Form B is the agreement used between a prospective property buyer and a licensed real estate broker in Dubai. Also known as Contract B, it formally appoints the broker to represent the buyer during the property search and purchase process.

The agreement records what the buyer wants to purchase, the expected budget, the broker’s commission, the duration of the appointment and other conditions governing the relationship.

Form B does not mean the buyer has agreed to purchase a particular property. It is a buyer-representation agreement rather than a sale and purchase contract. A separate contract, commonly known as Form F, is required when the buyer and seller agree on a resale transaction.

Why Is Form B Important?

Buying a property often involves viewings, price negotiations, document checks and communication with sellers or listing agents. Form B creates a clear framework for the broker assisting the buyer with these activities.

The agreement can help establish:

Who represents the buyer
What type of property the buyer wants
The preferred locations and price range
Whether the purchase depends on mortgage finance
The services expected from the broker
The commission payable by the buyer
Whether the appointment is exclusive
How long the agreement remains valid
How it may be amended or terminated

Without clear written terms, buyers and brokers can develop different expectations about commission, exclusivity and the scope of the broker’s work.

Who Signs Form B?

Form B is signed or electronically approved by the prospective buyer and the appointed real estate broker or brokerage.

The buyer may be:

A UAE resident
A non-resident foreign buyer
A company
A legally authorised representative
Two or more joint purchasers

Where more than one person will purchase the property, the agreement can record multiple buyers and their intended ownership shares.

If someone is acting for the buyer under a power of attorney, the document should provide the necessary authority. Buyers should confirm the applicable identification, notarisation, attestation and translation requirements before relying on a representative.

The broker should hold a valid professional card and work through a properly licensed Dubai real estate brokerage.

What Information Does Form B Contain?

The electronic Contract B workflow records several important categories of information.

Buyer details

The agreement identifies the prospective buyer. Depending on the buyer’s status, information may be entered using an Emirates ID, passport or an existing Dubai Land Department registration.

The buyer should check that all names, identification numbers and contact details are accurate. These details may later be used when preparing other transaction documents.

Joint-buyer information

Contract B can accommodate multiple buyers.

Where a property will be purchased jointly, the intended ownership shares should be entered correctly. The information should later match the buyer details and ownership percentages used in Form F and the official transfer documents.

Property requirements

Form B records the type of property the broker has been appointed to find. The requirements may include:

Apartment, villa, townhouse, plot or commercial property
Preferred communities or buildings
Ready or off-plan property
Minimum or maximum size
Number of bedrooms
Required facilities
Occupancy or investment purpose
Vacant or tenanted status
Freehold-area preference

The requirements should be realistic and specific enough to guide the search without unnecessarily restricting suitable opportunities.

Financial requirements

The agreement may record financial information connected to the intended purchase, including the buyer’s budget and financing position.

Buyers should be clear about whether they are:

Paying in cash
Applying for a mortgage
Already mortgage pre-approved
Selling another property before purchasing
Dependent on funds arriving from overseas
Considering a developer payment plan

Form B does not constitute mortgage approval. A buyer using finance must still satisfy the lender’s eligibility, valuation and final-approval requirements.

Contract duration

The agreement should state when the broker’s appointment begins and ends.

The duration should give the broker enough time to conduct a proper search while allowing the buyer to assess performance. Buyers should understand whether the agreement renews automatically or requires fresh approval.

Brokerage commission

Form B should record the commission rate or agreed fee and explain when it becomes payable.

There is no single commission percentage that automatically applies to every Dubai property purchase. The amount depends on the transaction, the property and the agreement between the buyer and brokerage.

Before approving Form B, the buyer should confirm:

The commission percentage or fixed amount
Whether VAT will be added
When payment becomes due
Who should receive the payment
Whether commission applies to off-plan purchases
Whether the fee changes if another broker is involved
What happens if the buyer finds a property independently
Whether commission may remain payable after the agreement expires
Whether any search, viewing or advisory fees apply

Commission arrangements should be written clearly rather than left to verbal discussions.

Additional terms

Additional conditions may describe the broker’s services, communication process, viewing arrangements, confidentiality requirements and termination procedure.

Buyers should review these terms carefully, especially where the agreement contains exclusivity or post-expiry commission provisions.

How Is Form B Created?

Contract B is generally created electronically by a registered broker using the authorised Dubai real estate systems.

The process commonly follows these steps:

The buyer selects a licensed broker.
The buyer and broker discuss the required property and budget.
The broker accesses the relevant contracts section.
The broker creates Contract B.
The buyer’s details are entered using the available identification method.
Additional buyers are added where necessary.
The property requirements and financial information are recorded.
The intended ownership shares are entered.
The commission and contract period are added.
Supporting documents or notes are attached where required.
The broker previews and verifies the information.
The contract is submitted for the buyer’s approval.
The buyer reviews and approves the agreement.
The approved contract can be downloaded and retained.

