Indians, Pakistanis make one-third of property brokers in Dubai

DUBAI: As many as 676 real estate brokers from India and Pakistan are operating in Dubai out of a total 2,238 in the Gulf emirate, according to a new report.

The UAE nationals made up the largest percentage of the city's property brokers and there was one woman for almost every five men working in the sector, the Dubai Land Department (DLD) said in the report.

There are 336 Indians and 340 Pakistanis operating as real estate brokers in Dubai while the number of British property dealers are said to be 177, the report said.

There were 134 Egyptian brokers registered with other nations represented, including the Philippines, Iran, Russia and Uzbekistan.

"Brokers in Dubai are reassured by the legislation and laws that exist to guarantee the rights of all dealers in the market," said Yousif Al Hashimi, deputy chief executive of the Real Estate Regulatory Agency, the regulatory arm of DLD.

"The number and diversity of nationalities working in the field of real estate brokerage reveals the attraction of the activity itself and is an indication of the confidence felt by brokers to work in the sector," he was quoted as saying by the Khaleej Times yesterday.

The report showed that there were 468 women registered to conduct property transactions in Dubai last year, compared to 1,770 men. The figures equate to a female share of approximately 21 per cent, or one woman for every five men.