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Spotting fake listings and bad agents

Rental scams target new arrivals, because you don’t know the prices yet and you’re in a hurry. A few checks protect you.

Last checked 1 Oct 2026·Information, not advice

In 30 seconds

  • Never pay a deposit to “hold” a home you haven’t seen, or before you have a contract
  • Check the agent’s licence in the Dubai REST app, and pay the landlord named on the title deed
  • If a deal looks far cheaper than similar homes, assume it isn’t real until proven otherwise

Warning signs

  • The rent is well below other homes in the same building
  • The “landlord” is abroad and can’t show you the home
  • You’re asked to pay a deposit to hold a viewing or to “beat other offers”
  • You’re asked to pay into a personal account, or in cash with no receipt
  • The agent won’t give a broker number, or the ad has no permit number
  • Photos look like a hotel, or appear in other ads

Bad agents, not just scams

Some agents are licensed but still unhelpful. Watch for:

  • Bait listings: a cheap home that’s “just gone”, followed by a pricier one
  • Pressure: “Sign today or lose it”
  • Extra fees: anything on top of the usual 5% agency fee plus VAT should be explained in writing
  • Vague answers about chiller fees, maintenance or how many cheques the landlord accepts

Checks before you pay anything

  1. Check the agent’s broker number in the Dubai REST app or on the Dubai Land Department website
  2. Check the ad has a valid permit number or QR code Check before relying on it
  3. See the home in person, or on a live video call if you’re still in the UK
  4. Ask to see the title deed and the owner’s ID, and make sure the landlord’s name matches
  5. Pay the deposit and rent cheques to the landlord named on the title deed, not to an individual agent
  6. Make sure the tenancy is registered on Ejari, Dubai’s official tenancy register

Other common scams

ScamWhat to do
Calls “from your bank” or “the police”They will never ask for your PIN or a one-time code. Hang up and call the number on your card
Texts about parcels or finesOnly pay fines in official apps, such as Dubai Police and RTA
Job offers that ask for a feeEmployers must pay visa and recruitment costs by law

If you’ve been caught

  1. Call your bank straight away to try to stop the payment
  2. Report it to Dubai Police, online through eCrime or in the Dubai Police app
  3. Report a licensed agent to the Dubai Land Department
  4. Keep all messages, receipts and ad screenshots

What to do next

  1. Install the Dubai REST app
  2. Never pay before you’ve seen the home and the contract
  3. Pay only the landlord named on the title deed
SourcesLast checked 1 Oct 2026. Rules and prices change, so check the official source before you act. Spotted something out of date? Email hello@theglobalocal.com.
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