Where real estate leads come from in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt
Brokerages and developers in the region buy leads from a handful of portals and ad platforms, and earn the rest from referrals and their own site. Here are the main sources, what to expect from each, and how to tell which ones pay.
The short answer
Portals bring buyers who are already searching; social ads bring volume at a lower price but lower intent; your website, WhatsApp and referrals bring the best leads but need work to grow. Whatever the mix, the deciding factor is speed: the first agent to reply usually gets the viewing.
Portals by market
| Market | Main portals |
|---|---|
| UAE | Property Finder, Bayut, Dubizzle |
| Saudi Arabia | Aqar, Property Finder, Bayut, and developer platforms |
| Egypt | Property Finder, Aqarmap, Nawy, Dubizzle |
Portals usually charge by listing credits or subscription. Track cost per lead and per viewing, not only per listing.
Other sources
- Meta lead ads and click-to-WhatsApp ads: high volume, mixed quality; qualify quickly
- Google search ads: high intent for project and area names, higher cost per click
- TikTok and Snapchat: strong in Saudi Arabia for awareness and off-plan launches
- Your website and landing pages: the cheapest leads once they rank or get traffic
- Referrals and past clients: the highest conversion; ask at handover and after renewals
- Developer launches, roadshows and events: big bursts that need fast follow-up
Advertising rules
- Dubai: property ads, including on social media and portals, need a Trakheesi permit number from the Dubai Land Department
- Saudi Arabia: brokers and ads need a REGA licence (FAL), and the licence number must appear on the ad
- Abu Dhabi and other emirates have their own broker and advertising rules
- Egypt: no single advertising permit, but developer and project claims must be accurate under consumer protection law
How to tell which sources pay
- Tag every lead with its source automatically: portal, campaign, form or WhatsApp number
- Measure speed to first reply by source
- Track each source to viewing, reservation and deal, not only to lead
- Compare cost per deal each quarter and move budget accordingly
- Keep duplicate leads together so one buyer seen on three portals counts once
Free tools for this
Sources
- Dubai Land Department: Trakheesi advertising permits
- Real Estate General Authority (REGA), Saudi Arabia: advertising licences
Rules change. Check the official text, or ask your accountant or lawyer, before you rely on a figure.
Every lead, every source, in one CRM
keyt builds real estate CRMs that pull leads from portals, ads and WhatsApp, tag the source, and track each one to the deal.