A government-backed home ownership initiative introduced in Dubai last year has already attracted tens of thousands of residents, as authorities move to widen access to the city’s property market for first-time buyers.
Rolled out in July 2025 by the Dubai Land Department in partnership with the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, the First-Time Home Buyer Programme was designed to remove financial and structural barriers for residents hoping to purchase their first property in the emirate. In its first six months, more than 2,000 participants successfully completed their initial home purchases, while registrations have surpassed 41,000.
The programme offers a package of incentives that includes early access to new residential launches, special pricing on qualifying units, and mortgage products structured specifically for first-time buyers. Properties priced up to Dh5 million are eligible for preferential commercial terms under the scheme.
Major developers behind some of Dubai’s largest residential communities have signed on, including Azizi Developments, Beyond, Binghatti Holding, DAMAC, Danube, Dubai Properties, Ellington Properties, Emaar Properties, Majid Al Futtaim, Meraas, Nakheel, Palma Holding and Wasl. Participating developers provide priority allocation in off-plan projects, alongside pricing incentives aimed at improving affordability.
Financing support is being delivered through partner banks such as Commercial Bank of Dubai, Dubai Islamic Bank, Emirates NBD, Emirates Islamic and Mashreq Bank, each offering mortgage options tailored to first-time buyers’ circumstances.
Eligibility for the programme is broad. It is open to residents of all nationalities aged 18 and above, across all income brackets, provided they do not already own a freehold residential property in Dubai. Interested applicants are required to register through an online portal.
Officials have linked the initiative to Dubai’s Real Estate Strategy 2033, which seeks to increase home ownership levels and expand the sector’s overall economic contribution. The programme was also launched during the UAE’s Year of Community in 2025, reflecting a wider policy focus on long-term residency and social stability.
For some participants, the scheme has altered long-held assumptions about affordability. Fatma Almarri, who purchased her first home through the programme, said: “Owning a home felt distant, especially on a single income. This programme made the process simpler and more achievable, and it has helped me take control of my financial future with greater confidence.”
At the time of the launch, Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, framed the programme as both a social and economic tool.
He said: “This initiative represents a powerful economic lever—stimulating long-term demand, driving liquidity into the real estate ecosystem, and accelerating the sector’s contribution to GDP in line with the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33.
“By lowering entry barriers to home ownership for Emiratis and expatriates alike, we are enhancing investor confidence, increasing market absorption rates, and reinforcing Dubai’s global positioning as a city where personal aspirations and business ambitions converge.
“In a global climate where housing accessibility is a structural challenge, Dubai is offering a model of sustainable urban development—one that supports talent retention, fosters community cohesion, and enhances the city’s competitiveness as a place to live, work, and invest.”