Buyers should review the complete document before approval. They should never approve a blank or incomplete Form B on the understanding that missing information will be added later.

Exclusive and Non-Exclusive Form B Agreements

Form B may create an exclusive or non-exclusive buyer-broker relationship. The distinction should be understood before property viewings begin.

Exclusive Form B

An exclusive agreement appoints one broker to represent the buyer during the agreed period.

This can provide several benefits:

One broker coordinates the entire search
Property recommendations are easier to compare
Negotiations remain consistent
Viewing records can be managed centrally
The broker gains a clearer understanding of the buyer’s priorities
Duplicate enquiries are reduced

However, an exclusive buyer should understand whether commission remains payable if the buyer finds a property through another source.

An exclusive appointment may prevent the buyer from using another broker during the contract period. The exact effect depends on the written terms.

Non-exclusive Form B

A non-exclusive agreement may allow the buyer to work with more than one broker.

This can provide broader market access, particularly when brokers specialise in different communities or property types. However, it may also create:

Duplicate property recommendations
Multiple agents contacting the same seller
Confusion about who introduced a property
Inconsistent negotiations
Competing commission claims

Buyers working with several brokers should keep clear records of property introductions and viewings.

What Should a Buyer’s Broker Do?

The broker’s precise duties depend on Form B and the agreed service scope. Buyer representation may include:

Identifying properties that match the buyer’s criteria
Arranging and attending viewings
Communicating with sellers and listing agents
Providing relevant market information
Presenting and negotiating offers
Explaining the transaction process
Coordinating the preparation of Form F
Assisting with developer NOCs and transfer arrangements
Communicating with mortgage advisers, banks or conveyancers
Helping the buyer organise the transaction timeline

A broker can guide the buyer, but the broker does not replace an independent lawyer, surveyor, property inspector, mortgage adviser or valuation professional.

The buyer remains responsible for completing appropriate financial, legal and technical due diligence.

What Are the Buyer’s Responsibilities?

Form B is a two-way agreement. The buyer may also be expected to:

Provide accurate identification information
Explain the true budget and funding position
Disclose whether mortgage finance is required
Attend agreed viewings or provide notice of cancellation
Avoid bypassing the broker after an introduction
Communicate material changes in requirements
Review documents before approval
Pay the agreed commission when it becomes due
Avoid making unauthorised payments
Provide documents required for the transaction

The buyer should not claim to be a cash purchaser if completion depends on financing. Accurate information helps the broker recommend suitable properties and structure offers appropriately.

Does Signing Form B Commit You to Buying a Property?

No. Form B appoints the broker but does not, by itself, commit the buyer to purchase a particular unit.

The buyer may view properties, consider recommendations and decide not to make an offer. However, contractual obligations relating to exclusivity, commission, introduced properties or additional services may still apply.

Once the buyer chooses a property and agrees on terms with the seller, a separate buyer-seller agreement is prepared.

Is Form B the Same as an Offer?

Form B is not a purchase offer.

A property offer normally identifies a specific property and proposes a price, payment method and other transaction conditions. Form B establishes the relationship between the buyer and broker before or during that process.

A buyer should not assume that approving Form B reserves a property or requires the seller to accept an offer.

Is Form B the Same as a Booking Form?

No. A booking or reservation form is generally connected to a specific property, particularly an off-plan unit.

A booking form may record the selected unit, reservation payment, purchase price and deadline for signing the developer’s sale and purchase agreement.

Form B appoints the buyer’s broker. It does not reserve a unit, register an off-plan purchase or replace the developer’s booking documents.

Is Form B the Same as Form F?

Form B and Form F serve different stages of a Dubai property purchase.

Document	Parties	Main purpose
Form A	Seller and broker	Appoints the broker representing and marketing for the seller
Form B	Buyer and broker	Appoints the broker representing the buyer
Form F	Buyer and seller	Records the agreed terms of a resale transaction

Form B concerns representation. Form F concerns the actual resale agreement between the buyer and seller.

Does Form B Transfer Property Ownership?

No. Form B does not transfer ownership or give the buyer any legal interest in a particular property.

Even signing Form F and paying a deposit do not, by themselves, complete the ownership transfer. Ownership changes when the sale is officially registered through the applicable Dubai Land Department process and the new title deed is issued.

Does Form B Require a Deposit?

A property purchase deposit is not normally required merely because the buyer signs Form B.

Form B concerns the buyer-broker relationship. A deposit may become relevant after the buyer makes an offer and signs a buyer-seller agreement or reserves an off-plan property.

If a brokerage requests an upfront retainer, search fee or other payment, the purpose, amount and refund terms should be clearly documented.

Buyers should avoid transferring money to an individual broker’s personal account.

