Dubai Leads the Global Shift in Real Estate Tokenisation
Dubai is redefining the future of property investment by embracing real estate tokenisation—a cutting-edge innovation that’s turning physical assets into digital tokens, enabling fractional ownership and increased liquidity. As the city integrates blockchain infrastructure across government entities and regulatory bodies, tokenisation is rapidly moving from concept to reality. Major projects in Palm Jumeirah, Downtown Dubai, and Emirates Hills are already participating in pilot programmes, showcasing Dubai’s commitment to building a more accessible, transparent, and global property market.
According to the Dubai Land Department and the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA), tokenised real estate transactions reached AED 1.46 billion ($399M) in H1 2025 alone. The market is forecasted to grow to AED 60 billion by 2033, accounting for nearly 7% of the emirate’s real estate sector.
Fractional Ownership: A Game Changer
Tokenisation allows investors to own fractions of high-value assets—luxury homes, branded residences, and commercial buildings—through secure digital tokens. This model lowers the barrier to entry, offering exposure to prime real estate for as little as AED 500–2,000. Platforms like SmartCrowd and Prypco Mint are pioneering this shift, enabling real-time transactions, escrow automation, and milestone-based payments.
Yogesh Bulchandani, CEO of Sunrise Capital, says: “Tokenisation addresses two core real estate challenges—liquidity and transparency. It enables global capital flows while increasing trust and efficiency.”
Developer Perspectives: From Pilot to Platform
Leading developers like DAMAC Properties, Sobha Realty, and Emaar are actively exploring tokenisation to accelerate presales and reduce dependence on institutional funding. For example, branded residences and off-plan developments are increasingly being tokenised, supported by Dubai’s regulatory sandbox and VARA’s Rulebook 2.0.
Veer Doshi, CEO of Vincitore Real Estate, highlights: “Tokenisation energises off-plan sales and secondary markets, making real estate more agile and attractive to global buyers.”
Regulatory Framework and Infrastructure
The Dubai government has established a robust foundation for tokenised assets. The DLD and VARA are issuing tokenisation certificates, legal frameworks for smart contracts, and licensing standards for virtual asset platforms. The collaboration with Dubai Future Foundation further accelerates innovation, while projects under the Real Estate Evolution Space (REES) initiative ensure compliance and public trust.
Riz Ahmed, CEO of SmartCrowd, affirms: “This isn’t crypto speculation. Tokenised properties are real, income-generating assets backed by regulatory oversight. Dubai is implementing, not experimenting.”
Challenges and Adoption
Despite its potential, widespread adoption requires greater education, standardisation, and legal clarity. Many jurisdictions still don’t recognise smart contracts as enforceable agreements. In the UAE, however, developments are moving fast with government-backed pilot projects and growing secondary markets.
Captain Pradeep Singh, founder of Karma Developers, adds: “Tokenisation will evolve like REITs did, becoming a mainstream model. What we need now is stakeholder awareness and seamless tech-legal integration.”
Investor Benefits
- Lower entry points
- High liquidity via real-time tradability
- Access to prime global assets
- Blockchain-backed transparency
- Fractional diversification
Whether you’re a millennial investor, a digital-native expat, or a traditional stakeholder exploring smart real estate, Dubai’s ecosystem offers flexible, accessible, and secure opportunities.
Looking Ahead
As Dubai scales tokenisation through strategic partnerships, transparent regulations, and tech innovation, it is poised to set the global benchmark for digital property investment. With government-led pilot projects and developer-proptech collaborations now in execution, tokenised real estate is no longer futuristic—it’s here and thriving in the UAE.
For those looking to participate in Dubai’s evolving real estate market, tokenisation offers a rare convergence of capital efficiency, digital trust, and international reach.
Visit Aurantius Real Estate for curated investment opportunities in Dubai’s most promising developments and token-ready projects.
