REITs in Moomoo — buy your first Bursa REIT, Shariah REITs, tax, and how they differ from American REITs

“Daus, I’m interested in REITs. But I don’t dare hold shares for long because I’m scared they’ll fall. How do REITs work?”

REITs are one of the options Daus holds himself, with a few Bursa REITs through Rakuten Trade. This page explains what a REIT is, why many people like them, what the risks are, and how to buy your first one in Moomoo.

What is a REIT

A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) is a fund listed on the stock exchange, and it holds property that generates rent: shopping malls, office buildings, hospitals, hotels, warehouses and factories.

When you buy REIT units, you get a small share of that rental income, in the form of distributions (like dividends). In Malaysia, a REIT that distributes at least 90% of its income to unitholders is exempt from tax at the fund level. That’s why most REITs distribute almost all of their income.

For many people, a REIT is a way to own “a small piece of a mall” without having to buy property themselves.

Why people like REITs, and what the risks are

What people like:

• Periodic distributions. How often depends on each REIT. For example, Axis REIT and AME REIT pay four times a year. How to check is in the distributions section below.
• You can start with small capital. One lot can be as low as a few hundred ringgit.
• Real property behind it, and a rental business that’s easy to understand.

The risks:

• The unit price still goes up and down. A REIT is not a fixed deposit. If the market falls or interest rates rise, REIT prices can drop.
• Distributions aren’t fixed. If tenants leave or rents drop, distributions can shrink. An example people remember: REITs holding malls and hotels paid less during the pandemic.
• Concentrated in one type of property. A REIT that holds one or two malls depends on those malls alone.

If you’re scared of holding for long because prices fall, remember REITs go up and down too. They suit money that can sit for years. Money you need soon is better kept elsewhere: where to keep short-term money.

List of Bursa REITs and Islamic REITs

According to the Securities Commission’s list of REITs (as at 31 July 2026), there are 20 REITs listed on Bursa Malaysia. Five are marked as Islamic REITs:

• Axis REIT
• AME REIT
• Al-’Aqar Healthcare REIT
• Al-Salam REIT
• KLCC REIT (traded as KLCCP Stapled Group)

The others, for example Sunway REIT, IGB REIT, Pavilion REIT, CapitaLand Malaysia Trust, YTL Hospitality REIT and AmanahRaya REIT, are conventional REITs. Status can change, so check the latest list on the SC website before buying. More on Shariah is in are shares halal?.

The names above are examples for you to research yourself, not a recommendation to buy.

How to find REITs in Moomoo

Fastest: the Markets tab → MY → tap the REITs chip. The list of Bursa REITs appears with today’s price and percentage change. Tap any name to open that REIT’s page.

Or type REIT in Search. The results mix Bursa REITs (marked MY), Singapore REITs (SG) and American REIT ETFs (US). Make sure you pick the one marked MY if you want a Bursa REIT.

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1. 1REITs

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1. REIT code and name

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Check a REIT’s distributions in Moomoo

Before buying, people usually ask three things: what percentage it pays a year, how many times a year it pays, and when to buy to get the next distribution. All three are in one place.

Open the REIT’s page, tap the Company tab, then the Dividends sub-tab. The example below is AXREIT (5106), taken from the app on 7 Oct 2026.

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1. 1Company
2. 2Dividends
3. aLatest distribution
4. bYield · payout · frequency

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1. Four dates, one distribution

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The three numbers above the chart:

• Div Yield TTM — total distributions per unit over the last 12 months, divided by the current price. AXREIT 5.67%, AME REIT 5.46% (7 Oct 2026). This is a percentage per year, not per payment. Rough example: RM1,000 in a REIT yielding 5.67% means about RM56 a year, split across however many times the REIT pays. Past distributions are not a promise for next year.
• Payout Ratio LFY — the percentage of the last full financial year’s net profit paid out as distributions.
• Frequency — how many times a year the REIT pays. According to the explanation in the app, this is based on past payments or the fund prospectus, and excludes special distributions. AXREIT and AME REIT are both 4/Year.

The chart below shows distribution per unit (blue bars) and yield (orange line) for each year. Tap the ⓘ icon next to the Dividends heading to read the full formulas.

The four dates on each Dividend History card. Example: AXREIT’s August 2026 distribution, 0.023 ringgit per unit (RM2.30 for one 100-unit lot, before tax):

You don’t need to hold for a full year to receive a distribution. What matters is that the units are in your account before the Ex-Date. More on ex-dividend dates and when the money arrives is in dividends — money that comes in on its own.

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1. Frequency excludes special payouts

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The REITs named above are examples for learning to read the screen, not buy recommendations.

Buy your first Bursa REIT

Bursa REITs are bought like ordinary shares:

1. One lot = 100 units. A REIT priced at RM2.00 a unit needs about RM200 for one lot. Moomoo also allows odd lots (fewer than 100 units), but with a warning, and they’re slow to fill. Lots and odd lots are explained in the buy your first stock tutorial.
2. Use a Limit order, and check Max Qty to Buy (Cash) so you don’t end up using margin.
3. Fees: the same as Bursa shares (RM3 platform fee per order, 0.03% clearing, 8% SST), and stamp duty for REITs capped at RM200. For small orders, that RM3 platform fee becomes a large percentage. The full list is in Moomoo fees.
4. Distributions land in your Moomoo account in ringgit when the REIT pays.

Moomoo or Rakuten Trade for REITs? The 100-unit lot rule is the same at every Bursa broker. Daus himself holds Bursa REITs through Rakuten Trade. What differs between brokers is the fee per order, so compare your broker’s fees before you buy. If you’ve already opened Moomoo with a RM1,000 deposit, you can buy REITs right there.

Tax on REIT distributions: there’s been a change

Previously, REIT distributions to individuals had a 10% final withholding tax deducted before reaching your account. That special rate was not extended beyond year of assessment 2025. From YA2026, under LHDN Practice Note 2/2026 (as summarised by KPMG), most REIT distributions to resident individuals no longer have final withholding tax deducted, and need to be declared in your income tax at normal rates.

The REIT industry asked for the 10% rate to be brought back in Budget 2027 (tabled 9 Oct 2026). So check the budget decision or the LHDN website for the latest rate. For your own tax situation, refer to LHDN (the Inland Revenue Board) or a tax consultant.

Bursa REITs or American REITs?

For Malaysian beginners who want distributions, Bursa REITs are usually simpler: ringgit, no 30% deduction, and bought during the day.

This content is educational sharing, not financial advice. The REIT list and tax rules can change; refer to the SC, Bursa Malaysia and LHDN.