Is permission required to operate a property-listing platform in the UAE?

No, you cannot launch this platform under the activity of "software company" only. Doing so will expose your company to hefty financial penalties (which could reach hundreds of thousands of dirhams) and the immediate shutdown of the platform.

Launching a real estate platform in a developed legislative environment like the UAE requires legal precision that goes beyond mere programming; it involves complex real estate compliance and avoiding legal liability for false advertisements.

As your legal advisor, I am pleased to offer the following services to ensure a safe and legal launch for your platform:

• Modifying the legal structure: I will guide you in amending your business license, adding the required digital real estate activities, and obtaining approvals from (DLD/RERA) or the Department of Municipalities and Transport.
• Drafting the platform's "Terms and Conditions": Drafting legal agreements that protect your platform from liability in case intermediaries enter incorrect data, while ensuring compliance with the new 2025 real estate advertising laws.
• Data protection file management: Preparing a comprehensive privacy policy that complies with the UAE Personal Data Protection Law, to ensure the legality of collecting and processing ORN and BRN numbers.
• Representation before regulatory authorities: I will take on your behalf the correspondence with the relevant authorities to obtain operating permits and connect the platform to government systems to verify real estate permits.

Investing in the correct legal foundation now will save you substantial amounts in regulatory fines later. I am pleased to start immediately reviewing your technical business model and ensuring its compliance with the law.

At the London Center for Legal Consultancy, we are committed to the highest standards of professionalism in providing legal advice, and we strive to offer the best solutions.

A brokerage license from RERA is required if the platform engages in any of the following:

• Taking a commission from the buyer/lessee
• Negotiating prices
• Communicating with clients on behalf of agents
• Managing, selling, or renting properties
• Acting as a broker, directly or indirectly

We need to study the case and see the appropriate trade license to acquire for each activity. It can't be under the software license only, as there are other trading activities.

Hello,

In Dubai and other Emirates, publicly listing properties requires a RERA-approved real estate portal license; operating solely under a software company without this license is not permitted.

We can also assist you in obtaining the necessary licenses to operate your platform legally.

Please feel free to contact us if you require any further assistance.

ISN Legal Consultancy

Greetings,

Thank you for your inquiry regarding the launch of your property-listing platform.

In the UAE, operating a platform that publishes real estate listings generally requires regulatory compliance beyond a standard software license. While collecting ORN, BRN, and Permit IDs is essential, it does not by itself exempt the platform from regulatory oversight.

Depending on the exact business model (advertising only vs. brokerage-related activities), you may need:

• Approval or coordination with the Dubai Land Department (DLD) and RERA,
• A correctly structured trade license activity that covers real estate advertising portals,
• Compliance with regulations related to online property advertising and data publication.

Launching without the proper approvals may expose the company to penalties or platform suspension.

To assess whether you can proceed under your existing software license or if additional approvals are required, we recommend a legal review of your platform structure before launch.

You may book a consultation through the website or appoint our office to handle the full regulatory and licensing process on your behalf, depending on your needs.

We will be pleased to assist you further.

Be advised that launching a property-listing platform in the UAE requires compliance with real estate regulations, even if it is operated under your software company.

Platforms that list properties for sale or rent are considered real estate intermediary activities and may be regulated by authorities such as the Dubai Land Department (DLD) / RERA. While collecting ORN, BRN, and Permit IDs is standard, you must verify these documents and comply with UAE data protection laws.

You cannot operate the platform freely without a DED-approved real estate listing license or written confirmation from the relevant authority that your platform is exempt. To ensure full compliance, obtain the necessary approvals, verify all agents and properties, and include clear disclaimers in your terms of use.

For more details and direct guidance, please share your WhatsApp number so we can review your case and assist you.

Greetings from Dr. Khalifa Bin Huwaiden Advocates & Legal Consultants.

Launching such a platform may require legal review and obtaining the relevant approvals. If you wish, we can proceed by obtaining a Power of Attorney from you to conduct a full legal assessment and coordinate with the relevant authorities to ensure the platform is launched in compliance with the law.

OUR LEGAL TEAM is ready to provide online legal assistance whenever you need it.

Thank you for reaching out and for sharing the details of your situation with us.

You cannot launch a real estate platform in the United Arab Emirates without ensuring compliance with all applicable regulatory and legal requirements. Having your company licensed in the commercial registry alone is not sufficient if the platform lists properties or handles data of real estate brokers.

It is essential to ensure that your company’s activity is properly registered in accordance with real estate activities or operating real estate listing platforms, that all listings on the platform come from licensed brokers or companies with the required official numbers (ORN / BRN / BLN), and to obtain all necessary permits for online real estate advertising from the competent authorities in the respective Emirate (such as the Land Department, RERA, ADREC/DARI), depending on the platform’s scope and location.

We are ready to provide full legal support to assist you in completing all procedures and understanding the detailed requirements for each Emirate, ensuring you receive the correct legal advisory before launching the platform.