The three property portals worth using in the UAE are Property Finder, Bayut, and dubizzle, which together carry almost every genuine rental and sale listing in the country. This guide compares what each does best, and then does what most listicles skip: it shows how to verify that a listing is real using the government permit system, so you avoid the fake-listing scams that fill these sites. In Dubai, every legitimate property advertisement must carry an official permit and a scannable code you can check for free in seconds.
There is no single best portal, because the right one depends on whether you are buying, renting, or hunting for an owner-direct deal. Property Finder is strong for buyers and cleaner to search, Bayut has the deepest listings and its own physical-verification badge, and dubizzle is the best place to find rentals listed directly by owners rather than agents. What matters more than the portal, though, is knowing how to tell a genuine listing from a bait advert before you part with a single dirham.
This article compares the main portals, explains step by step how to verify a listing and an agent in Dubai, notes how Abu Dhabi’s system differs, and covers agent commission and the red flags of a scam. Verifying a listing sits alongside our dedicated guide to verifying a property listing and avoiding scams in Dubai, and if you are buying, it pairs with our guide to buying property in Dubai as a foreigner. Listings and features change, so confirm details on the portal and the official government tools before acting.
The best UAE property portals compared
The market has consolidated around three names, and it helps to know that two of them share a parent. Bayut and dubizzle both sit under Dubizzle Group, a company now listed on the Dubai Financial Market, while Property Finder is a separate, independent business. Two portals people still search for, Houza and JustProperty, have shut down, so ignore stale results pointing to them.
Property Finder
Property Finder is an independent UAE portal covering all seven emirates, and it is often the cleaner experience for serious buyers and end-users. Its standout features are a SuperAgent ranking that surfaces vetted, higher-performing agents, integrated mortgage tools, and market data drawn from the Dubai Land Department, which makes it strong for researching prices before you commit. If you are buying and want reliable agents and price context, it is the natural first stop.
Bayut
Bayut, the flagship of Dubizzle Group, has the broadest listing base and the deepest per-property detail, including floor plans, price trends, and neighborhood guides. Its signature feature is TruCheck, a physical-verification badge given only after an agent visits the property and photographs it from a required position, which raises confidence that the unit genuinely exists and is available. For the widest choice combined with a verification signal, Bayut is the strongest all-rounder.
dubizzle
dubizzle shares much of its inventory with Bayut but stands out for owner-direct listings, making it one of the few places to find rentals and sales posted by the property owner rather than an agent, which can mean no agent commission on a rental. The trade-off is that owner listings need more of your own due diligence, so the verification steps below matter most here. For budget-conscious renters willing to check carefully, dubizzle is worth searching alongside the other two.
Niche and developer-direct options
For new-build homes, buying directly from the developer, such as Emaar, DAMAC, or Nakheel, is the safest route for off-plan, and the buyer usually pays no agent commission because the developer covers it. Luxury-focused portals exist for the high end, and the Dubai Land Department’s own tools let you check real transaction prices. Treat these as supplements to the three main portals rather than replacements.
| Portal | Best for | Standout feature |
|---|---|---|
| Property Finder | Buyers, agent quality, price research | SuperAgent ranking, mortgage tools, DLD market data |
| Bayut | Widest choice with a verification signal | TruCheck physically verified listings; deep property data |
| dubizzle | Owner-direct rentals, budget searches | Listings posted by owners, not only agents |
| Developer-direct | Off-plan and new builds | No buyer commission; safest off-plan route |
How to verify a property listing is genuine in Dubai
Dubai runs a government permit system that makes fake listings easy to catch if you know what to check. Every legitimate real estate advertisement must carry a Trakheesi permit issued by the Dubai Land Department, and since 2023 each permit generates a Madmoun QR code that must appear on the advert. Because the QR is built from a government database, it cannot be faked, which gives you a fast, free way to confirm a listing before you engage. Follow these steps.
- Find the permit number. A genuine Dubai listing displays a Trakheesi advertising permit number and usually a Madmoun QR code. If neither is present, treat the listing with caution.
- Scan the Madmoun QR code. Scanning it opens the official record for the advert, showing the advertising company and the property details. A mismatch or a dead code is a red flag.
- Verify on the Dubai REST app. The Dubai Land Department’s official Dubai REST app lets you check the permit, the property status, and the broker’s license against government records.
- Check the agent’s RERA broker card. Every licensed agent carries a RERA broker card with a registration number. Ask to see it and confirm it matches the listing.
- Never pay before a viewing and a contract. Do not transfer a deposit or fee before you have viewed the property and signed a proper contract, and be wary of overseas or third-party accounts.
- Register the tenancy in Ejari. For a rental, insist the contract is registered in Ejari; an agent who avoids Ejari is a serious warning sign.
How do I check if a Dubai property listing is real?
Look for the Trakheesi advertising permit number and the Madmoun QR code that every legitimate Dubai listing must display, and scan the QR to open the official government record. Cross-check the permit, property status, and broker license in the Dubai Land Department’s Dubai REST app, and ask the agent for their RERA broker card. Never pay a deposit before viewing the property and signing a contract, and insist any rental is registered in Ejari.
