Trust & Safety
Claims & Reviews Policy
User claims publish only after evidence review and right of reply. Reviews follow verification tiers. The Scam Watchlist is authority-sourced only.
RealtyReview publishes what a claimant can evidence and what an authority has ruled. We do not publish platform-authored accusations.
Submit a ClaimA more trusted property market
for a brighter UAE
- Evidence-checked claims
- Right of reply before publication
- Verified badge for evidence-backed reviews
- Separate from Scam Watchlist
Claims, Reviews and the Scam Watchlist
Three different sources. Three different purposes. All contribute to a safer property market.
Claims
User-sourced, evidence-gated
- Factual allegations from real customers
- Published only after evidence review
- Right of reply from the respondent
- Shown on developer, company and agent pages
Reviews
Opinion-based customer feedback
- Customer experiences and opinions
- Star rating system (1–5)
- Evidence-backed reviews carry a Verified badge
- Helps others make informed decisions
Scam Watchlist
Authority-sourced only
- Includes police, regulator and court items
- Based on official public sources only
- Not user-submitted
- Separate from claims and reviews
What appears on developer, company and agent pages
Each entity page brings together key information to help you make a more informed decision.
Identity & Licence
- ORN / BRN / RLN details
- Licence status (suspended)
- Verified with DLD/RERA
- Last verified date
Official Record
- Regulatory actions (if any)
- Source and reference number
- Court rulings (if public)
- Last updated date
Claims Summary
- Total published claims
- Response rate
- Resolution rate
- View all claims
Reviews
- Average rating (1–5)
- Verified transaction share
- Total number of reviews
- View all reviews
How a published claim appears
Claims and responses are shown together, so you can read both sides. The example below is an illustration, not a real claim.
Example claim
Evidence verified — awaiting response from developer“Paid 20% in 2024 for an off-plan unit. Construction has been significantly delayed and latest timeline keeps changing. Seeking refund or clear timeline as per contract.”
View full claim detailsDeveloper's Response
Response pendingThis claim has been evidence verified and the developer has been notified. The developer's response will be published here once received, within 14 days.
Evidence verified means a genuine transaction and supporting documents were confirmed. It does not mean the allegation is proven.
How claims are reviewed before publication
Every claim goes through a structured review process to ensure fairness, accuracy and evidence.
Submission
Claim submitted with required information.
Day 0Automated checks
Fraud, duplicates and completeness checks.
Within hoursHuman evidence review
Documents and details reviewed by our team.
1-3 daysRespondent notification
Entity notified with claim details and evidence summary.
Within 1 dayRight of reply — 14 days
Respondent can provide a response and supporting info.
14 daysPublication with response
Claim and response published together on the entity page.
After 14 daysPost-publication updates
Add new information, mark as resolved or update status.
OngoingWhat a claimant must supply
To keep our disputes fair and factual, every claim requires the following.
Identity verification
- Full name (as per official ID)
- OTP-verified phone number
- Emirates ID or passport (stored privately)
Respondent selected from licensed registry
- Must select developer, company or agent from our licensed registry
- Helps prevent false or misleading claims
- Ensures the right entity is notified
Transaction details
- Ejari, Tawtheeq or title deed (if available)
- Sales or rental agreement reference
- Transaction date and amount (AED)
- Property / project name
Claim category taxonomy
- Deposit dispute · Off-plan delivery
- Contract not registered · Escrow issue
- Fee dispute · Unlicensed practice
- Listing misrepresentation · Other (with details)
Supporting evidence
- Contracts, invoices, payment receipts
- WhatsApp or email correspondence
- Photos, videos or other relevant documents
- Accepted file types: PDF, JPG, PNG (max 10MB)
Narrative + declarations
- Clear factual description of what happened
- Timeline of key events
- Declaration that information is truthful
- Agreement to our Terms of Use
Published claim labels
Claims can carry the following labels, depending on their status.
Review labels
Reviews help others understand real customer experiences.
The reviewer supplied evidence of the transaction, such as a contract or Ejari. The review carries a Verified badge.
The review passed moderation against our review policy but no transaction evidence was supplied.
Rights, governance & what we never publish
We are committed to a fair, transparent and responsible process for everyone.
Respondent rights
- Notified before publication
- Reply displayed equally and in full
- Request a correction if needed
- Appeal through our process
- Free to provide a response
Claimant rights
- Choose whether your name is visible or hidden
- Withdraw your claim at any time
- Update your claim with new information
- Appeal a rejection decision once
What we never publish
- Full documents or sensitive personal data
- Bank details or full Emirates ID numbers
- Specific unit numbers (e.g. Apartment 101)
- Hearsay, rumours or unverified allegations
- Private life or unrelated personal information
- Matters that are before a court
Matters that are before a court do not publish. We respect the judicial process and will not publish claims or details that are subject to ongoing court proceedings.
Documented Enforcement
Official regulator enforcement actions.
Dubai Land Department — advertising violations
10 companies fined, 30 warned for real estate advertising violations.
