Dubai Allows Resale of Property Stakes

In a major development for the emirate’s property market, Dubai Land Department (DLD) has announced that resale of tokenised property stakes will be permitted in the secondary market, marking a key milestone as the city’s Real Estate Tokenisation Project moves into Phase II. The initiative is designed to deepen liquidity, broaden investor participation and modernise how real estate is traded in the emirate.

From Pilot to Market-Ready Trading

Phase II of Dubai’s real estate tokenisation journey, launching on 20 February 2026, expands beyond the pilot stage that began in 2025, where regulators and stakeholders tested the regulatory, technical and legal frameworks needed to support blockchain-based property tokens.

Under the new phase, approximately 7.8 million real estate tokens will be made available for resale on the secondary market within a controlled pilot framework. This shift enables investors to buy and sell fractions of tokenised property assets, essentially shares in real estate ownership, through approved platforms under regulatory oversight.

The approach is part of Dubai’s broader strategy to introduce blockchain and digital asset innovations to one of the world’s most dynamic property markets, blending traditional real estate with cutting-edge technology.

What Tokenisation Means for Buyers and Investors

Real estate tokenisation turns property ownership into digital tokens recorded on a blockchain. Each token represents a fractional share of a real property asset, allowing investors with smaller capital bases to participate in real estate markets that were traditionally accessible only to those able to buy entire properties.

This system broadens access to investment opportunities and enhances market liquidity, enabling participants to enter and exit positions more easily than in conventional property transactions. The secondary market resale provision introduced in Phase II also provides a testing ground for assessing market efficiency, governance standards, operational readiness, and investor protection mechanisms.

Industry observers say tokenisation could transform the UAE’s real estate landscape by lowering barriers to entry, simplifying transaction processes and nurturing a more diverse investor base, both local and international.

Strategic Alignment with Dubai’s Vision

The project aligns with Dubai’s Real Estate Sector Strategy 2033, which emphasises market balance, transparency, digital evolution and an enhanced investor experience. Authorities believe that introducing tokenised assets into mainstream real estate transactions will support Dubai’s bid to remain a global property hub and contribute significantly to the emirate’s gross domestic product in the long term.

Dubai also positions itself as the first real estate registration authority in the region to adopt property tokenisation under a regulated framework, a move that underscores its ambitions to lead in real estate innovation.

How It Works in Practice

Under this initiative:

• Property assets are digitally tokenised using blockchain technology, effectively dividing ownership into tradable units.
• Investors purchase these tokens via approved trading platforms, providing more flexible entry and exit options compared with traditional property transactions.
• Resale activity, now enabled under Phase II, will be monitored to ensure transparency, operational integrity, and investor rights protection as real trading conditions are evaluated.

Market Context and Broader Trends

Dubai’s property market continues to evolve, with strong transaction volumes and innovations enhancing investor participation across segments such as off-plan, resale and co-ownership models. Fractional ownership and digital assets are increasingly discussed as ways to increase accessibility and appeal to a broader pool of buyers.

Market data shows sustained interest from both domestic and foreign investors, while broader trends, including institutional development, pricing dynamics and diversification of investment products, keep Dubai’s real estate sector at the forefront of regional and global markets.

Dubai’s move to permit resale of property stakes through tokenisation signals a new chapter in real estate transactions, one blending traditional property investment with digital asset innovation, as the emirate strengthens its competitive edge in a rapidly changing global landscape.