Abu Dhabi uses a different system
Verification tools differ by emirate, so do not assume Dubai’s process applies elsewhere. In Abu Dhabi, real estate is regulated by the Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre (ADREC), and every advertisement must be permitted through the DARI platform, with Abu Dhabi’s own Madhmoun listing system verifying ownership against the title deed before a property can be advertised. Only ADREC-licensed brokers can list, and tenancies are registered through Tawtheeq rather than Ejari. If you are searching in Abu Dhabi, verify listings and brokers through DARI and ADREC, not the Dubai tools.
Agent commission and the red flags of a scam
Knowing the normal cost helps you spot the abnormal. By market convention, an agent’s commission is around 2 percent of the purchase price on a sale and 5 percent of the annual rent on a rental, plus 5 percent VAT, while off-plan bought from a developer usually carries no buyer commission. These are customary rates rather than fixed law, so they are negotiable.
The scams to avoid follow a pattern: a listing priced far below the market that turns out to be “just rented” so the agent can push another unit, photos lifted from elsewhere for a property the advertiser does not control, a landlord who is conveniently abroad and wants a deposit wired before viewing, and any pressure to pay in cash or to skip Ejari. Running through the verification steps above defeats almost all of them. For renters, our guide to RERA tenant rights in Dubai covers what a proper tenancy looks like, and the first-time tenant fee breakdown sets out which charges are legitimate. When you are comparing areas, our guides to the best places to live in Dubai and rental yields by area help you judge whether a price is realistic.
FAQ
What is the best property website in the UAE?
The three leading portals are Property Finder, Bayut, and dubizzle, and the best one depends on your goal. Property Finder is strong for buyers and price research, Bayut has the widest listings and its TruCheck verification badge, and dubizzle is best for owner-direct rentals. Most searchers use two of them together and rely on the government permit system to confirm any listing is genuine.
Are Bayut and dubizzle owned by the same company?
Yes. Bayut and dubizzle are both brands of Dubizzle Group, a company now listed on the Dubai Financial Market, which is why their property inventory overlaps heavily. Property Finder is a separate, independent company. Choosing between Bayut and dubizzle is partly choosing between two products of one group, so it is worth searching both plus Property Finder for full coverage.
Is dubizzle safe for finding property?
It can be, but owner-direct listings need more of your own due diligence than agent listings on a verified portal. Use the government checks: confirm the Trakheesi permit and Madmoun QR code, verify the property and any broker in the Dubai REST app, never pay before viewing and signing, and insist on Ejari for a rental. Those steps make dubizzle as safe as any portal for careful users.
Are Dubai property listings fake?
Some are, which is exactly why Dubai’s permit system exists. A genuine listing must carry a Trakheesi permit and a Madmoun QR code linked to a government database, so a missing or dead code is a strong warning. The scams to watch are underpriced bait listings, stolen photos, and landlords demanding a deposit before viewing. Verifying the permit and the agent defeats most of them.
What is a Trakheesi permit number?
It is the official advertising permit that the Dubai Land Department requires for every legitimate real estate advertisement in Dubai. The permit number, and the linked Madmoun QR code, must appear on the listing, and you can check them in the Dubai REST app. A listing without a Trakheesi permit is not properly authorized, which is a reason to be cautious before engaging with it.
How do I check if a real estate agent is licensed in the UAE?
In Dubai, ask the agent for their RERA broker card, which carries a registration number, and verify the broker license in the Dubai Land Department’s Dubai REST app. In Abu Dhabi, only ADREC-licensed brokers can list, and you verify them through the DARI platform. A genuine agent will show their card without hesitation; reluctance to do so is a warning sign.
How much commission do you pay an agent in Dubai?
By market convention, an agent’s commission is around 2 percent of the purchase price on a sale and 5 percent of the annual rent on a rental, plus 5 percent VAT. Off-plan bought directly from a developer usually carries no buyer commission because the developer pays it. These are customary rates rather than a fixed legal rate, so they can be negotiated before you sign.
Which property portal should I use in Abu Dhabi?
Property Finder, Bayut, and dubizzle all cover Abu Dhabi, but the verification system differs. Abu Dhabi real estate is regulated by ADREC, advertisements are permitted through the DARI platform with the Madhmoun listing system, and tenancies register in Tawtheeq rather than Ejari. Search the same portals, but verify listings and brokers through DARI and ADREC rather than Dubai’s Trakheesi and Dubai REST tools.
Official Sources
The pages below cover the official permit and verification systems for property advertising in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Listings and portal features change, so use these government tools as your primary check before acting on any listing.
- Dubai Land Department — real estate advertising permit (Trakheesi)
- Dubai Land Department — Madmoun QR verification service
- Dubai Land Department — validate licenses and permits
- Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre (ADREC) — DARI and Madhmoun
- Property Finder — UAE property portal
- Bayut — UAE property portal and TruCheck
Information is current as of July 2026. Portal features, agent commission conventions, and government verification tools change over time; confirm any listing, permit, and broker through the official Dubai Land Department or ADREC tools before paying a deposit or signing. This article is general information, not legal or financial advice.
