By Bimal Lulla, Founder of AXXA
Compare the amount you retain from the same commission, excluding VAT, after the split and every fee. On AED 500,000 of commission, 80% leaves AED 400,000 and 50% leaves AED 250,000 before your other costs. That is AED 150,000 more on that same business, not a promise of extra income every year.
I founded AXXA, which offers 80%. Read this knowing that. A cap or a monthly-fee model can leave you more in some circumstances, so the comparison should be fair to those routes too.
What splits do agents considering a move tell me about?
The agents who come to talk to me are generally on 50/50 or 60/40.
That is my experience of those conversations. It is not a survey of every Dubai brokerage, or a claim that every experienced agent is offered the same terms.
Start with your current terms. An advertised maximum is less useful than knowing what applies to your next deal.
What do 50%, 60%, 70% and 80% mean in AED?
They mean different retained amounts on the same commission.
| Annual commission excluding VAT | At 50% | At 60% | At 70% | At 80% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AED 500,000 | AED 250,000 | AED 300,000 | AED 350,000 | AED 400,000 |
| AED 700,000 | AED 350,000 | AED 420,000 | AED 490,000 | AED 560,000 |
| AED 1 million | AED 500,000 | AED 600,000 | AED 700,000 | AED 800,000 |
These are illustrations of the arithmetic, not a distribution of current Dubai offers. Every column assumes the same deals and the same commission. Fixed fees, referral obligations and your other costs are not included.
The same commission is assumed in each column. Support and opportunities can affect what you actually close.
How is the commission calculated before your split?
First establish the commission attributable to your brokerage, then apply your share on the agreed basis.
For resale, 2% of the property price is the usual commission, agreed in the contract, and the buyer usually pays. For off-plan, the developer pays the commission and the agreed rate varies. Bayut's commission guide.
At AXXA, your 80% is calculated excluding VAT. VAT collected on the commission is separate from the income being shared.
Here are three illustrative transactions on an AED 2 million property:
| Assumed transaction terms | Brokerage commission excluding VAT | Your share at 80% |
|---|---|---|
| Resale at 2%, entirely to one brokerage | AED 40,000 | AED 32,000 |
| Same resale, shared equally between two brokerages | AED 20,000 to each | AED 16,000 |
| Off-plan at an assumed 5% developer commission | AED 100,000 | AED 80,000 |
The co-brokered example matters. Your percentage applies to your brokerage's share, not the entire commission paid across both firms. The 5% off-plan rate here is an assumption for the example, not a universal developer rate.
What are the different ways to structure an agent's share?
The percentage is one part of the arrangement.
- Flat split: the same percentage applies to each deal. Check separately whether any fees apply.
- Tiered split: your percentage changes when you meet agreed conditions or production levels.
- Capped split: the brokerage retains its share up to an agreed limit, after which your share increases. Other charges may continue.
- Monthly membership or desk fee: you pay a fixed amount and retain the agreed share, potentially 100%. Check what the fee includes.
For a cap, check what counts towards it and when it resets.
Can a monthly-fee model leave more than 80%?
Yes, under the right terms and production level.
Suppose a purely hypothetical arrangement charges AED 5,000 each month and lets you keep 100%. The annual fixed cost is AED 60,000. At AED 500,000 of commission excluding VAT, you would retain AED 440,000, compared with AED 400,000 at a flat 80%, before other costs.
This assumes identical business and support, with no additional fees. AED 5,000 is an illustration, not a verified market price. Under those assumptions, the cash break-even is AED 300,000: 20% of that commission equals the AED 60,000 annual fee.
Monthly fees can still be due when no deal closes. A per-transaction fee is different: it is triggered by a transaction. Read each charge on its own terms rather than assuming every fee continues in a quiet month.
How does the 80% work at AXXA?
You keep 80% of the commission excluding VAT on every deal, with no desk fees or monthly charges.
That applies to off-plan, resale, co-brokered transactions and rentals. On a co-brokered transaction, it is 80% of the commission attributable to AXXA. Any referral fee you owe a third party is yours to settle from your share.
Your own clients and database stay yours. You have admin and transaction support through AXXA, the agent model of Blue Collection Real Estate Brokers LLC.
Commission is paid within three working days of the payment reaching AXXA, once your documents and KYC for the deal are complete. It is the same on every deal type; on off-plan, the payment is the developer's payment. Compliance conditions also apply; ask me to take you through them on the call.
What should you ask before choosing?
Ask for one worked example from the brokerage you are considering.
Start with the commission excluding VAT. Show your share, every fee and what reaches your account. Then ask what support is included, when payment happens and what happens to outstanding commission if you leave.
For existing clients, records and listings, check ownership terms and permissions.
You can try your own figure in the calculator. To discuss the AXXA model, Book a call.
What are the common questions?
- How much more is 80% than 50%?
On AED 500,000 of commission excluding VAT, the difference is AED 150,000 before other costs. It is a comparison of the same business.
- Is 80% always the best arrangement?
No. A cap or a fixed-fee model can leave more, depending on its full terms, your production and the support included.
- Does 80% apply to co-brokered deals at AXXA?
Yes. It applies to AXXA's commission on the transaction, excluding VAT, rather than the commission retained by another brokerage.