A study guide for the DLD broker exam. Not official DLD material; DLD does not publish the exam format — details are based on our brokers' experience. Updated: 28 Oct 2026. All guides · Glossary
In brief: The state exam for the RERA Broker Card is taken online in the DLD system: 30 questions in 60 minutes, 4 points each, maximum 120. The passing score is 76 out of 120, i.e. 19 correct answers. The result is visible immediately, but only with a breakdown by sections, without error analysis. The main areas where our employees fail are laws, basic market concepts, mathematics and ethics; preparation should be based on the agency’s question bank, Articles 9.2–9.8 and with a calculator in hand.
How the exam is structured
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Where it is taken | Online in the DLD system (ERES testing section, eres_test_execute). The company registers the candidate for the exam through the DLD e-service “Exam Registration” — the broker does not register independently |
| Questions | 30. DLD does not officially publish the format — this is data from our attempts in 2025–2026. An employee reported a version with 60 questions (February 2025), DLD does not confirm this — check your invitation |
| Time | 60 minutes |
| Question weight | 4 points; maximum 120 |
| Passing score | 76 out of 120 (19 correct answers). In November 2024 it was 75 — the threshold may change |
| Question format | One answer selected from four; True/False and Correct/Incorrect occur |
| Fee | Components according to DLD: 700 + 10 + 10 AED + ERES 50 AED + VAT. DLD does not publish the total amount (“772.5” in blogs) — check when registering, fees change |
What is visible after taking the exam. The result is displayed immediately: how many answers are correct, incorrect and skipped, the number of points, and a breakdown by Knowledge Domain with the status Weak / Average / Strong / Perfect. The system does not show the correct answers for specific questions — you can analyse exactly where you made mistakes only from memory, so immediately after the exam write down which questions caused doubt and review them with a mentor.
Who is exempt from the exam, the course and the Broker Card
- Without the exam (DLD page on card issuance): brokers over 55 years old; brokers who have worked for 5 consecutive years in one office; holders of a start-up licence.
- Course Certified Training for Real Estate Brokers is mandatory before the exam; DLD training is in English. There is no official course price: providers charge from ~1,575 to ~3,000 AED (according to providers and portals, October 2026).
- Broker Card is issued only through a licensed brokerage company (the company submits the application through Trakheesi): 500 + 10 + 10 = 520 AED; Emirates ID, photo, good conduct certificate from Dubai Police, and residence visa under this company’s licence are required.
- Renewal — also 520 AED; a passed annual test and a continuing education certificate are required. The card term is linked to the company’s licence.
Exam sections (Knowledge Domain)
Questions are divided into sections; in each attempt, the set and proportions are slightly different:
- Code of Ethics — code of ethics (see RERA Code of Ethics: What the Broker Is Responsible For and What They Are Not);
- Laws and Legislations — laws and regulations;
- Real Estate Concepts and Systems — basic concepts and market structure;
- Sale Brokerage Agreements — sale brokerage agreements (Contract A/B/F, see Contracts A, B, F: full cycle, limit of 3 contracts per property, exclusivity);
- Registration of Real Estate Transaction — transaction registration;
- Property Sales — sales;
- Property Valuation and Real Estate Valuation — valuation (CMA, valuation methods);
- Real Estate Rental, Rental Dispute — rentals and rental disputes;
- Property Management — property management;
- Jointly Owned Property — jointly owned property;
- Mortgages — mortgages (see Mortgages in the UAE: Central Bank rules and what they change in a transaction);
- Taxes — taxes and fees;
- Real estate mathematics — mathematics.
Mathematics is a separate and the most predictable block: usually 4–5 problems out of 30, i.e. 16–20 points, approximately one seventh of the maximum. These are the easiest points to obtain through preparation: there are few formulas, and they recur (see Broker Mathematics: formulas, worked examples, pitfalls).
Wording traps
- “All answers are correct” is often not the correct answer. If at least one option can be disputed, choose the most precise of the others.
- True/False and Correct/Incorrect. Questions such as “which statement is incorrect” (not / except / incorrect) are easy to confuse when rushing: reread the last line of the question.
