Cointelegraph | Dubai Real Estate Tokenization: Irina Heaver

Dubai RWA Tokenization

Dubai isn’t just talking about real-estate tokenization – it’s doing it.

In this feature, UAE crypto lawyer Irina Heaver unpacks how Dubai has built a clear, regulator-backed pathway that lets global investors buy fractional interests in prime property on-chain with legal certainty. The UAE has moved the rules into the open: dedicated licensing, plain-language disclosures, fit-for-purpose custody, and governance that institutions recognize. The idea is simple – if your token reflects the economic reality of the asset and you meet the operational standards, you can issue and scale here.

Inside, you’ll see what the latest VARA framework means in practice: how categories apply to real-estate – referenced tokens, what must sit with issuers, custodians, marketplaces and marketing teams and how approvals and attestations work in production.

The article translates recent tokenized property launches into a founder checklist covering token classification, title linkage and segregation, reconciliations and monthly attestations, investor risk warnings, and the conduct rules for offers and promotions. It also explains how secondary trading is handled, when licensed intermediaries are required, and how to keep marketing “fair, clear, and not misleading” across the UAE.

Dubai’s edge isn’t only speed; it’s coordination. Technology-neutral drafting and aligned supervision across VARA, SCA, the Central Bank, ADGM, and DIFC reduce ambiguity, shorten approval cycles, and let teams design offerings that meet local requirements and global expectations at the same time. The result is a practical blueprint for bringing real assets on-chain: residential and commercial property today, with a widening set of income-producing RWAs tomorrow.

If you’re building a tokenized property platform, considering a fractional sale, or planning a broader Dubai RWA tokenization strategy, this is a timely read. See how Dubai is rewriting the playbook for property investment – and why founders, investors, and service providers are choosing the UAE as their launchpad. 

Read the full article to learn how Dubai is rewriting the playbook for property investment and tokenization.