Dubai Launches First Time Home Buyer Program

Dubai has launched a digital-first home buyer program offering UAE residents—both nationals and expatriates—preferential terms on properties up to AED  5 million (approx. US$1.36 million).  

Dubai’s real estate sector has seen remarkable growth in recent years, with transaction volumes and values reaching record highs. This boom has been driven by a confluence of factors: robust economic fundamentals, massive infrastructure investment and an investor-friendly policy environment (including no income tax and flexible residency rules). 

The emirate’s leadership has encapsulated these ambitions in its 10-year “D33” economic plan, which aims to double Dubai’s output and cement its status among the world’s top financial centers. A core objective of D33 is to broaden homeownership and improve residents’ quality of life – making first-time property purchase a strategic priority. 

Against this backdrop, the Dubai Land Department (DLD) unveiled a first-of-its-kind First-Time Homebuyer Program in July 2025. The initiative – rolled out with leading developers and banks – is open to all UAE residents (including expatriates) over 18 who have never owned a freehold home.  

Under the scheme, eligible buyers can acquire apartments or villas up to AED 5 million (about US$1.36 million) on preferential terms, including priority access to new project launches, flexible payment plans, zero-interest registration fees and attractive financing options. By making homeownership more accessible, the program aims to attract thousands of new investors and support Dubai’s property sector as it enters a new growth phase.  

In this article, we explore the structure, benefits, and strategic implications of this pioneering initiative. 

Why Dubai needs first time home buyer Incentives 

Dubai’s residential sector entered 2025 on the back of record‐breaking transaction volumes, underscoring both its depth and dynamism. In 2024, the emirate registered AED 761 billion (US$207.18 billion) in real estate transactions across some 226,000 deals—the highest annual value on record—reflecting a 20 percent rise in value and 36 percent jump in volume year‑on‑year.  

Prices have been equally buoyant, with residential values up roughly 60 percent since early 2022, driven by a wave of off‑plan launches, liberal visa reforms and attractive financing terms.  

Yet, amid this exuberance, credit‐rating agencies warn of an incoming correction: Fitch projects a potential double‑digit price decline of up to 15 percent in late‑2025 and into 2026, as over 210,000 units enter the pipeline—nearly double the supply of the prior three years—risking a material supply–demand imbalance. 

That looming adjustment, however, also represents a strategic entry point for first‑time buyers. After more than four years of steep appreciation, price growth has begun to plateau in early 2025, making today’s market one of the lowest effective entry levels since late 2021.  

With developers and lenders eager to sustain momentum, investors—and especially first‑time purchasers—can capitalize on flexible off‑plan payment plans, promotional pricing and sharply discounted registration fees before the expected supply surge fully materializes. In short, Dubai’s current trough in price momentum offers a window for cost‑sensitive, entry‑level investors to secure long‑term upside in a market underpinned by strong fundamentals. 

Underlying these market dynamics is a relentless influx of new entrants. Official figures show Dubai attracted some 110,000 new real‑estate investors in 2024—a 55 percent jump over the prior year—equating to nearly 10,000 fresh buyers every month.  

Demographic pressures reinforce this trend: Dubai’s population reached approximately 3.91 million by Q1 2025 and is set to surpass 4 million by Q3 2025, with long‑term projections soaring to 4.6 million by 2030 and 5.8 million by 2040 under the D33 and Urban Master Plan frameworks. This sustained growth in both residents and real‑estate investors underscores the imperative for accessible, structured home‑ownership pathways—precisely the gap the new first‑time buyer programme aims to fill. 

Dubai First Time Buyer Program structure and eligibility
The first‑time homebuyer program is a joint initiative of the Dubai Land Department and the Department of Economy and Tourism, launched alongside more than 13 major developers, five leading banks and strategic real‑estate platforms. 

It is open to any UAE resident aged 18 or older holding a valid Emirates ID who has never previously owned a freehold property in the emirate.  

Under the scheme, participants may purchase an apartment or villa with a transaction value of up to AED 5 million (US$1.36 million), with no restrictions on subsequent leasing or resale of the unit. 

Key benefits for first‑time buyers 

The program offers a set of key benefits including, among others: 

• Priority access: Registered applicants receive early notifications and reserved allocations for new project launches, enabling them to select preferred units before public release. 

• Preferential pricing: Developers offer first‑time buyers fixed, discounted rates on select new inventory, safeguarding against rising market prices in the off‑plan phase. 

• Flexible financing: Partner banks deliver bespoke mortgage packages tailored to the financial profiles of newcomers to the property market, including competitive down‑payment structures and tenor options. 

• Interest‑free registration fee: Buyers who register through the DLD website or Dubai REST app pay their registration fees without any added interest, easing upfront costs and simplifying the purchase process. 

Registering for Dubai’s First-Time Buyer Program 

Registration for Dubai’s first-time buyer program has been designed to be fully digital and user-friendly. Interested residents may begin by downloading the Dubai REST application or visiting the Dubai Land Department’s official web portal. Upon logging in using Emirates ID credentials, applicants will find a clearly labeled section for the “First‑Time Buyer Program” on the main dashboard. This selection opens a guided form through which users indicate key preferences—such as property type (villa or apartment), budget (up to AED 5 million, roughly US$1.36 million), and preferred payment structure. 

Following completion of the initial profile, the platform enables further specification of requirements. Applicants may specify their preferred mode of contact (email or phone) and note whether they wish to engage a registered real-estate broker. This ensures that invitations to launch events and showrooms are delivered efficiently. The platform also gathers preliminary data needed by partner banks to craft bespoke mortgage proposals. 

Upon review and submission of the application, an automated confirmation is sent, indicating that the submitted details have been forwarded to developers and financial institutions. In the subsequent days: 

• Developer partners match preferences against available off-plan or ready units and reserve suitable options. 

• Banking partners perform a preliminary credit assessment and typically provide tailored financing proposals within 5–7 business days. 

Once a unit is reserved and a mortgage pre-approval obtained, the next steps involve signing the sales agreement and arranging the down payment. Through the program, the registration fee is interest-free and can be completed via the app or portal without additional charges. Following the fulfilment of all contractual obligations and payments, the Dubai Land Department issues the title deed, officially confirming property ownership. 

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