A real estate brokerage agreement determines much more than who will advertise a Dubai property or arrange viewings. It can define exclusivity, commission, contract duration, marketing authority, expenses, reporting responsibilities and what happens if the relationship ends before the transaction is completed.
Buyers also need to understand what they are signing. Dubai’s brokerage framework uses different smart contracts for the seller-broker and buyer-broker relationships, so a useful real estate agent agreement checklist must begin by identifying which side of the transaction the broker is representing.
The objective is not to negotiate every clause aggressively. It is to make sure the agreement accurately reflects the service you expect, the commercial arrangement you accepted and the risks you are willing to take.
Last reviewed: August 2026. Brokerage agreements can create financial and contractual obligations. The current DLD/RERA framework and the actual electronic agreement should be checked before signing, particularly where exclusivity, unusual commission arrangements or early termination are involved.
Start by identifying the contract, not the agent's sales pitch
In Dubai, Contract A is the seller-to-real-estate-brokerage marketing agreement, while Contract B relates to the buyer and broker. The contract type, representation structure and written terms should match the role you actually want the broker to perform.
1. Identify Whether You Are Signing Contract A or Contract B
The Dubai Land Department and Real Estate Regulatory Agency use smart marketing and sales contracts for brokerage transactions.
| Contract | Relationship | What the client should focus on |
|---|---|---|
| Contract A | Seller and real estate brokerage | Property, marketing authority, exclusivity, duration and commission |
| Contract B | Buyer and real estate broker | Buyer requirements, representation, financial parameters and commission |
| Contract F | Seller and buyer | Terms of the property sale rather than appointment of the broker |
Contract B should not be confused with a non-exclusive seller listing. It belongs to the buyer-broker side of the transaction.
DLD’s current FAQ also states that a brokerage contract should clearly contain party information, property information, the agreed amount, commission rate and relevant registration information.
2. Verify the Broker Before Signing
A professional-looking portal profile or business card is not a substitute for regulatory verification.
DLD states that a broker must be registered in the broker registry and hold the relevant brokerage card. DLD provides an online Licensed Real Estate Brokers service and information through Dubai REST.
Before appointing a broker, verify:
- The broker’s identity
- The real estate brokerage company
- Current RERA broker status
- That the person signing or handling the transaction is actually associated with the relevant brokerage
- Any real estate licence or permit that needs verification through DLD/Trakheesi
3. Confirm Whether the Agreement Is Exclusive
Do not import U.S. labels such as “exclusive right to sell” or “exclusive agency” and assume they have a universal predefined meaning in Dubai.
Instead, read what the actual Dubai brokerage agreement says about exclusivity.
DLD confirms that when an owner or buyer contracts with a broker exclusively, the property cannot be offered to more than one broker. Where the agreement is non-exclusive, more than one broker can be appointed.
If exclusivity applies, check the exact scope:
- Which property is covered?
- Which brokerage receives the exclusive appointment?
- When does exclusivity start and end?
- Does the arrangement affect a buyer already known to the seller?
- What happens if another brokerage introduces a buyer?
- Can the appointed broker cooperate with another broker?
Do not rely on a verbal statement such as “you can still sell it yourself.” If that possibility matters, its commission consequences should be clear in the contract.
4. Define the Property or Buyer Brief Precisely
A seller agreement should identify the correct property and agreed commercial parameters. A buyer agreement should describe what the broker is being asked to find or negotiate.
For a seller, check the title-deed and property information before approving Contract A. For a buyer, make the acquisition brief sufficiently specific to distinguish a relevant opportunity from something outside the mandate.
Useful buyer-side parameters can include property type, target areas, approximate budget, ready versus off-plan preference and relevant financing constraints.
5. Check the Commission Before Anything Else Becomes Urgent
There is no universal Dubai brokerage commission percentage that replaces the parties’ agreement.
Under Bylaw No. 85 of 2006, broker remuneration is determined by agreement. Where the remuneration has not been agreed, prevailing practice can be used.
