Insurance for real estate agents and property managers in the UAE
6 insurance or guarantee rules name this sector, and the rules for every employer apply in each emirate. Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development open data lists 8,929 licences for them, 6 October 2026.
Which insurance rules apply to real estate agents and property managers?
These rules name this kind of business or the work it does.
- Dubai. If you are the management entity of jointly owned property in Dubai, including in special development zones and free zones, you must insure the building and insure against liability for damage and bodily injury to occupants or third parties, and the premiums go into the service charges.3
- Abu Dhabi. If you develop an off-plan project in Abu Dhabi, the escrow account trustee keeps at least 5% of the overall project value as a performance bond to repair defects for one year after completion, and it can be released early only against a bank guarantee from you.4
- Abu Dhabi. If you are the management company of jointly owned property in Abu Dhabi, you must insure the common parts and joint property for a sum sufficient to repair or rebuild them if they are destroyed or collapse for any reason, and insure against damage and bodily injury to owners, occupants of the units or third parties while in the joint property.5
- Abu Dhabi. If your company applies for a real estate broker licence in Abu Dhabi, it must be registered under Federal Law No. 2 of 2015 on Commercial Companies and have professional risks insurance accepted by the Department that issues the licence.5
- Abu Dhabi. If your company applies for a licence in Abu Dhabi as an owners' association manager, appraiser or surveyor, it must be registered under Federal Law No. 2 of 2015 on Commercial Companies and have professional risks insurance accepted by the Department that issues the licence.5
- ADGM. If you register in Abu Dhabi Global Market as a real property professional, as an association manager, broker, surveyor, engineering auditor, valuer, property manager or property inspector, you must have professional indemnity insurance in force covering all types of civil liability from your licensed service, in line with your services or any minimum the Registrar sets, and the Registrar may waive registration criteria.6
Rules for any employer
- Dubai. Dubai Law No. 11 of 2013 requires employers to enrol employees in health insurance, bear the cost and keep it valid for the whole service period. It applies across the emirate, including special development zones and free zones such as DIFC.7
- Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi Law No. 23 of 2005 requires an employer to provide health insurance for its employees and their family members. There is no residence permit, renewal or employment without enrolment.8
- Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah. From 1 January 2025 an employer buys a health insurance policy as a condition of the residence permit for private sector employees and domestic workers. The UAE Government portal names the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation as the source and describes the rule as extending to Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah.9
- Every emirate. If your establishment is subject to the federal Labour Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021), you must provide either a bank guarantee of AED 3,000 for each worker or insurance for each worker, under the mechanisms approved by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation.10
- Every emirate. If you employ staff in the private sector or the federal government, each worker must subscribe to the Unemployment Insurance Scheme by buying a policy that insures them if their service ends in the cases where they are eligible. The duty is on the worker, not on you as the employer, and investors who own and work at the establishment, domestic workers, temporary contract workers, workers under 18 and specified retirees are excluded.11
Each emirate page sets out the rule and the authority. Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
How many real estate agents and property managers are licensed?
| Emirate | Licences | Counted from | As of |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abu Dhabi | 8,929 | Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development open data | 6 October 2026 |
| Ajman | 955 | Ajman Department of Economic Development open data, activity table | 20 March 2024 |
A licence counts once, however many activities it holds. Abu Dhabi and Ajman publish licence data by activity as open data.
| ISIC class | Class title | Abu Dhabi licences |
|---|---|---|
| 6810 | Real estate activities with own or leased property | 2,005 |
| 6820 | Real estate activities on a fee or contract basis | 8,525 |
Which types of cover should real estate agents and property managers read about?
