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What is it about? There are 2,500 accredited and licensed real estate agencies in Dubai. Cooperation with such an agency when buying residential or commercial properties guarantees transaction security.
How to choose? Although the real estate market in the UAE is regulated by laws, the risk of encountering illegal or unfair brokers still remains. Before concluding a contract, carefully study the title documents and familiarize yourself with the agency's portfolio.
As of 2023, Dubai had more than 800,000 homes registered, not counting villas. The real estate market is growing rapidly, and in 2024, another record number of housing units is planned for completion (about 40,000 properties). Additionally, another 91,000 apartments and 28,000 villas will be built by 2028.
The city is divided into 9 zones, including more than 200 districts. However, only 14 are considered the best for living and investment. Each has its own features, advantages, and disadvantages. And choosing a property from such diversity on your own is not an easy task. It's better to contact a real estate agency in Dubai.
A real estate specialist will help select the ideal option, considering your request and preferences. They will take care of the formal side of the transaction: coordinate and conduct negotiations with the seller, and prepare the necessary documents taking into account the specifics of Emirates housing legislation.
Moreover, some real estate agencies cooperate with developers, which means they can offer more favorable prices. And of course, a professional broker knows how to conduct negotiations and bidding, they can negotiate favorable terms with the owner if you're purchasing housing in the secondary market.
Working with a broker not only guarantees you a safe transaction, but you'll also save a huge amount of time and find ideal housing for yourself without worrying about formalities and nuances.
Since 2007, Dubai has had the Real Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA). It oversees all regulatory and legal issues related to property purchases in the emirate. It was created to improve construction quality and enhance transaction security.
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Today, RERA:
Additionally, RERA has developed an online community aimed at ensuring comfortable conditions for everyone involved in Dubai real estate. This innovation was presented at a technology exhibition in 2016 and has already proven its effectiveness.
Furthermore, on RERA's initiative, changes were made to legislation to protect property buyers' rights.
Thus, since 2009, all realtors must obtain a license. Previously, there was no such requirement, and almost anyone could offer their services. The problem was acute, as potential investors were losing large sums of money. And more often not due to fraud, but simply because they entrusted their funds to someone who wasn’t proficient in the financial and legal aspects of the matter.
Licensing helped create a unified database. All information about brokers and agencies is stored in open government sources. You can study it before initiating cooperation.
Requirements for developers have also become stricter. Firstly, they must register all sales during construction with RERA. Secondly, they must provide a 10-year guarantee on their properties.
And one more important point concerns landlords. RERA introduced a convenient tool to regulate the rental market. This is a rental index that allows landlords to set objective prices, and tenants can use this indicator when choosing housing.
The real estate market in Dubai is actively developing, so today there are more than 2,500 registered real estate agencies. For comparison, Moscow has fewer. And it's important in this abundance to find a specialist that will be the best for you.
We have compiled a rating of Dubai real estate agencies, as well as recommendations on what to pay attention to when choosing.
Nothing speaks more eloquently about a company's professionalism than the quantity and quality of solved cases. Usually, they talk about these in their blog and on the official website. You can also learn this information from the manager personally.
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This point is especially important if you have a non-standard request. For example, if you want to conduct a transaction completely online or are looking for a property that will meet multiple criteria.
This point logically follows the previous one. But you can't rely exclusively on online comments: good reviews can be bought, and bad ones can be ordered by competitors. Therefore, pay attention to the ratio of positive and negative feedback, and also look at how the company responds to comments. This says a lot about professionalism.
In any matter and any area, those who are "on the inside" always have a better understanding. Therefore, agents working directly from Dubai will always be more knowledgeable and better informed than those conducting business remotely.
The former are always up-to-date: they promptly learn about all legislative changes and respond to external events. For example, locals definitely know which developers endured the elements better after the recent serious flood in Dubai.
There are huge corporations that work with many countries. On one hand, the abundance of directions speaks to the scale of business. On the other hand, you need to be more careful, as agents' focus may be "blurred" since they try to cover "everything at once". Sometimes it's better to choose not the largest company in the market, but a more niche agency.
