Table of Contents
How to Start a Real Estate Valuation Services Business in Dubai with Meydan Free Zone
Real estate valuation is a foundational professional service underpinning every aspect of Dubai's property market, from mortgage lending and asset management to dispute resolution, government assessments, and investment decision-making. Dubai's real estate market recorded AED 761 billion in transactions in 2024 across 226,000 deals, generating enormous demand for accurate, independent, and professionally certified property valuations.[1] The Dubai Land Department maintains a register of accredited real estate valuation companies and licensed valuers: as of H1 2025, there were 78 registered property valuation offices with 118 licensed valuers operating in Dubai.[2] Valuations are required by banks and mortgage lenders for every financed property transaction, by DLD for government assessments, by developers for project feasibility, by courts for dispute resolution, and by fund managers for NAV calculations. This is a specialist, technically demanding, and commercially essential professional service.
Who is this for?
| Audience Segment | Profile |
|---|---|
| Mortgage Lender and Finance Support Valuation Services | RERA-accredited valuers providing independent property valuations to banks, mortgage lenders, and financial institutions for loan origination, collateral assessment, and financing compliance across Dubai's AED 22.5 billion quarterly mortgage market. |
| Institutional and Investment Property Valuation Firms | Professional valuation firms providing RICS-standard and Emirates Book of Valuation Standards-compliant valuations for real estate funds, REITs, institutional investors, developers, and corporate asset management requirements. |
6820.94 - Real Estate Valuation Services
| Category | Scope |
|---|---|
| Mortgage and lending valuations | Independent property valuations for banks and mortgage lenders, providing certified assessments of market value for loan origination and collateral management. |
| Investment and portfolio valuations | Formal asset valuations for real estate portfolios, funds, and REIT structures, including RICS-compliant Red Book and Emirates Book of Valuation Standards reports. |
| Rental and yield valuations | Market rental value assessments, yield analysis, and rental appraisals for landlord, tenant, and investment decision-making purposes. |
| Dispute and litigation valuations | Expert witness valuations, retrospective market value assessments, and valuation reports for court proceedings, arbitration, and settlement negotiations. |
| Development and feasibility appraisals | Residual valuation, development appraisal, and highest and best use analysis for landowners, developers, and project feasibility assessments. |
Activity 6820.94 covers real estate valuation services, interpreted within the provision of real estate activities on a fee or contract basis, specifically covering appraisal and valuation services for real estate. This encompasses formal property valuations for mortgage and lending purposes, investment valuations, insurance valuations, rental valuations, forced sale and distressed asset valuations, government and DLD assessment valuations, dispute and litigation support valuations, and all professionally conducted real estate appraisal and valuation assignments.
Activity 6820.94 covers real estate valuation and appraisal services. Real estate consultancy broadly falls under 6820.93. Property management services fall under 6820.97. Legal activities including expert legal opinions on real estate fall outside this activity class.
In short: if you are providing professional real estate valuation and appraisal services on a fee basis, you are in following RERA pre-approval. General advisory falls under 6820.93.
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 not subject to AML compliance requirements.
References
- ¹ Dubai Land Department. (2025). Dubai Real Estate Sector Records AED761 Billion in Transactions in 2024. dubailand.gov.ae
- ² Retyn / Khaleej Times. (2025). Top Real Estate Brokerage Companies in Dubai. retyn.ai
