The real estate course most people in Dubai need is the RERA-approved broker training, followed by the Dubai Land Department (DLD) broker exam and a broker card issued through the Trakheesi system. Without that card you cannot legally practise as a broker in Dubai. Other real estate courses in Dubai cover investment, valuation, property management and RICS-accredited degrees for careers in development and consultancy.
This page sets out the broker route step by step with fees published by DLD, explains where the training is delivered now that the old Dubai Real Estate Institute no longer exists, and compares longer real estate investment and finance programmes.
- Regulator
- Real Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA), part of Dubai Land Department
- Broker exam fee
- AED 700 plus AED 10 knowledge and AED 10 innovation fees (DLD service page, Oct 2026)
- Broker card fee
- AED 500, plus ERES fee AED 50 plus VAT (DLD service page, Oct 2026)
- Training course example
- Real Estate Brokerage Training Certificate, 20 hours, AED 2,400 plus VAT (IEREI, Oct 2026)
- Annual renewal
- Annual test required; renewal fee AED 500 plus AED 20 in fees (DLD renewal page, Oct 2026)
- Degree example
- MSc Real Estate, RICS accredited, Heriot-Watt University Dubai
How to become a RERA-certified broker in Dubai
- Join a licensed brokerage and hold a UAE residence visa. DLD lists the broker card's residency status as "Company", meaning the card is issued under a licensed real estate office. Your Emirates ID is needed for the application.
- Get a certificate of good conduct from Dubai Police. DLD lists it as a requirement for the broker card.
- Complete the RERA-approved broker training course. The course covers Dubai real estate law, licensing, Trakheesi, Ejari, sales and leasing processes, the code of ethics and AML rules, and ends with a mock exam.
- Pass the DLD broker exam. DLD lists the exam fee as AED 700 plus a AED 10 knowledge fee and a AED 10 innovation fee (DLD service page, Oct 2026).
- Apply for the broker card on Trakheesi. Upload a photo and Emirates ID, pay AED 500 for the card plus an ERES fee of AED 50 plus VAT, then print the e-card (DLD service page, Oct 2026). The card's validity follows your company's trade licence.
- Renew every year. Renewal needs a pass in the annual test. The renewal fee for a broker card is AED 500 plus AED 10 knowledge and AED 10 innovation fees (DLD renewal page, Oct 2026).
Who can skip the broker exam
DLD's broker card page lists three exemptions from the broker exam:
- Applicants over 55 years old
- Brokers with 5 consecutive years in the same real estate office
- Holders of a start-up licence
Everyone else must pass the exam, and DLD states you cannot practise until you are registered and hold the card.
Where the broker training is delivered
The Dubai Real Estate Institute (DREI) used to run broker training. Dubai Law No. 16 of 2020 dissolved DREI and transferred all its rights and obligations to the Dubai Land Department. Training is now delivered through RERA-approved institutes.
One example is the Innovation Experts Real Estate Institute (IEREI), which describes itself as RERA-approved and set up to continue DREI's training work. Its Real Estate Brokerage Training Certificate is 20 credit hours, listed at AED 2,400 plus 5% VAT (reduced from AED 3,000), with a separate AED 100 assessment exam fee (IEREI course page, October 2026). Sessions run in English, Russian and Arabic, in a classroom on Jumeirah Beach Road or online via Zoom; the October 2026 English session runs Monday to Thursday, 9:00 to 14:00.
