All Guides / Real Estate & Property
Starting a real estate business in the UAE
Brokerage is licensed by RERA and needs a registered broker card, the free-zone activity does not substitute for it.
What This Sector Covers
Real estate brokerage, property management, owners association management, valuation, real estate consultancy and development all appear in the activity lists, though this is one of the smaller sectors by activity count across our partner zones.
Real estate is an emirate-regulated business. In Dubai, RERA governs brokerage, property management and owners association management: the company registers, individual brokers hold broker cards, and escrow rules apply to off-plan sales. A free-zone license bearing a real estate activity does not permit you to broker Dubai property without that registration, and the other emirates run comparable regimes.
Who typically licenses this. Brokerages, property managers, valuers, developers and real estate investment vehicles.
Browse by category
Find Your Category First
Not sure which activity you need? Start with the category closest to your business, then pick the activity inside it.
Real Estate Advisory & Valuation
48- Real Estate Consultancy
- Feasibility & Market Studies
- Property Valuation Services
Property Management & Leasing
15- Residential Leasing & Rentals
- Property Management
- Owners Association Management
- Holiday Home & Short-Term Rental Management
Real Estate Investment & Development
15- Real Estate Development
- Land Buying & Selling
Real Estate Brokerage & Sales
0Approvals You Should Expect
Across our partner zones, 34 of the 73 listings in this sector (47%) carry a named external approval. These are the bodies that appear most often, an approval here is a condition of the license, not an optional extra, and several must be obtained before the license issues.
Which Zone Carries It
Every partner zone publishes activities in this sector, but not evenly. SRTIP carries the most at 22 listings. Breadth is not the only thing that matters (fees, visa quota, facility type and reputation all count) but a zone with a thin list in your sector is a zone that may not have your exact activity.
Before You Apply
- Broker cards are held by individuals and require training and examination.
- Holding property through a company has its own ownership rules depending on the emirate and the freehold area.
- Real estate investment and holding is a quieter, cleaner structure than brokerage if you are not selling to third parties.
A to Z of Every real estate & property Activity
Every activity published in this sector across our partner zones, alphabetically. Zone codes show where each one is available; click any activity carrying ⓘ to read the free zone’s own official description of it.
B
C
D
E
F
J
L
M
P
R
S
W
Questions We Get Asked
Do I need the exact activity, or is something close enough?
The exact one. Banks, customs, payment providers and clients all read the license wording literally, and an activity that only roughly describes what you do creates friction at account opening and at import. With 44 activities published in this sector alone, there is almost always a precise line available.
Can I hold more than one activity on a single license?
Yes. Every zone allows multiple activities on one license, usually with a package covering a set number and a fee per additional activity beyond it. Some zones restrict mixing across license types, for example combining a trading activity with a professional one, so the combination matters more than the count.
What does an “external approval” actually mean here?
It means a body outside the free zone has to sign off before your license can issue or before you may operate. In this sector that most often means Real Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA), followed by Sharjah Real Estate Registration Department. The free zone will not waive it, and applying without it is the most common cause of a stalled application.
Which free zone should I choose for this sector?
Start by confirming the zone publishes your exact activity, that alone removes several options. In this sector SRTIP publishes the most activities. Then weigh cost, visa quota, whether you need a physical facility, and whether your clients or bank have a preference. We do this comparison as part of the setup rather than leaving it to you.
Is a free zone license enough to trade on the UAE mainland?
Not by itself. A free-zone company can sell to mainland customers through a distributor or agent, and can service mainland clients in many sectors, but holding a physical outlet, a workshop or a site presence on the mainland generally needs a DED license or a branch. This matters more in some sectors than others, it is decisive in retail, hospitality and contracting.
How current is this list?
It reflects the activity lists each zone publishes, as loaded into our catalogue. Zones add and retire activities without announcement, and fees change. Treat it as an accurate map rather than a live feed, and confirm the specific activity before you commit.