- Typos and careless wording. Questions contain typos and incomplete conditions; solve them as the author intended, rather than as you would criticise the text (for example, an inheritance problem does not state the number of children — you have to adopt the standard assumption, see Broker Mathematics: formulas, worked examples, pitfalls).
- Trap number in problems. The condition includes an extra number (listing price and sale price, area in two units) — the required one is selected based on the wording.
- Disputed key. There are questions where the arithmetically correct answer was marked incorrect by the system. Example: a problem on reverse calculation of the commission rate, where the calculation resulted in 0.07 (7%) — this option was on the list, but the result marked it as incorrect. Conclusion: do not spend minutes on such a question. Calculate, choose the closest option and move on; it affects the final result by 4 points, while lost time affects the entire rest of the exam.
How to prepare
- Articles in section 9 (9.2–9.8) — on the topics of mathematics, laws, ethics, registration, rentals, mortgages and taxes.
- Calculator. You need your own calculator or the system’s built-in one in the exam — practise in advance without using your phone. Practise solving a problem in 1.5–2 minutes.
- Practice by section. Run the test separately for each section and review your Weak/Average/Strong profile — just as in the actual exam. Repeat weak sections first.
- Timing. 60 minutes for 30 questions — 2 minutes per question. First answer the definitions quickly, then return to mathematics; mark and skip problems where you get stuck.
- Mock attempt. 2–3 days before the exam, complete the whole test under timed conditions: 30 questions, 60 minutes, passing score — 19 correct answers.
Common mistakes
- Taking the exam “based on transaction experience” without the question bank → the questions use legal wording and exam definitions, not working practice.
- Answering “All answers are correct” by default → a trap; check every option.
- Not reading the units in which the area and price are given → an error by a factor of 2–3.
- Getting stuck on a disputed problem → lost time instead of 4 points on the following questions.
- Assuming that the result will show where you made mistakes → it shows only sections; write down doubtful questions from memory immediately after the exam.
See also
- Broker Mathematics: formulas, worked examples, pitfalls
- RERA Code of Ethics: What the Broker Is Responsible For and What They Are Not
- Broker Licence: Where You Can Work, How to Obtain a Card, Where to File a Complaint
- Mortgages in the UAE: Central Bank rules and what they change in a transaction
Test yourself
1. What is the passing score in the official DLD exam in 2025–2026?
A) 60 out of 120 B) 76 out of 120 C) 90 out of 120 D) 100 out of 120
Answer
B. 76 out of 120 — this is 19 correct answers out of 30 worth 4 points each. In November 2024 the threshold was 75.
2. How much time and how many questions are in a standard attempt?
A) 30 questions, 60 minutes B) 60 questions, 30 minutes C) 50 questions, 90 minutes D) 30 questions, 120 minutes
Answer
A. Thirty questions and 60 minutes (2 minutes per question) — according to our attempts in 2025–2026; a 60-question version was reported, but DLD does not confirm it.
3. What does the system show after taking the exam?
A) Correct answers to every question B) Only “passed / failed” C) Points and status by section (Weak/Average/Strong/Perfect), without correct answers to questions D) Error analysis with an explanation of the law
Answer
C. Correct, incorrect and skipped answers, points and a breakdown by Knowledge Domain are visible, but not which answer was correct in each question.
4. One of the options in a question is “All answers are correct”. How should you proceed?
A) Select it, it is always correct B) Never select it C) Check each option separately: this option is often incorrect D) Select it if the question is about ethics
Answer
C. The “all answers are correct” option is often incorrect in the exam; you need to check each answer and select the most precise one.
5. You solved a problem, the calculation gives 7%, but the system may not accept this answer (the key is disputed). What is reasonable?
A) Spend 10 minutes rechecking B) Select the answer based on the calculation and move to the next question C) Leave the question blank D) Select a random answer
Answer
B. Disputed keys occur; the question is worth 4 points, while lost time will consume the following questions. Solve based on the calculation and move on.