How Do You Check a Dubai Property Listing Is Genuine? Guide for Brisbane Buyers

Quick Answer

• Scan the Madmoun QR code on the ad.

• Search the broker on DLD's licensed list.

• Verify the broker's RERA e-card number.

• Confirm the property record with DLD.

• Pay off-plan money only into escrow.

A Dubai apartment can look perfect on a phone screen in Brisbane. Sharp photos and a fast reply from the agent still don't prove the listing is real.

So how do you check a Dubai property listing is genuine before you send money? You use the Dubai Land Department's own tools, and most of them work from Australia.

This guide covers why the checks matter, the three checks every listing should pass, the extra steps for off-plan projects, and the red flags that should stop a deal.

Why Listing Checks Matter Now

Official figures from both countries show why these checks matter.

Scam Numbers

The National Anti-Scam Centre's 2025 report shows investment scams cause Australia's biggest scam losses. The table compares the last two years.

These figures cover all scams, not only Dubai property scams. Three points stand out:

• Investment scams cost Australians more in 2025 than the next four scam types combined.

• Australians lodged 481,523 scam reports across the reporting agencies that year.

• The top five scam types made up 60% of all losses in 2025.

• Payment redirection losses rose. In this scam, someone poses as a business and asks you to pay to a changed account.

The lesson applies to an overseas apartment too. Check before you pay.

Dubai's Own Warning

The Dubai Land Department (DLD) has warned buyers directly and tightened the rules since:

• In April 2023, DLD launched its Madmoun QR service and strongly advised investors to deal only with ads showing the code.

• DLD says companies that ignore the QR service face violations.

• Gulf News reported in April 2025 that 29% of 279,000 property ads issued since October 2024 were corrected automatically by DLD's AI platform.

• The same report covered new limits on how many brokers can advertise one property.

• It also said a sold property must come off the market once the deal is done.

If almost three ads in ten needed fixing, check the record yourself.

Buying From Brisbane

Most checks work without a trip to Dubai:

• DLD lists the residency status for these services as "All", so overseas buyers can use them.

• DLD says each service returns its result immediately.

• Licensed broker list: DLD website or the Dubai REST app.

• RERA e-card check: Dubai REST app.

• Property status and title deed checks: DLD website or Dubai REST app.

• Project status: DLD website or Dubai REST app.

• Developer and escrow trustee lists: DLD website or Dubai REST app.

For the wider buying journey, see our guide to property in Dubai from Australia.

The risk is real at both ends of the deal. The next section shows which tool answers which question.

How to Check a Dubai Property Listing

Every listing should pass three checks. The table shows the official tools.

Run them in this order, starting with the ad itself.

Check a Dubai Property Listing's Permit

Real estate companies in Dubai must show a permit QR code on their ads:

• The permit is issued through DLD's Trakheesi system.

• It covers newspaper, SMS, printed, electronic, and classified ads, property promotion platforms, and open house events.

• Its Madmoun QR code has been required on ads since 24 April 2023.

• Scanning the code confirms the ad was approved by RERA.

• It shows which company placed the ad.

• It shows the property's authorised details, condition, and specifications.

• It tells you whether the property has already been sold or rented.

A missing QR code is a warning sign. Even a valid code has limits:

• It confirms the ad, not that the price is fair.

• It doesn't prove the person messaging you is the broker on the permit.

• It says nothing about whether a developer will hand over on time.

If the details behind the code don't match the ad, stop there.

Verify the Broker

Next, check the person you're dealing with:

• RERA licenses Dubai brokers, and DLD publishes the list.

• Search the broker's name on DLD's Licensed Real Estate Brokers service.

• Search their company on DLD's licensed brokerage companies list.

• Ask for their RERA broker card number.

• Enter it in the e-card verification service in the Dubai REST app.

• Check that their brokerage matches the company named on the ad.

• Use DLD's licence and permit verification service to confirm the brokerage's own licence.

A genuine broker shares the card number without fuss. Hesitation is your answer.

Confirm the Property

Finally, test the documents, not just the ad:

• Property Status Enquiry: enter the area and land number to see the property's status.

• Verify Title Deed: confirm that a title deed shown to you is valid and was issued by DLD.

• Where to run them: both services work on the DLD website and the Dubai REST app.

• Ask early: get these numbers from the seller or broker before you talk price.

• Match the names: the seller you're dealing with should be the owner named on the deed.

• No numbers, no deal: a seller who can't supply them is not ready to sell.

Once the record checks out, follow the normal steps to purchase property in Dubai.