Violation categories:
- No advertising permit
- Falsified or manipulated permit numbers
- Expired permits
Penalties:
- Progressive fines from AED 50,000
- Licence cancellation for repeat offenders
Most recent locatable DLD enforcement announcement of this kind.
Check the Advert Before You Check Anything Else
Verify the listing permit on every advert.
RERA
Dubai – Trakheesi permit + Madmoun QR code
- Every advert requires a Trakheesi permit
- Permit number must appear on the advert
- Since April 2023 permits carry a Madmoun QR code
- No permit number is a red flag
ADREC
Abu Dhabi – Madhmoun permit
- Mandatory since 7 July 2025
- Verifies listing against official records
- Requires owner authorization of the broker
- Approved adverts carry a Madhmoun QR code
Note: Madmoun (Dubai) vs Madhmoun (Abu Dhabi) — same purpose, different spelling.
Check the Person
Verify agents, brokers and developers.
Dubai — broker and developer verification
- BRN status Active
- Linked brokerage ORN Verified
- Matching photo Required
- Future expiry date Check
Use the Dubai REST app to verify.
Check the Money
Protect yourself when making payments.
Use official channels. Never pay to personal accounts.
- Off-plan purchases must go into a registered escrow account.
- Verify the account directly with the bank.
- Never transfer to a personal account or general operating account.
- For rentals never pay before viewing and always get a stamped official receipt.
Dubai Escrow Law: Law No. 8 of 2007.
Register the Contract — the Check Most Renters Skip
Rental contracts must be registered in your emirate.
| Emirate | System | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Dubai | Ejari | ~AED 178 flat, self-filed |
| Abu Dhabi | Tawtheeq | % of rent, rate unconfirmed |
| Sharjah | Municipality | 4% + AED 100 form fee |
| Ajman | Tasdeeq | 2% (AED 400 min for non-nationals) |
| Ras Al Khaimah | RAK Municipality | 5% + AED 25 |
| Fujairah | EJAAR | Free for initial registration |
| Umm Al Quwain | UAQ Municipality | Unpublished — varies by property type and lease duration |
Important: UAQ's rental registration fees are unpublished and vary by property type and lease duration. There is currently no published holiday-home licensing framework in Umm Al Quwain or Fujairah.
The Patterns, in One Table
Common UAE property scams and how to catch them.
| Scam | How it works | The check that catches it |
|---|---|---|
| Cloned listing | Genuine photos copied and re-uploaded at lower prices. | Reverse image search; verify permit; check with agent. |
| Advance-fee rental | Asked to pay deposit before viewing. | Never pay before viewing; get official receipt. |
| Fake agent | Impersonates a licensed agent. | Verify BRN and brokerage ORN. |
| Forged lease | Fake or altered tenancy contract. | Use official templates; register (Ejari/Tawtheeq). |
| Unauthorised sublet | Property sublet without owner approval. | Confirm ownership and authorization. |
| Money-mule agent | Agent takes funds and disappears. | Verify licence; use escrow; never pay to a personal account. |
| Fake escrow | Transfers to non-escrow or personal accounts. | Use registered escrow; verify account with the bank. |
| Fake permit | Fake or manipulated Trakheesi/Madmoun numbers. | Check permit on the official portal and scan the QR code. |
How to Report
Report scams to the correct authority.
- DubaieCrime platform, Dubai Police Smart App, 901
- Abu DhabiAman 800 2626, SMS 2828, adpolice.gov.ae
- SharjahPolice website or station
- AjmanPolice website or station
- Ras Al KhaimahPolice website or station
- FujairahPolice website or station
- Umm Al QuwainPolice website or station
- All emirates emergency999
- Dubai real estate advertising violationsrsi.dubailand.gov.ae
- Abu Dhabi listing without Madhmoun codeDARI support portal / ADREC
- Federal after police reportpp.gov.ae
- SIM and telecom fraudtdra.gov.ae
How RealtyReview Helps
Tools and information to help you make safer property decisions.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers to common questions about claims and reviews.
What is the difference between a claim and a review?
A claim is a factual allegation backed by evidence and subject to a right of reply. A review is an opinion about a customer experience, scored 1–5 stars.
What does “Evidence verified” mean?
A genuine transaction and supporting documents were confirmed by our team. It does not mean the allegation itself is proven.
Are anonymous claims accepted?
No. Identity is always verified privately. You can, however, choose to hide your name from the published claim.
Do unverified reviews affect ratings?
Yes. Every published review counts toward the rating. Reviews backed by evidence of a transaction also carry a Verified badge; pending and rejected reviews never count.
When does a claim publish?
After evidence review and the 14-day right-of-reply window — the claim and any response are published together.
Can a company respond before publication?
Yes. Respondents are notified first and have 14 days to reply; the response is displayed equally and in full.
How is this different from the Scam Watchlist?
The Scam Watchlist is authority-sourced only (police, regulators, courts) and is never user-submitted. Claims and reviews come from customers.