Questions to Ask a Real Estate Agent

Updated September 2026

The most important questions to ask a real estate agent in Dubai are: what is your BRN, who do you represent, what is your commission and when is it due, does this listing have a DLD permit, and where will my money be held. Below are 17 questions grouped by licensing, the property, costs and process, with why each one matters and what a good answer sounds like.

Licensing and who they work for4 questions The property5 questions Fees and commission4 questions The process and the money4 questions

Questions about licensing and who they work for

Ask these at the first contact. They take a minute and screen out most problems.

1What is your BRN, and what is your agency's ORN?
Why it matters: Bylaw No. 85 of 2006 bans anyone from brokering property in Dubai unless licensed and entered in the DLD's brokers register. A registered broker gets a card with their registration number, which must appear on their correspondence.
A good answer: Both numbers, straight away, and they match what you find on the DLD's Licensed Real Estate Brokers list or in the Dubai REST app.
2Who are you representing in this deal: me, the other side, or both?
Why it matters: A broker who acts for the other party against your interests loses the right to a fee (Article 23). If one broker acts for both sides, each side owes its own share of commission (Article 33).
A good answer: A clear answer, and if they act for both sides, they say so and explain how the fee is split.
3How long have you worked in this area, and what have you closed here recently?
Why it matters: Local knowledge is what you are paying for: service charges, which buildings have issues, what similar units actually sold or rented for.
A good answer: Specific buildings and recent examples, not general claims. They can point you to the DLD's registered transaction data rather than only to asking prices.
4Can I speak to past clients or read your reviews?
Why it matters: Past clients tell you how the agent behaves when something goes wrong, which is when it matters.
A good answer: They point you to reviews you can check independently, such as their RealtyReview.ae profile, not only testimonials on their own site.

Questions about the property

The agent should either know the answer or tell you exactly where to find it.

5Does this listing have a valid advertising permit?
Why it matters: Every real estate ad in Dubai needs a permit from the DLD's Trakheesi system, and the permit number must appear in the ad. Since April 2023 ads also carry a Madmoun QR code that shows whether the listing is approved and whether the property is already sold or rented.
A good answer: They show you the permit number and QR code, and the QR details match the property and the agency.
6Who owns the property, and have you seen the title deed?
Why it matters: For a sale, the seller's broker needs valid title deed details to create Form A in the DLD system. You can check a title deed yourself with the DLD's Verify Title Deed service.
A good answer: Yes, with the title deed number and year so you can verify it, and confirmation that the seller signed Form A.
7Is there a mortgage or a tenant on the property?
Why it matters: A mortgaged property can be sold, but the bank must be paid off at transfer. A tenant keeps their lease after a sale; a landlord selling needs to give 12 months' notice by notary or registered mail to end it.
A good answer: A straight answer, with the lease end date and rent if there is a tenant, and whether the seller's bank has issued a liability letter.
8What are the annual service charges, and are they paid up?
Why it matters: Service charges are an ongoing cost of ownership, and a developer or management company NOC is needed before a sale in a freehold area can transfer.
A good answer: A current figure per square foot or per year for the building, and confirmation the seller is not in arrears.
9For off-plan: is the project registered, and what is the escrow account number?
Why it matters: Law No. 8 of 2007 requires off-plan payments to go into the project's escrow account. The Dubai REST app shows a project's completion percentage and escrow account number.
A good answer: The project name as registered with the DLD, the escrow account details, and a clear statement that no payment goes anywhere else.

Questions about fees and commission

Get every answer here in writing before your first viewing.

10What is your commission, and is VAT on top?
Why it matters: Commission is set by agreement under Bylaw No. 85 of 2006; there is no legal rate. For sales, 2% plus VAT is customary.
A good answer: An exact figure or percentage, stated as including or excluding VAT, written into Form A, Form B or the leasing form.
11When do I pay you, and what if the deal doesn't happen?
Why it matters: By default, a broker is paid only when a contract is concluded, when the sale is signed and registered with the DLD, and can't claim expenses for a failed deal unless the agreement says so (Articles 28 and 30).
A good answer: Payment on completion, and no fees for a deal that falls through. Be wary of any upfront charge.
12What will the total cost of buying or selling be?
Why it matters: The DLD transfer fee alone is 4% of the price, plus trustee office and title deed fees. The DLD schedule splits the 4% between buyer and seller, though the buyer customarily pays it all.
A good answer: An itemised estimate that matches DLD figures and says who pays each item. Check it against our buying cost calculator.
13Is the contract exclusive, and how long does it run?
Why it matters: Form A and Form B record a contract duration. If a Form A is terminated, the broker can still claim the agreed fee unless fraud or gross negligence is proven (Article 29).
A good answer: A duration you can live with and plain terms for ending it early.

