Many people believe that they can buy an apartment from a developer in Dubai on their own, saving on agency services. But few people know that the broker does not charge the client a commission for primary property — it is paid by the developer himself. But the risks when buying on your own are huge. One of our cases shows that a broker is not just an assistant, but your protection at every stage.

Real case: the apartment was registered as a namesake

Two years ago, our regular client and his wife bought an apartment from a developer in installments. The deal was successful, the documents were drafted correctly — the purchase agreement did not contain errors, because our team carefully checked everything at the start.

After a while, the clients decided to sell the apartment, as it increased in value by 30%. We started the standard sales procedure: we prepared Contract A (an agreement that gives the agency the right to show the property) and sent it to both parties. And then a strange thing came up:
• The husband received Contract A via email.
• But my wife did not receive the letter.

After a while, our agency's office received an unexpected call:

“Why are you trying to sell my apartment?!”

It turned out that in the land department system, the property was listed by a woman with the same name and surname, but she was a completely different person.

Where was the mistake made?

The mistake is not in the contract, not in the broker's work, or at the transaction stage. The developer was solely responsible, who, despite receiving the registration fee, submitted incorrect data to the Dubai Land Department.

Instead of the real owner, the data was used to a full namesake, and thus:
• The apartment was officially registered to the wrong woman
• Real owners have lost the opportunity to manage their property

What our agency did

If clients didn't work with a licensed agent, they would be faced with bureaucracy, running around, and finding lawyers. But we are:
• We immediately found a problem at the stage of preparing for sale
• Confirmed that the purchase agreement was completed correctly
• We have prepared a case for the Dubai Land Department
• Listed the articles of law violated by the developer
• They demanded compensation for moral damage and restrictions on the right to dispose of property
• We have undertaken the full re-registration of the property
• We contacted the woman to whom the apartment was mistakenly registered and resolved her situation in the DLD
• As a result, she also became our client

Why you can't buy without a broker — short and to the point

The mistake may not be yours — but you will have to pay
Only a broker knows how to act correctly in case of any failure

What does the broker do for free:
• Checks contracts before signing
• Accompanies you until you register with the DLD
• Helps when accepting an apartment (including photos, videos, snag report)
• Advises on all legal and technical aspects
• Helps with renting, reselling and subsequent management
• Represents your interests even without your presence in the UAE

Key risks if you enter into a trade without a broker

1. Improper registration at the Land Department (DLD)
   You won't see the error until after the sale.
2. Errors in the SPA contract with the developer
   Only a licensed agent knows what to look for on Maria and can check the 2 language versions using the checklist. Only a broker can start the resale process.
3. Lack of access to RERA's internal systems
   It is impossible to independently check the developer, the construction status or include the property in the listing without a broker.
4. No resale or rental support
   You'll have to find new agents, prepare documents, answer dozens of calls, and chat with DLD.
5. No apartment reception

The broker helps with acceptance, video shooting, photo reporting, drafting a snag report and fixing defects — you don't even need to fly to Dubai.

Conclusion

You can buy a property without a broker. But you can't sell it — no problem.

A broker is not just about profit. This is your insurance, your representative to the state, the developer and future buyers.
Green City Real Estate Agency is about professionalism, responsibility and willingness to solve even situations that are not part of the standard scenario.

Contact us if you want to protect your investment and go all the way through the deal — calmly, safely and with maximum benefit.