It's simple: you should feel comfortable at all stages. You will constantly be in touch with the agent: discussing preferences, considering options, processing the transaction. If the agent's communication style doesn't suit you, don’t waste your energy and look for another option.
Despite Dubai's housing legislation being quite strict, illegal brokers still exist. It was mentioned earlier that you need to obtain a license from RERA to open a real estate agency in Dubai. There are enterprising citizens who skip this step and conduct business illegally, but may offer very attractive conditions.
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It's very important to understand the following:
Of course, it should be noted that it's quite difficult to encounter an unfair broker in Dubai because the government does everything to ensure the process’ transparency. You definitely won't meet "black realtors" from the 90s USSR there, but nevertheless, it's necessary to know about possible risks. Forewarned is forearmed.
This agency has been in the real estate market for over 20 years and sells property directly from developers. Guarantees full support: from organizing your arrival in Dubai to preparing legal documents.
Since its founding, the agency has established itself as a reliable partner for buyers, sellers, and renters seeking the ideal home or profitable investment opportunities in Dubai.
Estate Dreams offers professional advice on all aspects of buying and selling real estate, including market analysis, selecting the most suitable properties, and assistance with legal matters.
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Thanks to a team of experienced agents and experts, clients receive a personalized approach and high-quality service, making the property purchasing process simpler and more convenient.
Ax Capital actively utilizes modern technologies and marketing approaches to ensure maximum attractiveness of properties for potential buyers and tenants. This includes virtual tours, high-quality photography, and effective advertising campaigns.
The agency values long-term relationships with clients, offering support at all stages of cooperation. Axe Capital not only helps its clients find the perfect property but also becomes a reliable partner throughout the entire process.
The agency offers a wide range of properties, from luxury villas and elite apartments to commercial properties and development land. Thanks a team of experienced agents, clients can count on a personalized approach and consultations on all matters related to purchasing or renting.
The Metropolitan Group team consists of experts with in-depth knowledge of the Dubai real estate market. They offer a personalized approach to each client and help find optimal solutions that meet their needs and financial capabilities.
The agency also provides consulting services, including legal support, property management, and mortgage assistance.
One of Metropolitan Group's hallmarks is its high level of transparency and professionalism in its client relationships. This allows it to successfully build long-term relationships and trust, which is especially important in Dubai's highly competitive market.
A dynamically developing company focused on providing high-quality real estate services in one of the world's most attractive cities.
The agency also provides real estate valuation services, legal support for transactions, and investment advisory services. DDA Real Estate's high level of professionalism and local market knowledge allow it to effectively work with both local residents and foreign investors.
Apartment payback period in Dubai is 26 years faster than in Russia:
| United Emirates | RUSSIA | BALI | CYPRUS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual profit (%) | 20–30% | 3–6% | 10–15% | 6–8% |
| Average price per m² | $4000 | $3000 | $1300 | $3500 |
| Interest rate ($) | $1960/month | $440/month | $720/month | $1490/month |
| Payback period | 3–5 years | 15–30 years | 6–10 years | 12–16 years |
To choose an agent who can guarantee a reliable and profitable transaction, ask the following questions during negotiations:
The information received should be sufficient to get an idea of how reliable the real estate agency is and how interested they are in satisfying your requests.
This is a multi-step process that helps minimize the number of unfair realtors. To obtain a license, a broker must:
Must be fluent in English, as everything in the programme is presented in this language: studying laws, documentation, economic research.
After successfully passing the exam (need to score more than 85 points), agents receive the corresponding certificate and an individual broker card. Qualification must be confirmed annually, and the documents must be renewed as often.
In the situations listed below, the optimal option is to put the transaction "on pause", and possibly terminate cooperation:
Dubai is an attractive destination not only for tourists but also for investors. It can be difficult to understand the geographical and legislative intricacies of the emirate on your own. Brokers can help with this.
Today in Dubai there are more than 2,500 licensed agencies helping to select the optimal option for you and guaranteeing legal security at all stages of the transaction.
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