NEW GOVERNMENT-BACKED INITIATIVE OFFERS RESIDENTS A HEAD START ON PROPERTY OWNERSHIP—WITH PERKS AND FLEXIBILITY BUILT IN
For many residents of Dubai, the idea of buying a home has often felt out of reach, something reserved for seasoned investors or buyers with deep pockets. But a new initiative is trying to change that.
Dubai Land Department (DLD), in partnership with the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), have launched the First-Time Home Buyer Programme, a city-backed scheme that lowers the financial threshold for aspiring homebuyers.
Designed to support residents taking their first step onto the property ladder, the programme seeks to make homeownership more accessible—especially for long-term tenants who have yet to break into Dubai’s booming real estate market.
What the Programme Offers
The programme offers a range of incentives. Buyers can expect early access to new property launches, reduced prices from leading developers, flexible payment plans, and improved mortgage terms through selected banking partners.
Applicants are eligible as long as they’re at least 18, live in the UAE, and don’t currently own a freehold home in Dubai. The home they pursue must also be priced under AED 5 million to fall under the programme.
“This initiative represents a powerful economic lever— stimulating long-term demand, driving liquidity into the real estate ecosystem,” said Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General of DET. More broadly, he added, it supports the city’s role as a place “where personal aspirations and business ambitions converge.”
How it works
To apply, residents must register via the DLD website or through the Dubai REST app. Eligible applicants receive a QR code, which unlocks access to benefits through participating developers and banks.
Those benefits include interest-free installment plans for Dubai Land Department registration fees via select credit cards, as well as tailored mortgage products from a range of UAE banks. However, the programme is a one-time opportunity. Once a buyer completes a purchase under the scheme, they cannot re-enroll—even if they later sell the property, according to the Dubai REST app.
Partners in the programme
Currently, Thirteen developers have signed on to support the initiative. Among them are some of the emirate’s largest and most recognisable names, including Emaar, Nakheel, Dubai Properties, DAMAC, and Danube. Luxury and boutique firms such as Binghatti, Meraas, Ellington Properties, Beyond Developments, Palma Development, and Azizi are also on board. Rounding out the list are Wasl and Majid Al Futtaim.
Participating developers are offering special pricing and advance access to off-plan units— properties still under development but available for purchase.
Azizi Developments has gone a step further by reallocating brokerage commissions toward direct price reductions. “By improving accessibility and introducing tailored pricing structures, we are helping to transform more residents into homeowners,” said Mirwais Azizi, the company’s founder and chairman.
Banks Offering Tailored Mortgages
To support the financing side, DLD has partnered with five major banks including Emirates NBD, Emirates Islamic, Mashreq, Dubai Islamic Bank and Commercial Bank of DubaI
Each will offer preferential interest rates and customized loan packages specifically designed for first-time buyers under the programme.
From Renting to Owning
While renting remains the norm for many in Dubai, The scheme aims to attract more investors to the emirate’s booming property sector, including residents and locals, officials said.
DLD officials expect the programme to attract around 5,000 new investors into the market in its early phase. “The First-Time Home Buyer Programme embodies Dubai’s strategic vision for a more inclusive, transparent, and accessible real estate market,” said Omar Bu Shehab, Director General of DLD.
By targeting a wider base of residents—including mid-income earners and younger buyers—the programme also reflects Dubai’s ongoing efforts to retain talent and diversify its population base beyond short-term residents and global investors.
What’s Next?
The launch of this programme comes as Dubai’s property sector continues to post record-breaking activity. In 2024, the emirate recorded 2.78 million real estate procedures, the highest annual total in its history—a nearly 20 percent increase over the previous year. These figures include both property transactions and rental contracts, underscoring the market’s sustained momentum. The initiative also supports the broader goals of Dubai’s D33 Economic Agenda, which aims to double the city’s GDP over the next decade. The real estate sector is expected to play a major role in that vision, with projections of AED 1 trillion in transactions and a 70 percent increase in sector value.
Whether the programme will reshape access to Dubai’s property market long-term remains to be seen. But for many, it offers something more immediate: the chance to stop renting—and finally call a place their own.
