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How to Start a Buying and Selling of Real Estate Business in Dubai with Meydan Free Zone
Buying and selling of real estate is the foundational investment activity of the world's most commercially active property market. Dubai's real estate sector recorded 226,000 transactions with a combined value of AED 761 billion in 2024 - a 36% growth in volume and 20% rise in value year-on-year - the highest figures in the emirate's history.[1] Dubai attracted 110,000 new investors to its real estate sector in 2024, a 55% increase, reflecting the depth of global confidence in UAE property as an investment class.[2] Residential capital values rose 19.8% year-on-year by December 2024, and the Dubai Real Estate Strategy 2033 targets doubling the sector's contribution to GDP.[3]
The UAE's investor-friendly framework includes a 10-year Golden Visa for property purchases of AED 2 million or above, zero income tax, zero capital gains tax, and full foreign freehold ownership rights in designated zones, creating one of the world's most compelling environments for property investment and trading. This activity requires pre-approval from RERA and is subject to AML compliance requirements.
Who is this for?
| Audience Segment | Profile |
|---|---|
| Residential Property Investors and Traders | Investors and principals buying and selling residential properties, apartments, villas, and townhouses, across Dubai's freehold zones, leveraging the emirate's strong rental yields, capital appreciation, and Golden Visa eligibility to build and trade property portfolios. |
| Commercial and Mixed-Use Property Investors | Investors acquiring, holding, and selling commercial real estate including office buildings, retail units, exhibition halls, warehouses, and mixed-use developments, using the UAE's tax-free environment and robust occupier demand to generate returns. |
6810.99 - Buying and Selling of Real Estate
| Category | Scope |
|---|---|
| Residential property acquisition and sale | Buying and selling of apartments, villas, townhouses, and residential plots in Dubai's freehold zones for investment, capital gain, and portfolio rebalancing purposes. |
| Commercial property investment and disposal | Acquisition and sale of office buildings, retail units, warehouses, exhibition halls, and commercial real estate for investment, development, and trading purposes. |
| Land acquisition and subdivision | Buying, holding, and selling of undeveloped land and the subdividing of real estate into plots without land improvement for investment and future development. |
| Income-producing property portfolio | Acquisition and operation of residential or commercial properties for rental income, including furnished and unfurnished apartments let on monthly or annual tenancy agreements. |
| Development for own operation | Development of building projects where the completed asset will be retained and operated by the developer for rental income purposes, rather than sold on completion. |
Activity 6810.99 covers the buying and selling of real estate, interpreted within real estate activities with own or leased property. This encompasses the acquisition and disposal of residential properties including apartments, villas, townhouses, and plots; commercial properties including office buildings, retail units, warehouses, and exhibition halls; land in its unimproved form; self-storage facilities; shopping centres and malls; and the provision of homes and furnished or unfurnished apartments for more permanent residential use on a monthly or annual basis. This activity also includes the development of building projects for the purpose of subsequently renting the space, and the subdividing of real estate into lots without land improvement. This activity excludes the development of building projects for sale, subdividing and improving of land, and the operation of hotels, campgrounds, worker hostels, and similar short-term accommodation.
Activity 6810.99 covers buying, selling, renting, and operating self-owned or leased real estate. Development of building projects specifically for sale falls under separate development activity categories. Subdividing and improving of land falls outside this activity. Hotels, campgrounds, and short-term hospitality accommodation are excluded. Real estate consultancy and management services for third parties fall under activity group 682.
In short: if you are buying, selling, or operating self-owned property as an investment and income activity, you are in following RERA pre-approval. Property development for sale and hotel or short-term accommodation operations fall outside this activity.
Third-Party Approval
This activity requires pre-approval from the Real Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA) before a business license can be issued by Meydan Free Zone. This licence cannot be combined with other activities except those within RERA Activity Group 2.
Anti-Money Laundering Compliance
This business activity is subject to AML compliance requirements. Real estate buying and selling activities in the UAE are designated non-financial businesses and professions (DNFBPs) under the UAE AML framework. Licence holders must implement a compliant AML/CFT programme including customer due diligence, beneficial ownership identification, source of funds verification, ongoing monitoring of business relationships, record-keeping, and the filing of suspicious transaction reports as required by UAE Federal Law No. 20 of 2019 and its implementing regulations.
References
- ¹ Dubai Land Department. (2025). Dubai Real Estate Sector Records AED761 Billion in Transactions in 2024. dubailand.gov.ae
- ² Dubai Land Department. (2025). Dubai Real Estate Sector Records AED761 Billion in Transactions in 2024. dubailand.gov.ae
- ³ ValuStrat. (2025). Dubai Residential Market December 2024 Report. valuStrat.com
