ORN (office registration number)

A Dubai estate agency must be licensed to broker property, and the Land Department identifies each licensed office by its ORN, the office registration number. It appears on the agency's adverts, website and contracts alongside the individual agent's broker card number (often printed as the BRN).

The two numbers answer different questions. The ORN tells you the company is licensed; the broker card tells you the individual is registered and works for that company. Both should check out: the Land Department's licensed brokers list can be searched by ORN as well as by name, area and mobile number, and its brokerage companies list shows the licensed offices (checked 12 November 2026). The same checks are available in the Dubai REST app.

Why it matters to a buyer: the brokerage agreement (Form A for sellers, Form B for buyers) is signed with the office, commission is payable to the office, and any complaint to RERA is made against the licensed office and its broker. Pay commission to the company named against the ORN, by cheque or bank transfer at the transfer, never in cash to an individual.

The Land Department's FAQ also says commission becomes payable once the sale is registered, unless the contract says otherwise, and that a broker who works against their client's interest loses the right to it.