Since the Dubai Government announced the Dubai Real Estate Strategy 2033 in October 2024, the Dubai Land Department (DLD) has moved steadily and confidently to implement and achieve its objectives, which aim to consolidate the emirate’s position as a leading global hub for real estate investment.
The objectives of the Dubai Real Estate Strategy 2033 are based on a work system based on innovation and technology, providing data that enhances transparency through optimal utilization, achieving a balance between supply and demand, and offering a package of qualitative initiatives supported by an integrated sector-wide system, as well as enhancing its sustainability.
One of DLD’s most notable achievements since the strategy’s launch is the “Reis” Real Estate Innovation Initiative, which aims to enhance Dubai’s global position in the field of real estate technology and artificial intelligence. DLD also announced the Emirati Citizen Empowerment Program, which successfully attracted more than 1,000 participants in its first phase.
It also launched the Smart Rental Index, which determines rental values based on buildings, marking a qualitative shift in the regulation and development of the emirate’s real estate sector. The real estate coding project, aimed at consolidating the emirate’s position on the global real estate technology map, was also announced as one of the most important goals of the Dubai Real Estate Strategy 2033.
The “Keeper” platform was also announced, allowing tenants to pay rent via credit cards and an automatic debit system. It also offers tenants the opportunity to pay rent in 12 monthly installments.
Strategic Targets
Among the most prominent programs developed by Dubai Land Department (DLD) to achieve the strategy’s objectives over the next decade are the Transparency and Global Marketing Program, the Data and Governance Program, the Flexible Urban Planning Program, the Real Estate Investment Funds Program, the Program to Enhance the Competitiveness of Emiratis in the Real Estate Sector, the Low-Income Housing Program, and the Real Estate Sustainability Program.
Res for Real Estate Innovation
Dubai Land Department launched the Res for Real Estate Innovation initiative, which aims to strengthen Dubai’s global position in the field of real estate technology and artificial intelligence. It seeks to showcase a new chapter in real estate innovation through the collaboration of thought leaders and specialists to reshape the urban landscape. The key objectives of these initiatives include developing a comprehensive environment for real estate innovation in collaboration with partners, enhancing collaboration between the private and public sectors to support innovative solutions that enhance competitiveness and sustainability, enhancing operational efficiency, and raising customer satisfaction using the latest artificial intelligence and real estate technologies. These initiatives also include establishing an infrastructure that includes legislation and accelerators, supporting the competitiveness of local real estate technology companies in global markets, and establishing a business group for real estate technology companies under the umbrella of Dubai Chambers to develop the sector.
Empowering Emirati Citizens
Empowering Emiratis in the real estate sector is a strategic achievement. Empowering Emiratis in this sector not only contributes to developing the local market but also enhances Dubai’s global competitiveness, elevates the role of Emiratis in all economic sectors, and achieves a sustainable real estate market.
The Dubai Real Estate Broker Program attracted more than 1,000 participants in its first phase, while the number of real estate broker cards issued reached 500 cards. The number of transactions concluded by Emirati brokers in the first phase of the program exceeded AED 200 million. The number of partners increased from 29 in the first phase to 50.
Smart Rental Index
Dubai Land Department (DLD) has launched the Smart Rental Index for 2025, which determines rental values based on the building, marking a qualitative shift in the regulation and development of the emirate’s real estate sector.
The index is an integrated system that combines the latest technologies and real estate expertise, with the aim of providing a distinguished service that meets the needs of all parties in the real estate market, including investors, landlords, and tenants. It also works to enhance transparency and fairness in determining rental values.
The index relies on an advanced building classification system that takes into account all technical and service aspects of properties. Each building is evaluated based on a comprehensive set of criteria, including technical and construction characteristics, the quality of finishes and maintenance, the building’s strategic location and spatial value, and the level of services and facilities available, such as maintenance, cleanliness, and parking management.
The Department confirmed that it has established a mechanism for dealing with rent increases based on the timing of the landlord’s notification to the tenant and the date of signing the contract renewal. If the new index indicates that the property is eligible for an increase, but the landlord does not notify the tenant 90 days prior to the expiry of the contract, the increase will not be applied. If the landlord notifies the tenant of a rent increase 90 days in advance and the property was eligible for the increase at that time according to the old index, but the new index indicates that the property is not eligible for the increase, the renewal date will be considered. The old index will be applied if the contract is renewed before the current year (2025). However, if the renewal is signed during the current year, the new index will be applied.
Real estate coding
Dubai Land Department (DLD) has launched the pilot phase of the “Real Estate Coding” project, one of the projects under the umbrella of the Rees Real Estate Innovation Initiative. This launch is part of DLD’s overall approach to consolidating the emirate’s position on the global real estate technology map, a key objective of the Dubai Real Estate Strategy 2033.
Tayseer Initiative
The Real Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA) has launched the Tayseer initiative, which aims to facilitate the payment of current overdue service fees. Property owners will be able to pay service fees in installments over a period of no less than six months in coordination with jointly owned property management companies. This will help alleviate their financial burdens and achieve greater financial stability in the real estate sector. The initiative derives its objectives from the Dubai Real Estate Strategy 2033.
Keeper Platform
Dubai Land Department, in collaboration with Kipper Holding, has launched an electronic platform aimed at improving property management through advanced digital solutions that contribute to increasing efficiency, simplifying operations, and fostering innovation in the real estate sector. The platform will provide tenants and landlords with access to accurate and easy information, helping to reduce disputes and make informed decisions. The online platform will allow tenants to pay rents via credit cards and an automatic debit system, ensuring landlords receive rent payments smoothly and regularly. It also offers tenants the opportunity to pay rent in 12 monthly installments.
Key Achievements:
* “Reis” Real Estate Innovation Platform
* Empowering Emirati Citizens
* Smart Rental Index
* Real Estate Tokenization
* “Tayseer” Initiative
* “Keeper” Platform
7 Future Programs:
* Transparency and Global Marketing Program
* Data and Governance Program
* Flexible Urban Planning Program
* Real Estate Investment Funds Program
* Emirati Competitiveness Enhancement Program
* Low-Income Housing Program
* Real Estate Sustainability Program
Objectives of the Dubai Real Estate Sector Strategy 2033
1. To create a qualitative shift in the real estate sector and enhance its attractiveness.
2. To strengthen Dubai’s position as a major economic center and global market for real estate investment.
3. Attracting long-term investments and attracting investors, particularly from promising emerging markets.
4. Achieving Dubai’s ambitious goals of becoming the most attractive city for international visitors and the best city in the world to live and work.
5. Achieving the targets of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 by making it one of the top three economic cities in the world.
6. Enhancing the balance of the real estate sector through the development of sustainable communities with high-quality construction.
7. Integrating the ecosystem supporting the real estate sector.
8. Empowering technology using artificial intelligence and enhancing data centralization.
9. Providing a distinctive, integrated experience for investors and users.
10. Doubling the sector’s added value to the GDP to AED 73 billion.
11. Increasing the rate of home ownership to 33% of the emirate’s population.
12. Increasing the volume of real estate transactions to 70%, valued at AED 1 trillion.
13. Doubling the value of real estate portfolios to AED 20 billion.