Questions about the process and the money

Property scams depend on getting you to pay the wrong person, or to pay too early. Ask exactly how the money will move.

14Which DLD contracts will we use?
Why it matters: The DLD has standard electronic contracts: Form A (seller and broker), Form B (buyer and broker) and Form F (the unified sale contract). RERA also requires approved standard forms for leasing.
A good answer: The DLD forms, created in the Dubai Brokers system and sent to you to approve, not a private agreement.
15Where does my deposit go, and who holds it?
Why it matters: A broker who holds your money is legally a trustee of it and must pass it on as agreed (Article 21).
A good answer: A named account belonging to the agency, the developer's escrow account for off-plan, or a manager's cheque, with a receipt and written terms for refund.
16How and where will the transfer be done?
Why it matters: A resale is registered at a DLD Real Estate Registration Trustee office, where fees are paid by ePay, Dubai Pay, Noqodi or manager's cheque. For some unmortgaged freehold units the DLD's Dubai Now service handles the money through escrow.
A good answer: A trustee office appointment with both parties or their authorised representatives, and the price paid there, not beforehand to an individual.
17What could delay this deal, and how long will it take?
Why it matters: NOCs, mortgage approvals and bank clearances each take time. The DLD says an eNOC, for example, takes 3 to 5 working days.
A good answer: A realistic timeline that names each step and who is responsible for it.

After the conversation

Check the answers you were given. Look up the BRN and ORN yourself on the DLD register, scan the Madmoun QR code on the listing, and verify the title deed number with the DLD. If an agent was vague on commission, the deposit or who they represent, that tells you something too.

For the licensing rules and contracts in more depth, read how to choose a real estate agent in Dubai. To compare agents on client reviews, see the best real estate agents in the UAE or search agent profiles. Selling? Our guide to selling property in Dubai covers the steps and fees, and the buying cost calculatorhelps check a buyer's cost estimate.

Frequently asked questions

What should I ask a real estate agent before hiring them in Dubai?

Ask for their BRN and their agency's ORN and check them on the DLD register, who they represent, their commission in writing and when it is due, which DLD contracts they will use, and where your deposit will be held. Then ask about their recent deals in your area.

How do I verify a real estate agent's BRN?

Search the Dubai Land Department's Licensed Real Estate Brokers list or the Dubai REST app by name, office, mobile number or ORN. The DLD's Verify License and Permits service also checks licences and permits issued to real estate practitioners.

Is agent commission negotiable in Dubai?

Yes. Bylaw No. 85 of 2006 says a broker's fee is set by agreement between the broker and the client. For sales, 2% of the price plus VAT is customary, not a legal rate.

Should I pay an agent a deposit before seeing a property?

No. Dubai Police warn that rental scammers ask for booking deposits or fees before a viewing. Pay only after you have seen the property, verified the broker and the owner, and have the terms in writing.

How can I tell if a property listing in Dubai is real?

Check that the ad shows a DLD permit number and a Madmoun QR code. Scanning the code shows the approved listing, the advertising company and whether the property has already been sold or rented.

Sources

Last reviewed September 2026. Article numbers refer to Bylaw No. 85 of 2006 Regulating the Real Estate Brokers Register in the Emirate of Dubai.

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Verify licences, permits and title deeds yourself with the Dubai Land Department before you pay anything.

Questions to Ask a Real Estate Agent

Questions about licensing and who they work for

1What is your BRN, and what is your agency's ORN?

2Who are you representing in this deal: me, the other side, or both?

3How long have you worked in this area, and what have you closed here recently?

4Can I speak to past clients or read your reviews?

Questions about the property

5Does this listing have a valid advertising permit?

6Who owns the property, and have you seen the title deed?

7Is there a mortgage or a tenant on the property?

8What are the annual service charges, and are they paid up?

9For off-plan: is the project registered, and what is the escrow account number?

Questions about fees and commission

10What is your commission, and is VAT on top?

11When do I pay you, and what if the deal doesn't happen?

12What will the total cost of buying or selling be?

13Is the contract exclusive, and how long does it run?

Questions about the process and the money

14Which DLD contracts will we use?

15Where does my deposit go, and who holds it?

16How and where will the transfer be done?

17What could delay this deal, and how long will it take?

After the conversation

Frequently asked questions

Sources