Brokerage

Ethics & Professional Conduct

Ethics on the RERA exam is law, not opinion: Bylaw No. 85 of 2006 sets disclosure, trust and loyalty duties with real consequences, the Practice Guide lists ten principles and the green list, and Circular 02-2026 bans cold calling. Expect scenarios where a broker must choose the compliant action.

Brokerage practice, ethics and compliance6 min read8 sections

Must-know for the exam

Brokers must observe the ethics code prepared by the Committee (Bylaw 85/2006, Art. 14); breaching it is a ground for cancelling registration (Art. 40; in force 12 Oct 2026).
Tell your client every negotiation detail and stage; tell the other party all substantial matters about the property needed to avoid uncertainty (Art. 17).
Though representing one party, a broker must disclose faithfully and is responsible for any fraud or mistake (Art. 19); liable for loss from deceit or rule breaches (Art. 22).
Deposits, cheques and other items handed to a broker are held as trustee and delivered only as agreed (Art. 21).
Acting for the other side or accepting its promised benefit in bad faith forfeits remuneration and expenses (Art. 23).
Off-plan money goes straight into the project escrow account; no deduction of commission, and contrary agreements are void (ECR 6/2010, Art. 12).
Contact only owners on the Dubai REST green list; otherwise a violation, and suspension on complaint (Practice Guide, Nov 2024).
Circular 02-2026: no unlawful owner data, no cold contact to offer, market or buy, except documented prior clients of the office.
Cold-calling penalties on complaint: three-month suspension, AED 50,000 fine, permanent revocation if repeated (Circular 02-2026; as at 12 Oct 2026).
A broker who helps evade DLD fees is fined double the prescribed fee (ECR 30/2013, Art. 6(b)); never facilitate an unlawful deal (Bylaw 85/2006, Art. 18).

On this page · 8 sections

Traps that cost marks

Thinking the ban covers only the calls, or only the data, when the Circular targets both acts.
Forgetting that the prior-client exception exists, or that it depends on a record the office can produce.
Treating the broker as the decision-maker who screens offers instead of the client.
Thinking a benefit from the other side is harmless because it did not come out of the client's pocket.
Believing that acting for one side means owing the other side no disclosure at all.
Thinking only the parties are fined, or fining the broker a single fee instead of double.
Assuming the code is about loyalty to one client, when it speaks of the interests of the contracting parties.
Treating a held deposit as the brokerage's or the seller's money before the agreed release.

Why it matters on the exam

Conduct questions are written as dilemmas: a client asks you to hide something, a developer asks you to collect cheques, an old contact list looks useful. The right answer always rests on a written rule, so learn which article or circular decides each situation.

•Disclosure and honesty: Bylaw 85/2006, Arts. 17, 19, 22.
•Loyalty and conflicts: Arts. 20, 23, 33.
•Client money: Art. 21 and ECR 6/2010, Art. 12.
•Privacy and owner contact: the green list and Circular 02-2026.

The ten principles and where they come from

Law No. 4 of 2019 gives RERA the objective of establishing the principles and code of conduct of real property activities (Art. 4(5)). The Bylaw requires every registered broker to observe the Committee's code (Art. 14). The RERA Practice Guide (Nov 2024) lists ten principles:

•Adhering to fair treatment
•Employing respect in all procedures
•Maintaining privacy
•Honesty and uprightness
•Applying quality control
•Ensuring integrity
•Committing to society
•Maintaining the interests of the contracting parties
•Preserving all documents
•Respecting the DLD's regulations and procedures

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