Don't pay a single dirham until you've done these four checks
Dubai gives you free tools to check an advert, an agent, a property and a payment. They take about ten minutes. Tick each one off before any deposit leaves your account.
Check the advert
A genuine property advert in Dubai carries a Madmoun QR code: its official advertising permit.
- Scan the QR code on the advert.
- The property and the agent that come up should match what the advert shows.
- No QR code, or details that don't match? Stop and ask why.
Check the agent and the agency
Every licensed agent in Dubai has a broker registration number, and every agency has an office registration number.
- Look them up in the free Dubai REST app.
- Make sure the names match the person and the company you're dealing with.
Check the property
- Ready home: ask for the title deed number before you give the security deposit, and verify it in Dubai REST.
- Off-plan: check that the project is registered and has its own escrow account, a protected bank account just for that project.
Check where your money goes
- Off-plan payments go into the project's escrow account, not to a person.
- Other payments go to the verified owner or the agency's company account.
- Always get a receipt.
Warning signs
A low price doesn't always mean fraud. But pressure to pay fast, into an account that doesn't match the owner or the company, is a warning sign. If a deal feels rushed, slow down.
Suspect fraud? Report it to Dubai Police on 901 or through the Dubai Police app.
Not sure about a deal? Ask me before you pay
Tell me what you're about to pay for and I'll tell you what to check.
General guidance for education, not legal advice. Checked September 2026. Madmoun, Dubai REST and the Dubai Land Department are official Dubai government services; this site is not affiliated with them.