When must a real estate broker file a REAR in the UAE?
A UAE real estate broker must file a Real Estate Activity Report whenever a freehold purchase or sale is settled using physical cash of AED 55,000 or more, in a single payment or across several payments, for all or part of the property value. A REAR is also required where the buyer pays using a virtual asset, or where funds were converted from a virtual asset into cash to complete the deal, regardless of amount.
The report must be submitted through the goAML portal and accompanied by the parties’ identification, contracts, invoices and receipts. Filing a REAR does not remove the separate duty to submit a Suspicious Transaction Report, Funds Freeze Report or other goAML reports where those triggers are also met.
Legal Reference (UAE):
· MoE Circular No. 5/2022 — sets the AED 55,000 cash threshold and the virtual-asset triggers for REAR filing through goAML.
· Cabinet Resolution No. 134 of 2025, Article 25 — supporting records must be retained for at least five years.
For more details, consult the full text of MoE Circular No. 5/2022 or seek guidance from your AML compliance officer.