The agreement should therefore make clear:
- The commission amount or percentage
- Which client is responsible for paying it
- When it becomes payable
- Whether any additional marketing or administrative costs exist
- Whether separately approved third-party expenses can be charged
- How commission works if another broker participates
- What happens to the fee if the agreement is terminated
6. Understand the Commission Trigger
Knowing the percentage is not enough. You also need to know what event earns it.
Dubai’s brokerage bylaw states that the broker is generally entitled to remuneration when the transaction has been concluded. For a sale, the bylaw provides that remuneration becomes due upon signing the sale contract and registering it with DLD, unless the brokerage agreement stipulates otherwise.
If the sale is conditional on a term contained in the brokerage agreement, the remuneration becomes due once that condition is fulfilled.
7. Check Contract Duration — There Is No Universal 90-Day Rule
Generic real estate guides frequently describe two-, three- or six-month listing agreements as though they were mandatory standards. Dubai does not use one universal contract duration for every brokerage appointment.
DLD’s Contract A creation process specifically includes the selection of commission and contract-duration details, which means the parties should review the actual period being entered into the smart contract.
Check:
- Start date
- Expiry date
- Whether renewal is automatic or requires approval
- Whether exclusivity continues for the full period
- Whether obligations survive expiry or termination
8. Do Not Assume a Universal 30–90 Day Protection Period
A post-expiry or post-termination commission clause can be commercially important, but there is no universal Dubai rule requiring every brokerage agreement to contain the same 30-, 60- or 90-day protection period.
If the agreement contains a continuing commission or introduced-buyer provision, make it precise.
- How long does the protection continue?
- Which buyers qualify as having been introduced?
- Must the broker provide a written list of introduced prospects?
- Does the provision apply if another brokerage subsequently completes the transaction?
- What transaction event triggers payment?
This is preferable to discovering after expiry that the seller and former brokerage have different interpretations of who originated the buyer.
9. Read the Termination Clause Carefully
Do not assume either side can terminate the agreement at any time without financial consequences.
Bylaw No. 85 of 2006 specifically addresses terminated Brokerage Agreements and provides that the broker can claim remuneration as agreed in the Brokerage Agreement, except where fraud or gross negligence is established.
The same bylaw also states that where brokerage efforts do not lead to a concluded transaction, the broker generally cannot demand compensation or reimbursement of expenses unless the Brokerage Agreement provides otherwise.
This makes the written termination and expense provisions particularly important.
Check notice requirements, outstanding marketing costs, active negotiations, introduced buyers and commission consequences before ending the relationship.
10. Replace Generic “Fiduciary Duties” With the Actual Dubai Broker Obligations
U.S. articles commonly summarize an agent’s duties using a standard common-law fiduciary acronym. Dubai has its own brokerage obligations and professional ethics framework.
Among other requirements, the Dubai brokerage rules require brokers to:
- Follow professional ethics
- Maintain privacy
- Act honestly and with integrity
- Maintain the interests of contracting parties
- Preserve relevant documents
- Disclose negotiation details and stages to the client
- Disclose substantial matters necessary to avoid uncertainty
- Avoid facilitating transactions that violate applicable laws or regulations
The broker can also be held responsible for fraud, mistakes and specified failures to comply with the brokerage rules.
11. Check for Conflicts of Interest
Do not import a U.S. state-specific “dual agency” form and assume the same terminology applies in Dubai.
Dubai’s brokerage bylaw does, however, expressly contemplate circumstances in which a broker can be appointed by both parties. At the same time, the rules protect against conflicts: a broker can forfeit remuneration if the broker breaches obligations to a client by acting in the interest of the other party in a manner inconsistent with good faith or professional ethics.
If the same broker or brokerage is involved on both sides, ask:
- Who appointed the broker?
- Which party or parties are paying commission?
- Are separate brokers within the brokerage handling each side?
