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Dubai’s real estate market continues to attract investors, businesses, and professionals from around the world. For Indian entrepreneurs planning to enter this market, understanding the licensing and regulatory requirements is an important part of setting up a real estate business.
If you’ve been searching “RERA certificate in Dubai for Indians” online, it’s necessary to know that the term “RERA certificate” is usually used & doesn’t refer to a particular universal license that applies to all real estate companies or professionals. To add, the exact needs are based on the activity of the real estate, structure of the business, & the individual’s role.
RERA stands for Real Estate Regulatory Agency and operates under the Dubai Land Department (DLD). It plays an important role in regulating Dubai’s real estate sector and maintaining a transparent and structured property market.
RERA is the regulatory arm of the Dubai Land Department responsible for regulating various aspects of Dubai’s real estate sector.
The main purposes and objectives of RERA include:
This is done with the aim of attracting foreign investment and making the market more attractive to overseas buyers and developers.
RERA works to establish rules and regulations for participants in Dubai’s real estate market, including tenants, landlords, developers, and brokers.
The Real Estate Regulatory Agency/Dubai Land Department regulates different activities, which include real estate brokerage, the management of property, consultancy, development, the mortgage brokerage, as well as other services.
Dubai Land Department offers online systems & services when it comes to licensing, renewals, verification, the professional practice cards, as well as other procedures that are real estate related.
Here’s a quick distinction for you to understand:
| Terminology | Meaning | Applies to |
| Real Estate Regulatory Agency Certificate | A term that is usually used for the proof of Real Estate Regulatory Agency/ Dubai Land Department registration or approval. To add, the same isn’t a particular single universal certificate when it comes to every real estate activity. | Based on your activity. |
| Real Estate Regulatory Agency License | The relevant business/trade license for trade that allows a business to conduct a real estate activity that is approved. | Real estate companies. |
| Professional Practice Card | An official card that is issued to people who are eligible and practise the real estate activities that are regulated, like brokers. | Individual professionals. |
The exact process is based on your real estate activity that you are intending to conduct. When it comes to an Indian business owner who wishes to establish a brokerage or any other real estate business that is regulated, the process usually involves the below-mentioned steps:
First, you need to figure out the activity your business is intending to conduct. Dubai Land Department regulates several activities, which include sales & purchase brokerage, consultancy, management of property, leasing brokerage, mortgage brokerage, as well as development. Remember, the activity that is selected is what defines the relevant licensing & registration needs.
Indian business owners should figure out if they will set up a new United Arab Emirates business, use another structure of business that is suitable, or establish a branch structure that is allowed. That said, the suitable route is based on their activity, arrangement of ownership, & licensing jurisdiction.
The business must get the trade license that is relevant to its authorised real estate activity. To add, you don’t have to confuse this business-level license with a person’s broker/ professional practice card.
For activities that are related to the broker, applicants might be required to finish the applicable real estate qualification as well as examination requirements. Dubai Land Department’s existing requirements also encompass a Good Conduct Certificate from the Dubai police when it comes to broker applicants.
Dubai Land Department’s present process for professional practice card utilises the Trakheesi system. As an applicant, you can pick the applicable service, provide the needed information, upload your paperwork, submit your application, & pay the fee that is applicable.
After the relevant requirements are finished, eligible professionals get a professional practice card that is electronic. That said, for brokers, the same is usually referred to as the Real Estate Regulatory Agency broker card.
For those who do not know, the validity of your professional practice card is connected to your trade license’s validity. Dubai Land Department offers renewal services via Trakheesi & Dubai REST, provided all the applicable requirements are met.
Indian nationals planning to work as real estate brokers in Dubai must understand that owning a real estate company and obtaining individual professional authorisation are two separate matters.
The Dubai Land Department (DLD) regulates real estate brokerage activities and establishes the requirements for professionals working in the sector.
Depending on the nature of the activity and the applicant’s eligibility, the requirements may include:
Indian nationals should confirm their eligibility for individual broker registration with DLD before applying. The requirements for owning a brokerage may differ from those for working as a registered real estate broker.
Therefore, it is important to evaluate the proposed business structure and individual professional requirements separately before beginning the registration process.
The exact paperwork is dependent on the activity of the real estate & category of the applicant. That said, when it comes to a broker or professional practice card, your usually needed documents include:
There’s not a single fixed Real Estate Regulatory Agency fee that applies to all Indian business owners. The overall costing can include company setup, trade licensing, visas, Dubai Land Department/Real Estate Regulatory Agency-related charges, costs of the office, professional cards, as well as other government/service charges.
When it comes to a professional practice card for a real estate broker, Dubai Land Department presently lists an issuance charge of Dhs 500. In addition, the examination of the broker is listed in a separate manner at Dhs 700, plus a Dhs 10 knowledge fee & Dhs 10 innovation fee. Furthermore, an ERES charge of Dhs 50 plus Value Added Tax is also listed.
