The Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre (ADREC) has launched a new mandatory licensing curriculum for real estate brokers, replacing its previous course with a standardised programme designed to bring consistent professional standards to a fast-expanding market.
ADREC, which sits under the Department of Municipalities and Transport, signed memoranda of understanding with training provider ThinkProp, the Abu Dhabi School of Management and Mawaheb, a unit of the Department of Government Enablement, to deliver the programme. The agreements were announced at Abu Dhabi’s Livability and Investment Exhibition (LIVEX).
The timing reflects the scale of growth in Abu Dhabi’s property sector. The emirate recorded AED 117 billion in real estate transactions in the first half of 2026, up 112 per cent year-on-year, according to ADREC’s H1 2026 transactions report.
Over the same period, ADREC issued 2,040 licences for real estate professionals, up 34 per cent, with the total number of licensed brokers reaching 3,302.
The Abu Dhabi Real Estate Broker Transformation Course was built by a committee of senior local and international brokers and benchmarked against global real estate credentials.
It covers legal, operational, ethical and market knowledge, and requires candidates to complete a capstone transaction simulation before a final assessment. Those who pass receive the ADREC Certified Broker credential, which renews annually.
“As the regulator of Abu Dhabi’s real estate sector, our role is to make sure professional standards keep pace with the market’s growth. Brokers are often the first point of contact an investor has with the sector, and the quality of their advice shapes that investor’s experience of the market. The new curriculum sets one clear standard of regulatory knowledge and professional conduct for every licensed broker in the emirate, and it prepares brokers to act as trusted advisors to their clients. Through our partnerships with ThinkProp, ADSM and Mawaheb, we can bring new talent into the profession and help those already in it continue to develop,” Rashed Al Omaira, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre said in a statement.
ADREC is piloting the curriculum through a brokerage training programme with Mawaheb and the Abu Dhabi Youth Council. Starting 10 October 2026, the programme will take 60 Emirati nationals through an open day, one week of training and a three-month practical placement with nine sector entities, with support to obtain a broker licence and the prospect of employment on completion.
“The Real Estate Brokerage Programme reflects the Abu Dhabi Government’s commitment to advancing Emiratisation by connecting national talent with sectors that require professionals with specialized skills. Through our collaboration with partners across the public and private sectors, we are helping Emirati nationals enter the workforce in a strategically important economic sector, contribute to Abu Dhabi’s priorities, and build sustainable careers in real estate,” Ibrahim Nasser, Undersecretary of the Department of Government Enablement added.
Registration and eligibility details for the Mawaheb programme will be published through Mawaheb’s official channels.