- How will confidential negotiating information be protected?
- What information can be shared with the other party?
- How will any commercial conflict be managed?
12. Sellers Should Put the Marketing Plan in Writing
“Premium marketing” is not a measurable service description.
If a seller chooses a brokerage partly because of promised presentation or exposure, identify the actual deliverables.
- Photography
- Video or virtual-tour production
- Property portals
- Premium portal placements where promised
- Paid digital advertising if applicable
- Open-house activity
- Viewing coordination
- Buyer qualification
- Seller reporting frequency
- Price-review process
Not every brokerage agreement needs every service. The point is to distinguish an actual contractual commitment from a sales presentation made before appointment.
13. Contract A Does Not Replace the Advertising Permit
A seller’s marketing authorization and a broker’s advertising permit perform different functions.
DLD requires real estate brokerages to obtain the relevant advertising permit through the Trakheesi system for real estate advertisements and marketing material.
DLD’s current Real Estate Ad Permit service covers formats including online advertisements, classified ads, open-house events, promotional campaigns and real estate promotion platforms.
For a real estate broker applying for those relevant permits, DLD requires a copy of the marketing contract with the property owner.
For a seller, this means advertising compliance can be included in the agent checklist: who obtains the permit, who maintains it and who removes or updates advertising when the mandate changes.
14. Buyers Should Define What the Broker Is Expected to Do
Buyer representation should also be evaluated as a service agreement rather than simply accepting access to property listings.
Depending on the agreed mandate, a buyer may expect assistance with property sourcing, arranging viewings, communicating offers, coordinating negotiations and helping move the transaction toward Contract F and registration.
Make sure the financial arrangement and scope are clear before the broker invests significant work or introduces a property.
15. Be Careful With Deposits, Cheques and Client Documents
Dubai’s brokerage rules treat a broker as trustee of money, securities, bonds or other items delivered for safekeeping or transfer to another party.
Clients should still document what was handed over, why it was provided and what should happen to it if the transaction does not proceed.
The rules also require brokers to preserve transaction documentation and provide true copies of relevant documents to contracting parties upon request.
Real estate agent agreement checklist for Dubai
- Confirm whether you are signing seller-side Contract A or buyer-side Contract B and make sure the property or buyer brief matches the intended mandate.
- Verify the broker and brokerage through DLD/RERA and identify whether the appointment is exclusive or non-exclusive before approving the agreement.
- Check the commission amount, payer, payment trigger, treatment of additional expenses, cooperation with other brokers and any post-termination commission provisions.
- Review the start date, expiry, renewal, termination process, surviving obligations and treatment of buyers or properties introduced before the agreement ends.
- For seller appointments, document marketing deliverables and advertising-permit responsibilities; for both sides, understand broker duties, information sharing and potential conflicts of interest.
16. Use a Clause-by-Clause Agreement Stress Test
| Agreement item | Seller should check | Buyer should check |
|---|---|---|
| Correct contract | Contract A | Contract B |
| Broker verification | Broker and brokerage | Broker and brokerage |
| Mandate | Correct property and asking terms | Correct property requirements and budget |
| Exclusivity | Can another broker or owner source the buyer? | Can another broker source a property? |
| Commission | Amount, payer and trigger | Amount, payer and trigger |
| Duration | Start, expiry and renewal | Start, expiry and renewal |
| Termination | Notice, expenses and introduced buyers | Notice and introduced properties |
| Marketing | Deliverables and Trakheesi permits | Normally not the primary issue |
| Reporting | Enquiries, viewings and feedback | Search activity and offer status |
| Conflict | Other-side involvement and information handling | Other-side involvement and information handling |
| Documents / money | Keys, documents and transaction items | Deposits, cheques and transaction documents |
17. Red Flags Before Signing
A contract should not create uncertainty about basic commercial terms.