Real estate investment and finance courses
Real estate investment courses in Dubai fall into short workshops on buying, financing and evaluating property, and accredited degrees for professional careers.
| Programme | Provider | Length | Recognition | Published fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Real Estate Brokerage Training Certificate | IEREI | 20 hours | RERA-approved broker training | AED 2,400 plus VAT, plus AED 100 assessment (IEREI site, Oct 2026) |
| MSc Real Estate | Heriot-Watt University Dubai | 1 year full-time, or part-time | RICS accredited; graduates can go on to the RICS Assessment of Professional Competence | AED 99,528 full-time; AED 49,764 part-time for the September 2027 intake, incl. VAT (Heriot-Watt Dubai site, Oct 2026) |
| School of Real Estate programmes | ADGM Academy | Varies | Professional programmes | Not published |
| Broker exam and card | Dubai Land Department | Exam plus online card application | Required to practise | AED 700 exam; AED 500 card (DLD service page, Oct 2026) |
For investors rather than professionals, a short course is useful to understand Dubai off-plan payment plans, escrow, service charges, Ejari and mortgage rules. Real estate finance overlaps with general finance, covered on finance courses in Dubai. A full MBA with a real estate focus is in MBA courses in Dubai.
RICS and valuation careers
RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) membership is the main professional route for valuers, property managers and consultants. An RICS-accredited degree such as Heriot-Watt Dubai's MSc Real Estate lets graduates move to the Assessment of Professional Competence. In Dubai, valuers also need a DLD evaluator card; DLD's renewal page lists the real estate evaluator card at AED 5,000, ten times the broker card fee (DLD renewal page, Oct 2026).
Facility management courses
Facility management covers building maintenance, service contracts, health and safety and sustainability in managed buildings. Courses are offered as short certificates and as part of engineering or property programmes. International bodies in this field include IWFM (UK) and IFMA (US). For maintenance and building systems training, see engineering courses in Dubai, and for safety see health and safety courses in Dubai.
How to choose a real estate course in Dubai
- Want to work as a broker? Take only the RERA-approved broker training, then the DLD exam. Nothing else replaces it.
- Check approval. Ask the institute for its RERA or DLD approval and its KHDA permit if it is a training centre.
- Count the full cost. Course fee plus VAT, assessment fee, DLD exam fee, broker card fee and the annual renewal.
- Plan the visa. The card is issued under a licensed brokerage, so line up an employer before you pay for everything else.
- Keep AML in mind. Brokers have anti-money laundering duties. See AML courses in Dubai if you will handle compliance at a brokerage.
- Want a long-term career in valuation or development? Look at RICS-accredited degrees.
Questions and answers
How much does it cost to become a real estate broker in Dubai?
DLD lists AED 700 for the broker exam plus AED 20 in fees, and AED 500 for the broker card plus an ERES fee of AED 50 plus VAT (DLD service page, Oct 2026). Training is extra; one RERA-approved institute lists AED 2,400 plus VAT (IEREI site, Oct 2026).
Is the Dubai Real Estate Institute still open?
No. Dubai Law No. 16 of 2020 dissolved the Dubai Real Estate Institute and transferred its rights and obligations to the Dubai Land Department. Training now runs through RERA-approved institutes.
How long is the RERA broker course?
One approved course, IEREI's Real Estate Brokerage Training Certificate, is 20 credit hours, delivered in class or online; its October 2026 English session runs over four weekday mornings.
Do I need a visa to get a RERA broker card?
Yes. The card is issued to people working under a licensed real estate office, and you need an Emirates ID and a Dubai Police good conduct certificate.
Do Dubai brokers need to renew their card every year?
Yes. Renewal requires a pass in the annual test and a renewal fee of AED 500 plus AED 20 in other fees (DLD renewal page, Oct 2026).
Is there a RICS-accredited real estate degree in Dubai?
Yes. Heriot-Watt University Dubai's MSc Real Estate is RICS accredited and runs full-time or part-time at Dubai Knowledge Park.
Sources
- Dubai Land Department: Request for issuing a real estate activity practice card
- Dubai Land Department: Request for renewal of a real estate activity practice card
- Dubai Legislation Portal: Law No. (16) of 2020 Dissolving the Dubai Real Estate Institute
- IEREI: Real Estate Brokerage Training Certificate
- Heriot-Watt University Dubai: MSc Real Estate
- ADGM Academy: Home
- Arabian Business: Dubai real estate, what are the requirements to become an agent
Last checked: 15 October 2026