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How to Start a Real Estate Consultancies Business in Dubai with Meydan Free Zone
Real estate consultancy is one of the most commercially active professional services in the UAE. Dubai's real estate sector recorded 226,000 transactions in 2024 with a combined value of AED 761 billion, a 36% growth in volume and 20% rise in value year-on-year, making it the highest in the emirate's history.[1] The market attracted 110,000 new investors in 2024, a 55% increase, reflecting the depth of demand for professional advisory services to guide entry, portfolio strategy, and investment decision-making.[2] With over 12,000 RERA-registered brokers and 1,223 registered brokerage offices operating in H1 2025 alone, the competitive landscape underscores both the scale of the opportunity and the importance of specialist expertise.[3] Real estate consultants serve a distinct role from transactional brokers: they provide strategic advisory, market analysis, investment structuring, feasibility assessment, and specialist guidance to developers, institutional investors, and high-net-worth individuals navigating Dubai's dynamic property market.
Who is this for?
| Audience Segment | Profile |
|---|---|
| Real Estate Investment Consultants | Consultants advising high-net-worth individuals, family offices, and institutional investors on UAE property acquisition strategy, portfolio structuring, market timing, and return optimisation across residential, commercial, and off-plan segments. |
| Developer and Project Advisory Consultants | Specialist consultants advising developers on market feasibility, product mix, pricing strategy, market positioning, and development advisory services for new residential and commercial project launches in the UAE. |
6820.93 - Real Estate Consultancies
| Category | Scope |
|---|---|
| Investment advisory and strategy | Real estate investment strategy, portfolio advisory, market entry planning, and return optimisation advisory for individual and institutional property investors. |
| Market research and analysis | Property market reports, area analysis, price trend assessments, supply and demand studies, and data-driven market intelligence for real estate decision-making. |
| Development and feasibility consultancy | Development feasibility studies, product mix advisory, pricing strategy, and project positioning consultancy for developers and landowners. |
| Buyer and seller advisory | Independent advisory for buyers and sellers navigating complex or high-value transactions, off-plan investments, and cross-border property acquisitions. |
| Regulatory and compliance advisory | Guidance on RERA regulations, DLD procedures, property ownership structures, freehold zone eligibility, and UAE real estate regulatory compliance for clients. |
Activity 6820.93 covers real estate consultancy services, interpreted within the provision of real estate activities on a fee or contract basis. This encompasses investment advisory, market research and analysis, property acquisition strategy, development consultancy, real estate feasibility studies, market entry advisory for international investors, and all specialist advisory and consultancy services related to real estate, provided on a fee or contractual basis without the direct execution of property transactions.
Activity 6820.93 covers real estate consultancy on a fee or contract basis. Direct buying and selling of real estate requires a separate licence under 6810.99. Property management services fall under 6820.97. Legal activities related to real estate fall outside this activity class.
In short: if you are providing advisory and consultancy services on real estate matters on a fee basis, you are in following RERA pre-approval. Direct property transactions require a separate licence under 6810.99.
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 outside RERA Activity Group No. 3.
Anti-Money Laundering Compliance
This business activity is subject to AML compliance requirements. Real estate consultancy 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, conduct customer due diligence, maintain records, and file suspicious transaction reports as required by UAE Federal Law.
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 Retyn / Khaleej Times. (2025). Top Real Estate Brokerage Companies in Dubai. retyn.ai