These checks cover the ad, the agent, and the property. Off-plan listings need a few more answers.

Extra Checks for Off-Plan

An off-plan home isn't built yet, so off-plan Dubai property listings need extra checks. The table shows what changes.

The first two checks never change. The rest depends on who you trust.

Approved Developer

Check the developer before the project:

• DLD publishes a list of approved real estate developers on its website and in Dubai REST.

• Search the developer's name on that list.

• Make sure the name matches the one on your sales contract.

• Look at projects they have already finished.

• Compare them with the biggest property developers in Dubai.

If a developer is missing from the list, ask why before going further.

Project Progress

DLD's Project Status Enquiry shows a project's completion percentage and details:

• Search by land number, project number, or project name.

• Run it on the DLD website or in the Dubai REST app.

• Compare the completion percentage with the brochure's claims.

• Check it against the handover date in your contract.

• Run it again before each instalment on a construction-linked plan.

A project that stalls on paper is a project to question.

Escrow Payments

This check protects your money most:

• Under Dubai's Law No. 8 of 2007, off-plan payments go into a bank account opened for that project, called an escrow account.

• Developers must ask DLD to open it before selling off-plan.

• The account is held with an escrow agent in the project's name.

• DLD's FAQ says escrow money is generally paid only to the project's contractors, consultants, and marketing.

• DLD's FAQ says the law applies to every developer selling off-plan in Dubai, without exception.

• DLD publishes its list of approved escrow account trustees.

• Ask for the escrow account details in writing before your first payment.

• Never pay a deposit into a personal account.

Our guide to escrow accounts in Dubai explains this protection in full.

Off-plan adds two questions: who is building it, and where your money goes. DLD's public records answer both.

Warning Signs to Act On

The checks are your proof. Red flags are the early warning.

Common Red Flags

Stop and look closer if you see any of these:

• No QR code or permit number: DLD advises dealing only with ads that carry one.

• No RERA card number: licensed brokers are on a public list, so there is no reason to hide it.

• QR details that differ from the ad: the record wins over the ad every time.

• A personal bank account: off-plan payments belong in the project's escrow account.

• A late change to bank details: this is how payment redirection scams work.

• Pressure to pay before you check: a genuine deal survives a day of checks.

• A price far below similar homes: compare it with other units in the same building.

• Documents sent only as photos: ask for numbers you can check with DLD.

One red flag doesn't always mean fraud. It does mean you shouldn't pay until it's cleared.

If Something Fails

If a check fails, act straight away:

• Stop all payments.

• Call your bank immediately if you've already paid.

• Don't send any more ID documents.

• Keep copies of the ad, messages and payment requests.

• Lodge a complaint against the company through DLD's Real Estate Complaints service.

• Report it to Scamwatch, run by Australia's National Anti-Scam Centre.

Reporting it also helps protect the next buyer. Before any money moves, run one final check.

Before You Pay

Tick off every item on this list before you pay a deposit:

• The QR code is scanned, and its details match the ad.

• The broker appears on DLD's licensed list.

• Their RERA e-card is verified in Dubai REST.

• The property status or project status is checked.

• The title deed is verified for a ready home.

• The developer is on DLD's approved list for off-plan.

• For off-plan, the payment details match the project's escrow account.

If any box stays empty, wait.

Use red flags and official checks together. That habit protects you wherever a listing appears.

Meet Developers Face to Face

Online checks tell you a listing is genuine. Meeting developers helps you judge whether a project suits you.

Check a Dubai property listing yourself, and register now to secure your place at the Dubai Property Expo Brisbane. Ask developers for permit numbers, project numbers, and escrow details.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check a Trakheesi permit in Dubai?

Scan the Madmoun QR code on the ad to see the permit's record. You can also use DLD's licence and permit verification service online or in Dubai REST.

How do I know if a Dubai real estate agent is licensed?

Search their name on DLD's Licensed Real Estate Brokers service, which lists brokers licensed by RERA. Then verify their RERA e-card number in the Dubai REST app.

Can I verify a Dubai property listing from Australia?

Yes. DLD lists its broker, property status, title deed, and project status services as open to all residency types. You can complete every check in this guide from Brisbane.

What is the Madmoun QR code?

Madmoun is a DLD service that issues a QR code with each advertising permit. It has been required since 24 April 2023, and scanning it shows the ad's approved details.

What should I do about a fake property listing in Dubai?

Stop all payments and keep a record of the ad and every message. Lodge a complaint with DLD, and report it to Scamwatch if you're in Australia.

Register for the Expo