How to Get RERA Certificate in Dubai

Summary

To get a RERA certificate in Dubai, you complete the Certified Training for Real Estate Brokers, pass the RERA exam (AED 700 plus small fees), get a Dubai Police good conduct certificate, then join a RERA-registered brokerage that applies for your broker card (AED 500) through Trakheesi. This guide covers eligibility, total cost, exam tips, documents, ORN and BRN, company registration, verification and annual renewal.

Every week someone tells me they “have a RERA licence” when they actually passed the course but never got a broker card. In Dubai, those are not the same thing, and only the card lets you legally earn commission. Having helped agents and brokerage owners through licensing as part of our business setup in Dubai work, I have written this guide to show the real sequence, the real fees and the mistakes that cost people months.

What Is RERA in Dubai?

The Real Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA) is the regulatory arm of the Dubai Land Department (DLD). It licenses brokers and brokerage offices, regulates developers and off-plan sales, approves service charges and oversees landlord and tenant rules.

When people say “RERA certificate”, they usually mean one of three things:

RERA Certificate at a Glance

RERA Eligibility Criteria

• At least 21 years old
• Valid UAE residence visa (or UAE or GCC nationality)
• Minimum high school education
• Clean record and a Dubai Police certificate of good conduct
• Employment with, or ownership of, a RERA-registered brokerage

You cannot hold a broker card as a freelancer. The card is tied to the office whose trade licence you work under.

How to Get RERA Certificate in Dubai: Step-by-Step

1. Get your visa sorted. Your residence should sit on the same licence as the brokerage you will join, or be arranged through family sponsorship with the employer’s approval.
2. Enrol in the Certified Training for Real Estate Brokers at the Dubai Real Estate Institute or an approved provider.
3. Complete the course, which covers Dubai property laws, brokerage ethics, contracts, off-plan rules and anti-money laundering.
4. Book the RERA exam through your training provider or the DLD system.
5. Pass the exam. Brokers commonly prepare for a pass mark of 85%.
6. Get a good conduct certificate from Dubai Police.
7. Your brokerage applies for your broker card on Trakheesi with your photo and Emirates ID.
8. Pay the fee online and print your e-card with your BRN.

Consultant tip: Ask your employer to start the visa and good conduct certificate while you are in training. Running them in parallel can save two to three weeks.

RERA Certificate Cost in Dubai

Official fees are listed on DLD’s broker card service page. Many brokerages pay these costs for new agents, so ask before you pay yourself.

RERA Course in Dubai: What You Learn

The Certified Training for Real Estate Brokers is the only RERA training course that leads to a broker card. Other “RERA courses” sold online are often just exam prep. The certified course usually runs over 3 to 4 days, in English or Arabic, and covers:

• The role of DLD, RERA and Trakheesi
• Brokerage laws, licensing rules and the broker code of ethics
• Buying, selling and leasing procedures
• Contracts and RERA forms
• Off-plan property, escrow and developer obligations
• Valuation basics, mortgages and transfer fees
• AML duties and client due diligence

Choose a provider that books your exam for you and offers mock tests.

The RERA Exam: Format and Tips

The RERA exam is a supervised, computer-based multiple-choice test on:

• Dubai real estate laws and RERA regulations
• Brokerage ethics and code of conduct
• Sale and lease contracts, including RERA Form A, Form B, Form F and Form I
• Off-plan sales, escrow and Oqood basics
• Tenancy rules, Ejari and the rental index
• AML and client due diligence

How to pass on the first attempt – Learn the purpose of each RERA form, especially Form F (the sale contract or MOU) – Practise scenario questions, not just definitions – Revise commission and deposit rules – Book the exam soon after training while content is fresh

Exam exemptions: DLD exempts brokers over 55, brokers with five consecutive years in the same office and start-up licence holders.

RERA Good Conduct Certificate

The good conduct certificate is a police clearance from Dubai Police confirming you have no criminal record in the UAE. You can apply online through the Dubai Police app or website using your Emirates ID and UAE Pass. It is usually issued within a few days. Get it early, because the broker card cannot be approved without it.

Documents Required for a RERA Broker Card

• Certified training completion certificate
• RERA exam result
• Dubai Police certificate of good conduct
• Emirates ID copy
• Passport copy and residence visa
• Personal photo
• Brokerage trade licence and ORN (submitted by your employer)

How to Get RERA Certificate for a Company (ORN)

If you want to open your own agency, you need an Office Registration Number (ORN). The sequence is:

1. Get a mainland company trade licence from the Department of Economy and Tourism with a real estate brokerage activity
2. Lease a commercial office and register the Ejari
3. Register the office with RERA through Trakheesi to receive your ORN
4. Have at least one broker certified and carded under the licence
5. Register for AML on goAML and appoint a compliance officer

Our commercial brokerage licence in Dubai guide covers company costs in detail. If you plan to manage buildings after handover, see our property management licence guide, and if you want to build rather than sell, read our real estate development licence guide.

ORN vs BRN

• ORN (Office Registration Number): identifies the brokerage company and must appear on all company adverts
• BRN (Broker Registration Number): identifies the individual broker and must appear on the broker’s listings
• Trakheesi permit: required for every property advert, linked to the ORN

RERA Certificate Verification and Download

• Download: your e-card is printed or downloaded from Trakheesi once approved
• Verification: buyers and tenants can check a broker’s BRN and an office’s ORN on DLD’s Dubai REST app and website
• Advert checks: every listing must show a valid Trakheesi permit number

If your BRN does not appear in verification, check that your brokerage’s trade licence is active, because your card follows the licence.

RERA Licence Renewal

• The broker card is renewed yearly, in line with the brokerage trade licence
• Brokers must pass the annual renewal test unless exempt
• Apply at least 30 days before expiry
• A card left unrenewed for too long can mean repeating the certified training
• Changing brokerage means cancelling and reissuing the card under the new office

Benefits of a RERA Licence

• Legal right to earn commission on Dubai property deals
• Access to DLD systems, listings portals and developer launches
• Trust from buyers who verify brokers on Dubai REST
• A clear path to opening your own brokerage

Career Paths After RERA Certification

• Residential sales or leasing agent
• Off-plan sales specialist working with developers
• Commercial property and land broker
• Team leader or sales manager
• Owner of your own brokerage

Most agents in Dubai earn through commission splits with their brokerage, so choosing the right office matters as much as passing the exam.

Common Mistakes When Getting a RERA Certificate

• Paying for the course before securing a job or visa with a brokerage
• Assuming the training certificate alone lets you work
• Advertising listings without a Trakheesi permit
• Letting the brokerage licence lapse, which suspends your card
• Taking side deals outside your registered brokerage

How DIAC Helps Agents and Brokerages

For individuals, we coordinate visa and good conduct paperwork. For agency owners, we handle the trade licence, Ejari, RERA office registration, broker cards through our PRO services, corporate bank account opening and VAT registration. Top-performing agents can also explore the UAE Golden Visa. Estimate your agency setup with our business setup cost calculator.

RERA Certificate Dubai FAQs

Start Your Real Estate Career or Brokerage With DIAC

Whether you need your first broker card or a full brokerage licence, DIAC handles the paperwork so you can focus on deals. Book a free consultation today.

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