How to verify a Dubai property ad and broker: Trakheesi permits and the Madmoun QR code

Published 9 November 2026 · 5 min read

Most property searches in Dubai start with an online listing. Before you visit, transfer a deposit or hand over a copy of your passport, it is worth spending a few minutes confirming that the advert is authorised and that the broker is licensed. The Dubai Land Department (DLD) gives the public free tools to do exactly that.

Every advert needs a permit

According to DLD's brokerage practice guide, brokerages must obtain a permit through the Trakheesi system for any real estate advertisement or marketing material, and the permit number must be displayed on the advert. The permit covers online and print adverts, classified ads, outdoor and vehicle ads, open days, exhibitions and similar promotion. When the applicant is a broker, DLD generally requires a marketing contract with the property owner before issuing the permit, so a valid permit also signals that the owner has agreed to the listing.

The Madmoun QR code

Since 24 April 2023, real estate companies have been expected to place a Madmoun QR code, generated for each advertising permit, on their print and audiovisual adverts. Scanning it opens DLD's own record, where you can see the advertising company, the property's details and whether it has already been sold or rented. If what you see on DLD's page does not match the listing, treat that as a warning.

Checking the broker

DLD states that a broker must be entered in the brokers register and hold a broker card issued by the Real Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA). Three public services let you confirm this:

• Licensed Real Estate Brokers: the list of individual brokers licensed by RERA, on the DLD website and in the Dubai REST app.
• Licensed real estate brokerage companies: the list of licensed brokerage offices, on the same channels.
• Verify License and Permits: an instant check of the electronic copy of licences and permits issued through Trakheesi.

Off-plan listings: one extra check

DLD tells brokers that an off-plan project must be licensed and registered with RERA, must have its own escrow account, and buyers should pay only into that project's escrow account. You can confirm a project's registration in the Dubai REST app under Mashrooi.

A five-minute checklist

1. Find the permit number on the advert and scan the Madmoun QR code.
2. Compare the company, property details and status on DLD's page with the listing.
3. Ask for the broker's card and look the broker up in the licensed brokers list.
4. Confirm that the brokerage office on the card matches the one on the advert.
5. For off-plan, check the project in Mashrooi and pay only into its escrow account.

Red flags

• No permit number or QR code on the advert.
• A QR code that leads to a different company, unit or status.
• A broker who cannot show a card or does not appear in DLD's list.
• Requests to pay a deposit into a personal account, or off-plan payments outside the project's escrow account.
• Pressure to sign or pay before you have seen the paperwork.