Note: You shouldn’t be treating these charges as your total cost of setting up a Dubai real estate business. The overall cost is based on your business activity & structure selected.
Holding the relevant RERA/DLD registration and professional authorisation can help real estate professionals operate within Dubai’s regulatory framework.
Establishing a real estate company involves more than getting a single certificate. For those who do not know, Indian business owners should consider the total setup, which includes the appropriate activity, company structure, trade license, Dubai Land Department/Real Estate Regulatory Agency registration, professional needs, arrangements for office, visas, & ongoing compliance.
Pro Tip: Properly planning these requirements prior to incorporation could be helpful for a business owner in selecting a structure that is in line with their real estate activity that is intended.
Indian business owners who are planning their very own real estate agency ought to figure out if their business will be focusing on leasing, sale of property, or any other activity that is regulated. Dubai Land Department recognises brokerage activities that cover the selling & purchasing of properties as well as leasing properties.
It is a must for a company to also make sure that brokers & concerned personnel are meeting the relevant registration & professional-card needs.
If an existing Indian business is thinking about expanding into Dubai, it should evaluate whether a United Arab Emirates entity is suitable, or if they should go for a branch structure for their business, or choose another approved setup.
Remember, the correct structure is based on the activity that is proposed, arrangement of ownership, the existing company, & requirements for licensing.
Yes, Indian business owners can start planning about establishing a Dubai company while still living in India. Based on the structure as well as the licensing route, some parts of the setup process could be prepared or started remotely.
If you have made up your mind to start real estate business in Dubai from India, then you can start by figuring out the activity of the real estate, picking a business structure that is suitable, putting together your documents, & evaluating the relevant licensing & registration requirements.
That said, remote preparation doesn’t eradicate the requirement for satisfying Dubai, UAE’s licensing, professional, immigration, as well as regulatory requirements.
As per the Dubai Land Department, presently, it is possible for an expatriate to own a license for real estate brokerage. However, the same is subject to the relevant citizen services agent requirement. Having said that, brokerage ownership & a person’s eligibility for practising as a broker continue to be separate considerations.
After the business & concerned professionals are finished with the applicable licensing as well as registration requirements, it becomes possible for the business to function within its approved activity scope. That said, it is a must for it to ensure the maintenance of valid licenses & professional cards & also maintain compliance when it comes to the DLD/RERA rules that apply.
DLD offers services via which you can get access to information regarding licensed real estate brokers as well as establishments. In addition, it is also possible to verify electronic professional cards that are relevant via Dubai Land Department’s available services.
Obtaining the appropriate registration and licensing is an important step when establishing a real estate business in Dubai.
For an Indian business owner who’s strategising about entering the real estate market of Dubai, Shuraa India professionals could be of assistance. Whether it’s company formation, assistance when it comes to PRO, visa applications, office solutions, licensing, or related company setup needs, we are always prepared to help our clients.
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If you’ve been searching “RERA certificate in Dubai for Indians” and feeling confused, you need to know that it usually refers to the applicable Real Estate Regulatory Agency/Dubai Land Department registration/ professional authorisation needed to conduct real estate activities (that are regulated) in Dubai. It is to be noted that the exact requirement is based on the activity of the business & if you’re a business or just an individual professional.
No. The latter authorises a business to carry out its business activity that is approved, whereas the former relates especially to the real estate activities that are regulated. To put it simply, both are separate requirements.
Dubai Land Department lists Dhs 500 when it comes to issuing a RERA broker card. That said, the examination & other expenses are listed separately.
No, usually, the process is quite straightforward, provided you are meeting all the relevant requirements & have all the needed paperwork ready. If you are an Indian business owner, you may seek professional help when it comes to RERA registration in Dubai for Indians.
Yes. At Shuraa India, experienced consultants are there to help you with your requirements and queries. In addition, we strongly believe in providing thorough assistance to our clients. Having spent over 26 years in the business setup space, we are confident that we can help our clients when it comes to business setup.
Disclaimer
The information on this page is just for educational purposes only and shouldn’t be perceived as legal/financial advice. Fees of the government, criteria of eligibility, procedures, & regulatory needs might change. Therefore, make sure you’re always confirming the most recent requirements with DLD & applicable licensing authority prior to applying.
About the author
Dhruv BadolaA professional content writer and UAE business advisor, Dhruv Badola takes a keen interest in writing about corporate regulations and company setup in the UAE. He simplifies complex legal and business jargon for Indian entrepreneurs, keeping them up to date with the UAE's evolving business ecosystem. With crucial insights and practical advice, Dhruv ensures that nothing stops Indian businesses from successfully launching, growing, and thriving in the UAE market.
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