In a dramatic policy overhaul, Abu Dhabi has unveiled a wide-ranging new set of regulations affecting every aspect of its real estate industry — from sales and agency work to employment terms. The revised rules are intended to enhance transparency, enhance investor confidence, and facilitate sustainable growth in the fast-developing property market, the Department of Municipalities and Transport said.
The new rulebook “covers every part of real estate business,” from the classification and licensing of brokers, developers, and property managers to the regulation of specific job functions within the industry. For the first time, specific industry job functions will be explicitly defined and regulated, with compulsory professional qualifications and legal registrations to work in critical roles. This is supposed to set higher standards for professionalism and accountability in the industry.
Apart from labor standards, the new regulation also covers advertising procedures, valuation practices on properties, conflict resolution mechanisms, and clients’ rights. Abu Dhabi real estate players were provided with a transitional period to comply with the new laws, subject to penalties and revocation of licenses in case of default.
The action is being widely interpreted as a move to align Abu Dhabi’s real estate market with international norms, particularly in the face of a post-pandemic boom in foreign investment and expat movements. Industry experts are confident the reforms will bring in additional institutional investors and combat malpractice, thus making the emirate’s property sector stronger and investor-friendly than ever.