Potential warning signs include:
- Property or party information that does not match official records
- Commission left unclear
- Exclusivity discussed verbally but not understood in the written agreement
- A duration much longer than the client believes was agreed
- Unexplained additional fees
- Broad marketing promises with no deliverables
- Unclear termination consequences
- Requests to advertise outside the proper permit process
- A broker who cannot be verified through DLD
- Pressure to approve an electronic agreement without reviewing the details
The presence of an unusual clause does not automatically make the agreement invalid or unfair. It is a reason to understand the clause before accepting it.
18. Understand the Difference Between a Regulatory Complaint and a Contract Dispute
DLD provides a complaint service for real estate violations and negative practices by brokers and real estate companies.
However, its current service terms state that the real estate violation complaint service does not consider contractual disputes, contract-revocation applications, refunds or indemnity claims because those matters fall outside that service’s jurisdiction.
This distinction matters when an agent relationship deteriorates. A regulatory violation and a disagreement over commission or contract termination are not necessarily handled through the same channel.
Keep the electronic contract, relevant messages, invoices, marketing evidence and transaction documents if a dispute develops.
Seller vs Buyer Agreement: The Practical Difference
| Question | Seller | Buyer |
|---|---|---|
| Core brokerage contract | Contract A | Contract B |
| Main objective | Market and negotiate sale of a property | Source/negotiate acquisition under agreed requirements |
| Key asset | Specific property | Buying requirement and eventual selected property |
| Marketing permit | Important where broker advertises the property | Generally seller-side advertising issue |
| Exclusivity | Controls appointment of additional seller brokers | Can affect use of additional buyer brokers depending on agreement |
| Commission | Defined by agreement | Defined by agreement |
| Final sale agreement | Contract F between seller and buyer | |
The Takeaway
A useful real estate agent agreement checklist in Dubai starts with the actual DLD/RERA contract rather than foreign real estate terminology.
For sellers, understand Contract A, the property details, exclusivity, marketing authority, commission, duration and termination provisions. For buyers, understand Contract B, the acquisition mandate, exclusivity if applicable, commission and the broker’s responsibilities.
For both sides, verify the broker, understand how conflicts will be managed and document the treatment of expenses, introduced parties and information.
Commission percentages and contract durations are negotiable commercial terms, not universal Dubai constants. Post-contract protection periods are also not something to assume from an international template.
The strongest brokerage relationship is one in which the client can answer four questions before approving the agreement: who represents me, what are they required to do, what will I pay, and what happens if the relationship or transaction ends differently from what we expect?
Official References
The roles of Dubai’s smart brokerage contracts and professional standards are described in the DLD/RERA Real Estate Brokerage Practice Guide. Brokerage duties, remuneration, termination and multiple-broker provisions are set out in Dubai Real Estate Legislation, including Bylaw No. 85 of 2006. Current practical guidance on brokerage contracts, commission and exclusivity is available in the Dubai Land Department Frequently Asked Questions. Broker status can be checked through the Licensed Real Estate Brokers service, while seller marketing requirements can be reviewed through the Real Estate Ad Permit service.
Key takeaways
- Contract A is the seller-to-brokerage marketing agreement, Contract B is the buyer-to-broker agreement, and Contract F is the sale agreement between seller and buyer.
- Dubai does not require one universal brokerage commission percentage or contract duration; remuneration and duration should be checked in the actual agreement.
- Do not import universal U.S. exclusive-agency, dual-agency or 30–90 day protection-period rules into a Dubai brokerage agreement; read the actual exclusivity, conflict and termination provisions.
- Dubai brokerage rules require professional ethics, disclosure of negotiation information, preservation of documents and protection against brokers acting inconsistently with the interests of the client they represent.
- For sellers, Contract A does not replace the advertising-permit process: relevant property advertisements still require the applicable DLD/Trakheesi authorization.
Frequently asked questions
Reviewing a Dubai broker agreement?
Check the contract type, broker status, exclusivity, commission trigger, duration, termination, marketing obligations and conflict provisions before approving the appointment.
