Desk research against primary sources. Figures are traced to the issuing UAE authority and linked on the page.
The value in a full AED 30,000–150,000 package is concentrated almost entirely in the school search, because that process involves waiting lists, entrance assessments and relationships an agent has built over repeated placements — the flat hunting and visa coordination inside the same package are things most people manage themselves without much difficulty once they know the steps.
DIY over 4–6 weeks using DubaiMLS, Bayut and government portals works well if you have no children needing a school place and are comfortable making calls and attending viewings without someone translating requirements for you. The middle ground — paying an agent only for the school search and doing the rest yourself — is rarely offered upfront, but most agents will unbundle if you ask directly rather than accepting the full package as quoted.