What To Know
- On February 20, 2026, the Dubai Land Department activated Phase II of its Real Estate Tokenisation Project, officially allowing resale of tokenised property units through a regulated secondary market.
- Dubai’s activation of secondary resale for tokenised property introduces a practical update to ownership mechanics in the city.
- Tokenised resale introduces a different option by allowing ownership units to change hands without triggering a full property sale.
If your feed has been heavy on Dubai real estate talk lately, there is a reason. A structural update quietly went live and it directly affects how property ownership works in the city. On February 20, 2026, the Dubai Land Department activated Phase II of its Real Estate Tokenisation Project, officially allowing resale of tokenised property units through a regulated secondary market.
This change matters because ownership no longer stops at holding. Resale now exists inside a controlled digital framework, opening a new chapter for residents, expats, and overseas buyers tracking Dubai’s housing market.
What tokenised resale means in real terms
Tokenisation allows a registered property to be divided into digital ownership units. Each unit represents a legal share of a physical property and remains recorded within official land records. Phase II focuses on resale. Owners of these digital units may now sell them through approved platforms instead of waiting
for a full property transaction.
This resale process sits under government supervision. Transactions remain tied to registered properties rather than standalone digital assets. Ownership transfers follow defined procedures set by the Dubai Land Department, ensuring continuity with existing real estate law.
The rule does not open the door to unregulated trading. It expands access within a tightly governed structure that was tested during an earlier pilot phase.
Regulation stays in charge
Oversight plays a central role in this rollout. The Dubai Land Department coordinates with the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority to supervise platforms, trading activity, and compliance standards.
Only approved platforms may host secondary resale transactions. Ownership verification, record keeping, and transaction monitoring remain mandatory. The framework ensures tokenised property stays anchored to Dubai’s existing legal system while using digital processes for transfers.
Authorities continue to observe transaction activity during this phase to ensure regulatory standards remain intact before any wider expansion.
Why expats and residents are paying attention
For many residents, traditional resale involves long timelines and multiple administrative steps. Tokenised resale introduces a different option by allowing ownership units to change hands without triggering a full property sale.
This structure appeals to expats who prefer flexibility and residents who want access without full ownership commitments. Partial ownership also allows participation in the market at lower entry levels compared to whole-property purchases.
Early launches under approved platforms have already drawn strong interest. Demand for fractional ownership units surfaced quickly during initial offerings, placing resale access under closer public attention.
How this fits Dubai’s long-term planning
This resale rule supports the Dubai Real Estate Sector Strategy 2033 and the Dubai Urban Plan 2040, both of which focus on transparency, diversified ownership, and modern transaction frameworks. Tokenised resale updates how ownership transfers occur while keeping regulatory oversight intact. Dubai continues to position its real estate market within a broader digital assets framework that already includes licensing standards and supervisory authorities. Rather than experimentation, this phase represents controlled execution under existing governance.
Dubai’s activation of secondary resale for tokenised property introduces a practical update to ownership mechanics in the city. Phase II allows resale within regulation, not speculation. Residents, expats, and investors now operate inside a framework that includes digital ownership and an approved resale pathway.
With February 20, 2026 now in effect, tokenised property ownership in Dubai includes an officially supported transfer option. For readers tracking housing access, digital assets, or real estate policy, this development deserves close attention.
