Can’t afford a whole property in Dubai? Buying a piece of one just got easier!

Dubai: With real estate tokenisation, UAE residents can now invest in property starting from a few hundred dirhams – without ever buying the whole thing.

You no longer need to save up millions to invest in Dubai’s property market. Thanks to real estate tokenisation, even a few hundred dirhams can get you a foot in the door—literally. Whether you’re new to investing or just tired of sitting on the sidelines, this is the game-changer you’ve been waiting for.

What exactly is real estate tokenisation—and how does it work?

Imagine if a luxury flat in Downtown Dubai was sliced up into 2,000 digital pieces. Each piece—or token—represents a small share of that apartment. Instead of buying the whole flat, you can just buy a few tokens. These tokens live on a secure digital network called a blockchain, which keeps track of ownership and transactions like a public ledger that can’t be tampered with.

Here’s how it works, step by step:

1. A licensed investment platform (like SmartCrowd, Stake, or Prypco) lists a property that’s available for fractional ownership.

2. That property is legally held by a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV)—a company created solely to own that specific asset.

3. The platform divides the SPV’s ownership into digital tokens.

4. You sign up, complete a quick KYC (Know Your Customer) verification, and choose how many tokens to buy—often starting from as little as AED 500.

5. As a token-holder, you earn a share of rental income and can benefit from property value appreciation.

6. If you want to exit, you can sell your tokens back on the platform or wait until the property is sold and profits are distributed.

The best part? All transactions are transparent, secure, and recorded on the blockchain.

What makes this exciting for UAE residents?

Let’s say you’ve got Dh1,000 saved up. Normally, that won’t even cover agency fees. But with tokenisation, you could invest that money into a portion of a real property—and start building your investment portfolio without massive upfront capital.

You can browse properties, check expected rental yields, and track your returns, all from your phone. It’s real estate investing made as simple as ordering groceries online.

Dubai’s real estate authority, the DLD, teamed up with VARA and Dubai Future Foundation to officially launch this initiative in March 2025. It’s part of the city’s broader Economic Agenda D33, which aims to make Dubai a global innovation and investment hub.

By 2033, tokenised properties could account for up to 7% of all real estate deals—adding more than Dh60 billion to the market.

What’s in it for you?

· Lower entry barrier: You don’t need to be a millionaire to invest.

· Built-in liquidity: Sell tokens more easily than traditional property.

· Strong security: Blockchain ensures records can’t be tampered with.

· Legal safeguards: Tokenised real estate is regulated by the DLD and VARA.

Things to keep in mind

Tokenisation is still in its early stages. Not every property is available in token form, and like any investment, returns aren’t guaranteed. Property values can go up—or down. And it’s important to stick to government-approved platforms to ensure your money is safe.

Final word

If you've always dreamed of investing in Dubai property but felt priced out, tokenisation might just be your gateway in. It’s smart, safe, and finally makes real estate something everyone in the UAE can tap into—no matter your budget.