Dubai has rolled out a new initiative to help residents buy their first home, offering a set of exclusive benefits aimed at making homeownership more accessible. The programme, announced on Wednesday, targets first-time buyers and is part of a broader effort to strengthen the real estate market and encourage long-term residency. The initiative, a joint effort by the Dubai Land Department (DLD) and the Department of Economy and Tourism, is being introduced in partnership with more than 13 major real estate developers, five banks, and several strategic partners. It forms a core part of Dubai’s long-term D33 strategy, aimed at making the city more attractive for residents and investors.
Key Features of the First-Time Buyer Programme
The programme targets UAE residents over the age of 18 with a valid Emirates ID, who have never owned a home before. It allows them to purchase residential property valued under Dh5 million, with no restrictions on leasing or resale.
Exclusive benefits include:
- Priority access to new project launches
- Preferential pricing from participating developers
- Flexible payment plans
- Interest-free registration fee
- Customised property matching based on buyer preferences
- Direct engagement with developers and banks
Residents can register through the Dubai Land Department website or the Dubai REST app. In an interview with a local media outlet, Khalid Al Shaibani, Director of the Rental Affairs Department at DLD, noted that residents simply need to state their preference, apartment or villa, budget, and communication method. Once registered, their applications will be routed directly to developers, and financial institutions will be notified of the interest as well. This, he explained, ensures a “direct matchmaking” process between buyers, developers, and banks.For those who prefer not to register online, brokers will still have access to the programme, ensuring it reaches a wider pool of potential homeowners.
Broad Industry Support and Strategic Objectives
The programme has drawn strong support from key players in Dubai’s real estate and banking sectors. Participating developers include:
- Emaar
- Danube Properties
- Azizi
- Wasl
- Dubai Properties
- Ellington
- Beyond
- Nakheel
- Damac
- Majid Al Futtaim
Partnering banks are:
- Emirates NBD
- Emirates Islamic
- Commercial Bank of Dubai
The real estate listing platforms Dubizzle, Property Finder, and Bayut are also collaborating and helping facilitate listings and transactions. Beyond its practical benefits, the programme serves as a strategic lever in Dubai’s broader economic planning. It is closely aligned with the D33 strategy, a long-term roadmap to double the size of the city’s economy by 2033, and part of a drive to reach Dh1 trillion in real estate transactions. Speaking to local media, Majid Al Marri, CEO of the Real Estate Registration Sector at DLD, shared that Dubai is already attracting 10,000 new investors each month. The hope is that these figures will rise further, supported by initiatives like this, which bridge public policy with private sector execution.
Homeownership as a Social Anchor, and a Step Toward 2040
For years, Dubai has attracted people with ambition, but not always permanence. Renting was the norm, even for long-term residents. That may be changing.With its new first-time buyer initiative, the city is encouraging residents to go from tenants to homeowners. It’s not just a financial shift, but a social one too. Hadi Badri, CEO of the Dubai Economic Development Corporation, described the move as a way to foster stability and belonging, calling homeownership a foundation for building strong, lasting communities, key ingredients in any livable city. The programme, he said, offers not just financial opportunity but emotional investment, giving residents a chance to call Dubai home in a deeper, more permanent way. “To many residents who’ve dreamed of owning their home here in Dubai, their time is now,” he said.Looking ahead, the initiative aligns with Dubai’s long-term goal of growing its population to 5.8 million by 2040. For that vision to succeed, residents must see the city not just as a place to work, but as a place to live and thrive. As Mohamad Kaswani, Managing Director of Mortgage Finder, noted, the programme is a “powerful enabler” of that future, helping Dubai evolve into a city where growth is matched by inclusivity, and where long-term residency feels not only possible, but encouraged.