The rules in full
Rules for any employer
| Rule | Where it comes from |
|---|---|
| If your establishment is subject to the federal Labour Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021), you must provide either a bank guarantee of AED 3,000 for each worker or insurance for each worker, under the mechanisms approved by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation. | Cabinet Resolution No. (18) of 2022 Concerning the Classification of Private Sector Establishments, Art 8(1)10 |
| If the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation classifies your establishment as high-risk, you must insure each worker under the mechanisms the Ministry approves, and the bank guarantee option does not apply to you. | Cabinet Resolution No. (18) of 2022, Art 8(2)10 |
| For each employee, your establishment must provide either an insurance policy under the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation guide, or a bank guarantee of at least AED 3,000 from a bank operating in the UAE that is valid for one year, renews automatically and is payable on demand. | Ministerial Resolution No. 318 of 2022 Concerning Bank Guarantees and Employees Protection Insurance Scheme, Art 1 |
| If you employ staff in the private sector or the federal government, each worker must subscribe to the Unemployment Insurance Scheme by buying a policy that insures them if their service ends in the cases where they are eligible. The duty is on the worker, not on you as the employer, and investors who own and work at the establishment, domestic workers, temporary contract workers, workers under 18 and specified retirees are excluded. | Cabinet Resolution No. (97) of 2022 Concerning the Mechanisms and Controls of Implementing the Unemployment Insurance Scheme, Art 211 |
| If you employ staff in Dubai, including in its free zones and special development zones, you must enrol your employees in health insurance, pay its cost, keep it valid for their whole period of service, and produce the policy when their residence permits are issued or renewed. | Law No. (11) of 2013 Concerning Health Insurance in the Emirate of Dubai, Art 10(1), (2), (3), (6)7 |
| If you are an employer or sponsor in Dubai and do not enrol your employees or sponsored persons in health insurance with at least the basic cover by the deadline, the fine is AED 500 for each month of delay, with part of a month counted as a full month, and charging the cost to a beneficiary brings a fine of AED 10,000 per beneficiary plus a refund. Fines double for a repeat within one year, up to AED 500,000. | Executive Council Resolution No. (7) of 2016 Approving Health Insurance Fees and Fines in the Emirate of Dubai, Schedule (2), rows 6 and 8 |
| If you employ expatriate residents in Abu Dhabi, you must provide health insurance for all your employees and their family members, including the employee's wife and three children under 18, unless your category is exempt under the law, and a non-UAE national's residence permit and employment depend on that enrolment. | Law No. (23) of 2005 Concerning Health Insurance in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, Art 58 |
Sources
11
1Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development, Economic Activities Dataset with Licensing Information (DL00-Activities.xlsx). Last checked 6 Oct 2026. Source document: Economic Activities Dataset with Licensing Information (DL00-Activities.xlsx)
2Ajman Department of Economic Development, License in Ajman (Activities), data.ajman.ae. Last checked 20 Mar 2024. Source document: License in Ajman (Activities), data.ajman.ae
3Supreme Legislation Committee, Dubai Legal Portal, Law No. (6) of 2019 Concerning Ownership of Jointly Owned Real Property in the Emirate of Dubai. Art 41. Last checked 4 Nov 2026. Source document: Law No. (6) of 2019 Concerning Ownership of Jointly Owned Real Property in the Emirate of Dubai
4adrec.gov.ae, Law No. (3) of 2015 Concerning the Regulation of the Real Estate Sector in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. Art 24(1), 24(3). Last checked 12 Nov 2026. Source document: Law No. (3) of 2015 Concerning the Regulation of the Real Estate Sector in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi
5adrec.gov.ae, Administrative Decision No. (25) of 2025 Regarding the Regulation of Ownership and Controls of Use and Management of Real Estate Properties, Common Parts, and Facilities. Art 37(1), 37(2). Last checked 12 Nov 2026. Source document: Administrative Decision No. (25) of 2025 Regarding the Regulation of Ownership and Controls of Use and Management of Real Estate Properties, Common Parts, and Facilities
6en.adgm.thomsonreuters.com, ADGM Off-Plan and Real Property Professionals Regulations 2024. s 4(1)(d). Last checked 12 Nov 2026. Source document: ADGM Off-Plan and Real Property Professionals Regulations 2024
7isahd.ae, Dubai Law No. 11 of 2013, Articles 4 and 10, and Executive Council Resolution No. 7 of 2016, Schedule 2. Last checked 4 Nov 2026. Source document: Dubai Law No. 11 of 2013, Articles 4 and 10, and Executive Council Resolution No. 7 of 2016, Schedule 2
8doh.gov.ae, Abu Dhabi Law No. 23 of 2005, Articles 5 and 24, as compiled by the Department of Health to 2010. Last checked 4 Nov 2026. Source document: Abu Dhabi Law No. 23 of 2005, Articles 5 and 24, as compiled by the Department of Health to 2010
9u.ae, UAE Government portal page on getting health insurance, updated 8 September 2026. Ministerial Resolution 504 of 2026 is listed on the Ministry site.. Last checked 4 Nov 2026. Source document: UAE Government portal page on getting health insurance, updated 8 September 2026. Ministerial Resolution 504 of 2026 is listed on the Ministry site.
10UAE Federal Government (uaelegislation.gov.ae), Cabinet Resolution No. (18) of 2022 Concerning the Classification of Private Sector Establishments. Art 8(1). Last checked 4 Nov 2026. Source document: Cabinet Resolution No. (18) of 2022 Concerning the Classification of Private Sector Establishments
11UAE Federal Government, Cabinet Resolution No. (97) of 2022 Concerning the Mechanisms and Controls of Implementing the Unemployment Insurance Scheme. Art 2. Last checked 4 Nov 2026. Source document: Cabinet Resolution No. (97) of 2022 Concerning the Mechanisms and Controls of Implementing the Unemployment Insurance Scheme
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