licensing cost with this site's Business Setup Cost Calculator, and confirm current RERA registration fees directly given they are periodically updated.