How to check a Dubai real estate agent's BRN before you co-broke
What the BRN and ORN are, where to look an agent up, how to check a listing's permit, and why Abu Dhabi is different.
Before you share a client or a unit with an agent you've met through a WhatsApp group, it's worth checking that they're licensed. In Dubai, that means looking up their Broker Registration Number, or BRN. The check takes a few minutes, and it's worth doing before every new co-broke.
The two numbers to ask for
- BRN is the individual agent's registration number with RERA, the regulatory agency of the Dubai Land Department.
- ORN is the Office Registration Number of the brokerage the agent works for.
Every licensed agent works under a licensed brokerage, so ask for both numbers.
Where to look them up
The Dubai Land Department has a service that lists the brokers licensed by RERA in Dubai. You can use it on the DLD website or in the Dubai REST app, and you'll need to log in. When you find the agent, check three things:
- The licence is active and hasn't expired.
- The name matches the person you're dealing with.
- The brokerage matches the one they told you they work for.
If any of these don't match, ask the agent about it before you share anything.
Checking the listing as well as the agent
A licensed agent can still pass on a listing they don't hold. Property advertisements in Dubai need a Trakheesi permit, and since April 2023 each permit has come with a Madmoun QR code. According to the Dubai Media Office, scanning the code shows whether RERA approved the advertisement. The code tells you about the listing rather than the agent, so it's worth checking both.
Abu Dhabi has its own register
Agents in Abu Dhabi are registered with ADREC and hold a Broker License Number, or BLN (Property Finder). The two emirates keep separate registers, so a Dubai BRN doesn't tell you whether someone is licensed in Abu Dhabi, and the reverse is also true.
A short checklist
- Ask for the agent's BRN and their brokerage's ORN.
- Look up the BRN with the DLD service and confirm it's active.
- Check that the name and the brokerage match.
- If they're sharing a listing, scan the QR code on the advertisement.
- Agree the commission split in writing before you share your client's details.
On BrokerCircle, every member is verified before they can post a listing or contact another agent, and each profile shows when the member's licence expires. It's still worth running the check yourself before you share a client.
