Dubai’s new property resale rule 2026: What UAE residents, expats should know about tokenised assets, secondary market activation
Long known for its dynamism, transparency and global investor appeal, Dubai’s property market has taken another step toward modernisation and liquidity with the rollout of a new resale rule aimed at activating the secondary property market. This rule, part of the Dubai Land Department’s (DLD) real estate innovation agenda, has the potential to reshape how residents and expatriates invest, sell and trade real estate in the emirate.At its core, the rule targets the secondary market where off-plan or newly built units are resold to buyers and is tied to Dubai’s broader digital transformation and tokenisation efforts in real estate.
What is the new resale rule in Dubai?
The recently announced rule, coming in Phase 2 of Dubai’s property tokenisation project, aims to activate resale activity in the secondary market by enabling the resale of millions of digital property tokens linked to real estate title deeds. It is scheduled to go live from February 20, 2026 and covers approximately 7.8 million tokenised real estate assets under a controlled pilot framework led by the DLD in partnership with the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (Vara).Dubai has already been experimenting with real estate tokens, which represent digital shares of property ownership. These digital tokens make property investment more accessible, divisible and transparent, allowing buyers to invest in smaller fractions of real estate rather than only whole properties.The new resale rule essentially enables the secondary trading of these tokens, meaning investors can buy and sell their tokenised property shares, much like trading stocks, under a regulated marketplace environment.
What this new resale rule means for residents and expats in Dubai
Traditionally, selling a property in Dubai’s real estate market could be constrained by limited buyer pools or long transaction times. The introduction of tokenised resale, under this rule, brings greater liquidity as fractional owners can trade parts of an asset quickly and efficiently. This can be especially beneficial for UAE residents and expatriates who may not want or afford a full property but are interested in real estate as an investment asset. Tokenised resale reduces entry barriers and opens the door to diversified portfolios without requiring full property ownership.
Dubai’s Property Tokenisation: A Risky Gamble or a Market Revolution?
By anchoring resale on a tokenised ledger, Dubai seeks to enhance price transparency, traceability and governance. Transactions under the pilot are expected to be recorded with higher accuracy, helping protect buyers and sellers from fraud or opaque dealings that sometimes plague secondary markets. Enhanced transparency also aligns with other regulatory improvements in the emirate, such as crackdowns on fake property listings and clearer listing rules for brokers, aimed at boosting confidence among local and international buyers.For many expatriates, including long-term residents and professionals, this rule introduces new avenues to enter the property sector without needing significant upfront capital. Rather than saving for a full down payment or qualifying for large mortgages, individuals can buy small portions of real estate through tokens that are legally backed by title deeds. This builds on Dubai’s broader trend of expanding property ownership opportunities for residents. For instance, the First-Time Home Buyer Programme saw more than 2,000 residents purchase property in six months by making ownership more accessible through incentives and support structures.
Real estate trends in Dubai 2026
Dubai’s secondary market is already showing strong signs of resilience and profitable activity. According to market data from late 2025, the secondary property market recorded significant transaction growth, with investors showing heightened interest in resale units that offer liquidity and immediate occupancy.Properties in the secondary market, especially ready-to-move-in units, have been attractive for both capital returns and rental income, drawing both local and foreign investors. The new resale rule dovetails with this trend by formalising and expanding avenues for selling and trading units beyond traditional whole-property transactions.
What Dubai residents and expats should know before participating in new resale rule
- Regulatory Pilot, Not Full Rollout: It is important to note that the resale rule is part of a pilot phase that Dubai’s regulators are using to test efficiency, safeguards and operational readiness before potentially scaling up. This means that residents and expats should monitor official DLD guidance for updates on eligibility criteria, transaction costs, compliance requirements and legal protections as the pilot evolves.
- Traditional Transactions Still Prevail: While tokenised resale is a breakthrough, traditional property transactions (buying and selling whole units through brokers and title deeds) will continue to coexist. Investors who prefer conventional ownership structures still have strong liquidity given Dubai’s active market and substantial buyer demand.
- Investment Mindset and Long-Term Planning: Experts advise that property investment, tokenised or traditional, should be part of well-planned financial strategies. This is particularly true for expatriates whose residency status may be tied to employment or lifestyle considerations.
Dubai’s property market also offers a path to long-term UAE residency through visa programs linked to property investment, such as the Golden Visa for qualifying investors, though eligibility rules and investment thresholds change periodically.
Dubai’s evolving property ecosystem
Dubai’s property market has been consistently repositioning itself as a global investment hub, supported by strategic reforms and innovative programmes.
- First-Time Home Buyer initiatives have boosted resident ownership.
- Digital transaction innovations, including blockchain and faster registration systems, have made buying easier and more transparent.
- Market controls on listings and advertising are improving trust and fairness in buying decisions.
These innovations help ensure that Dubai remains an attractive destination for both domestic and international property investment. By enabling resale of tokenised property assets, Dubai is testing a future where real estate liquidity rivals that of digital financial markets. This could attract new classes of investors who previously avoided real estate due to high entry costs or low turnover.
Dubai’s New Property Resale Rule: Will Tokenised Assets Reshape Real Estate Investment?
If the pilot proves successful, tokenised resale could one day become a mainstay of Dubai’s property market, complementing traditional transactions while giving residents and expats more flexibility, transparency and control over how they buy, hold and sell real estate. Dubai’s new property resale rule, particularly the Phase 2 tokenised resale launch, marks a significant milestone in the emirate’s real estate evolution. For UAE residents and expatriates, it opens fresh opportunities to participate in the market with greater financial flexibility and transaction speed.As Dubai continues to refine its regulatory frameworks, property owners and investors should stay informed about rolling updates from the Dubai Land Department and related authorities.
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