How Does Form B Work for Mortgage Buyers?

A mortgage buyer should tell the broker that the purchase depends on financing.

The agreement or supporting notes should accurately reflect the buyer’s financial position. The broker can then focus on properties within the approved budget and accommodate valuation and bank-approval deadlines when preparing an offer.

Mortgage buyers should remember that:

Pre-approval is not final loan approval
The bank will normally value the selected property
The approved loan may be lower than expected
Existing seller mortgages can affect the transfer process
The buyer must budget for the down payment and transaction costs
Form F should contain appropriate finance-related conditions

Form B alone does not protect a buyer if a mortgage application is rejected after an offer is accepted. Any necessary mortgage conditions should be addressed in the buyer-seller agreement.

Can Form B Be Cancelled?

Cancellation depends on the contract’s written terms and the applicable electronic procedure.

Before ending the appointment, the buyer should review:

Whether the agreement is exclusive
Its start and expiry dates
The required notice
Any cancellation procedure
Properties already introduced
Ongoing negotiations
Commission protection clauses
Any unpaid service expenses

Cancellation should be documented properly. The buyer should obtain confirmation rather than relying only on a telephone or WhatsApp conversation.

If an agreement is close to expiry, the parties may choose not to renew it rather than terminating it early.

What Should Buyers Check Before Signing Form B?

Verify the broker

Confirm that the individual is a licensed real estate broker and works through a registered brokerage.

Check your personal information

Names, passport numbers, Emirates ID details and ownership shares should be accurate.

Review the search criteria

Confirm that the property type, locations, budget and other requirements reflect what you actually want.

Understand exclusivity

Check whether you are free to work with another broker. If the appointment is exclusive, understand how independently found properties will be treated.

Confirm the commission

Review the fee, VAT, payment date and circumstances in which the broker becomes entitled to commission.

Disclose financing conditions

State whether you are using cash, a mortgage or proceeds from another sale. Do not allow the contract to describe you as a cash buyer if you require financing.

Check the duration

Make sure the appointment period is reasonable and understand how renewal or cancellation works.

Read every additional term

Pay particular attention to introduced-property clauses, post-expiry commission, advisory fees, confidentiality and dispute provisions.

Keep the final copy

Download and retain the approved agreement, amendments and relevant communication with the broker.

Common Form B Mistakes to Avoid

Buyers should avoid:

Working with an unlicensed broker
Signing without reading the commission clause
Approving an incomplete agreement
Signing overlapping exclusive appointments
Providing an unrealistic budget
Hiding the need for mortgage finance
Assuming the broker has completed every due-diligence check
Paying commission or deposits into a personal account
Confusing Form B with a reservation or purchase contract
Contacting a seller directly after a broker introduced the property
Ignoring cancellation and post-expiry provisions

Clear instructions and written records help prevent many buyer-broker disputes.

Form B Frequently Asked Questions

Is Form B mandatory for every property viewing?

Form B is the regulated agreement used to formalise buyer representation. Buyers should understand what they are approving and should not sign an incomplete agreement merely to access a viewing.

Can a buyer work with more than one broker?

A buyer may work with multiple brokers under non-exclusive arrangements. An exclusive agreement can restrict the buyer from appointing another broker during the contract period.

Who pays the buyer’s broker?

The payment arrangement depends on the transaction and the written brokerage agreement. The buyer should not assume that a seller or developer will always pay the broker.

Is there a fixed Form B commission?

No universal commission percentage applies to every purchase. The agreed commission or fee should be clearly stated in the contract.

Can Form B include multiple buyers?

Yes. The electronic process allows additional buyers to be included and their intended ownership shares to be recorded.

Can a non-resident sign Form B?

A non-resident can appoint a broker, subject to the required identification and electronic approval procedures. A valid passport will commonly be relevant.

Does Form B guarantee that the property is legally safe?

No. The broker can support the verification process, but buyers should independently check ownership, property status, service charges, project information and other material records before committing.

What happens after the buyer selects a property?

The buyer may submit an offer through the broker. If the seller accepts and the parties agree on all material conditions, Form F is prepared for the resale transaction. The parties then proceed with financing, NOC, payment and ownership-transfer requirements.

Final Thoughts

Form B gives a Dubai property buyer a structured way to appoint a broker and define the expected search, negotiation and transaction support.

Before signing, buyers should verify the broker, review the commission and understand whether the appointment is exclusive. The property criteria, funding position, ownership shares and contract period should all be accurate.

Most importantly, buyers should remember that Form B regulates broker representation. It does not reserve a property, guarantee financing or transfer ownership.

HAMZ helps Dubai property buyers understand transaction documents, verify opportunities and navigate the purchasing process with greater clarity.

What Is Form B in Dubai Real Estate? Buyer’s Guide